News

Report of the EI 1st Research Network Meeting, Brussels, 23-24 February 2005

9 March 2005

Source:	Education International

Education International has launched its new Research Network – a key item in the Programme and Budget approved at the last World Congress.

This first meeting was attended by 22 participants from 17 EI member organisations in 12 OECD countries – Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA (list in annex).

Inventory of international databanks
EI has compiled an inventory of international databanks. In an on-line workshop, participants accessed these databanks through the web-sites of the major international organisations with which EI works – OECD, UNESCO, ILO, World Bank, UNICEF, Eurydice. The network will link with a new service EdStats set up by the World Bank Education Department in Washington, UNESCO's Institute for Statistics in Montreal and the OECD in Paris.

Sharing national data
Continuing the on-line workshop, participants demonstrated the wealth of data available on national web-sites. These link in turn to many other national databanks. Participants discussed practical procedures for sharing this information more systematically in the future.

An EI on-line Research Centre
As the EI web-site develops, an on-line Research Centre will be established. Network members had a first exchange with the EI web-master as to how this Centre could be set-up.

Priority topics
The meeting identified the following eight priority topics:
* Salaries, employment conditions, collective bargaining practices
* Education funding; school finance
* Education as public service; risks of privatisation and commercialisation
* Development of standards and evaluation: of teachers, schools and students.
* New technologies and ICT in education: progress and implications
* Teacher education and recruitment
* Teacher 'burnout'
* Minorities, non-discrimination and multi-cultural education
Equity, including gender equity is seen as a cross-cutting issue, inherent in all eight topics.

In-time access to data
One of the big challenges will be getting access to the latest data as it is collected by international or national agencies. This will be a major focus for the EI Research Unit and network members.

Beyond statistics – issues and trends
As the network develops, studies will be mandated on key issues of importance to education unions and their member, and trends in education, economic and social policies.

Developing countries
The network will begin in the OECD countries. However, participants believe that EI should move rapidly to support the research work of member organisations in the developing countries. Prospect for extra-budgetary funding for such support will be explored. Already the publication Tendencias in the Latin American region helps to serve this purpose and similar initiatives will be encouraged in the other regions.

What do we mean by Research Network?
EI's role is not to duplicate the work of big agencies or research institutions. The network's task is to collect and disseminate data, and analysis, with a union perspective. Research in many national organisations supports their core activities as education unions. In a global economy and society, international comparisons and sharing among members of the EI family are becoming increasingly important. So the EI network's role will be union oriented and driven by members – providing a key service to affiliates.

Participants
Australia: AEU Kronemann Michaela
Canada:
- CAUT Robinson David
- CSQ Payeur Christian
- CTF Riel Richard
Denmark: DLF Birkvad Birgitte
France: SNES (FSU) Baunay Yves
Germany: GEW Schmerr Martina
Ireland:
- ASTI Leydon Moira
- TUI MacGabhann John
Japan:
- JTU Kozo Nogawa
- JTU Nakamura Yuzuru
- JTU Fukuoka Norio
Norway:
- UEN Olaussen Åshild
- UEN Torp Karin Elizabeth
Spain: FE.CC.OO De la Cruz Manuel
Sweden: Lärarförbundet Ernestam Johan
UK:
- NASUWT Roach Patrick
- NUT Robinson Karen
USA:
- AFT Gould Jewell
- NEA Henderson Ronald