The NESET II network and its approach and objectives

NESET II PROGRESS MEETINGVilnius 16-17 July, 2015

The NESET II network and its approach and objectives

Georgios K. Zarifis – NESET II Scientific Coordinator


Presentation plan

1. Introduction to NESET II2. NESET II structure

Co-ordination Key experts and core expert team PPMI Knowledge Centre

3. NESET II objectives4. NESET II main tasks5. NESET II approach

Methodological specifications Quality management


Introduction to NESET II


‘Network of experts on the social dimension of education and

training’



NESET II serves as the successor to NESSE (2007–2010) and NESET

(2011–2014) networks and consists of 52 experts covering complementary areas of expertise in education and training and representing diverse European

geography





NESET II structure


NESET II structure


Co-ordination

Scientific coordinator

Georgios K. Zarifis

Deputy Scientific coordinator

Rimantas Dumčius



Georgios K. Zarifis


Rimantas Dumčius

Administrative and communicative coordination

Irma Budginaitė

Co-ordination



Georgios K. Zarifis


Rimantas Dumčius

Jana Donoghoe Huttova

Paul Downes Francesca Gobbo

Georges Van Landeghem

Administrative and communicative coordination

Irma Budginaitė

Key experts and core expert team


Core members of the network, along with four experts from the coordination team, include an additional eight established experts covering different levels and thematic areas of E&T across Europe.

In addition, the network includes 38 affiliated members representing 28 EU Member States, Norway, Serbia, Turkey and the United States of America.

Key experts and core expert team


PPMI Knowledge Centre

The network coordinators and key experts are supported on a continuous basis by the PPMI Knowledge Centre, which consists of PPMI researchers • Hanna Siarova, • Laura Peciukonytė, • Viktorija Rusinaitė • Laura Noreikaitė

Team responsible for the creation and design of a website (company “Dizaino arkliukas”), advice on communication issues (company “Grafikos dirbtuvės”), translation (company “Ad Gloriam, Ltd.”) and editing (Siobhán Denham).


NESET II objectives


The overall objective of NESET II is to contribute to the improvement of European-level policy development and cooperation in education and training in order to support and supplement the efforts of Member States to improve and modernise their education systems that combine quality, efficiency and equity.

NESET II objectives


NESET II provides reliable, independent and rigorous scientific support (including country specific expertise) and advice from the research community to the European Commission in relation to equity and social aspects of all types and levels of education and training. This support includes:• providing access to the most relevant evidence from existing European and international research;

• carrying out a limited amount of primary research and/or secondary data analysis;

• contributing to the dissemination of policy relevant knowledge and evidence on social aspects of education and training.

NESET II objectives


One important element of NESET II is also to act as an intermediary (broker) in knowledge management, connecting the world of research and policy-making and helping to bridge the gap between research and policy-making communities. The concept of knowledge brokerage in particular has been developed in the context of intensive debates over the role of research in policy and decision‐making.

NESET II objectives


NESET II objectives


Last but not least NESET II complements the work of other partners the European Commission is working with, such as EENEE, the JRC’s Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning (CRELL), CEDEFOP, EURYDICE and ETF, ESPN, IMISCOE with its specific focus on social aspects of education and training, and in its capacity to bridge the gap between EU policy coordination and the academic world.

NESET II objectives


NESET II main tasks


1.Provision of a quality scientific advice to the European Commission (by organising thematic seminars for EC staff) on equity and the social aspects of education and training;

2.Preparation of reviews (analytical reports, ad hoc questions and policy briefings) for policy makers;

3.Setting up / regular updating of a quality website;

4.Mapping of experts in the fields of Network's mandate.

NESET II main tasks


One of the most important key tasks of NESET II is to produce analytical reports that essentially map the research area, relate it to relevant social groups, and address policy issues with reference to EU geography.

NESET II main tasks


Based on the basic principles and knowledge management roles of the Network as these were explained in the previous paragraphs the experts need to keep in mind that what they will be asked to produce (analytical reports) must meet the following general preconditions:

NESET II main tasks


• Clear scope (to be manageable for a 40-50 page report);

• No similar policy-oriented reviews already available;

• Absence of reports from previous networks NESSE and NESET, reports of other EU and non-EU actors;

• Availability of previous academic research in the field and access to empirical data;

• Availability of policy monitoring data from the EU countries;

• Availability of experienced researchers in the network to develop a report.

NESET II main tasks


The topics for the analytical reports are defined directly by the Commission or proposed by the experts and then accepted by the Commission.

NESET II main tasks


NESET II approach


Objective: to map and structure the research area, relate it to relevant groups, policy issues and EU geography and to provide the basis for the development and work of the NESET II network.

Systematic approach for developing the Network

The rationale for mapping project proposal

NESET II approach


Mapping elements:– Thematic issue areas (e.g. dropping out of school)

– Locus in education and training (e.g. early childhood education and care)

– Social reference groups (e.g. Roma, NEET)– Relevance to policy agenda (e.g. access to education and participation)

– Preconditions (e.g. availability of country examples, monitoring data, research reports, experts on the network)



NESET II approach


Practical application: filtering of proposals for the reports and other outputs of the Network, helping to select the most promising ones and shaping the future work programmes, expanding the network to tap into the required expertise.



NESET II approach


If the topics are proposed by the experts, the methodology for planning, preparing and delivering analytical reports follows four basic steps:

STEP 1 – Mapping process: This is the most basic, but also critical process during which NESET II experts will be asked to accurately define area(s) of thematic issue(s) (e.g. dropping out of school), relate the thematic issue(s) to an explicit locus in education and training (e.g. early childhood education and care), specify relatable social reference groups (e.g. Roma, NEET).

Methodological specifications


STEP 2 – Filtering process: This step refers to the process of a more detailed reviewing and sorting of policy and scientific evidence (based on accessible but also reliable research and literature) in order to define whether the proposed theme has direct relevance to the EU’s existing policy agenda on E&T and whether it could be suggested as a topic for analytical report to be considered by the Commission.





STEP 3 – Evidencing process: This step focuses on the process of referencing suitable research, good practices or policies. The evidencing process essentially identifies the preconditions for successfully delivering an evidence-based analytical report (e.g. availability of country examples, reliability of evidence, good practices).



STEP 4 – Reporting process: This is the final step in the process of planning and delivering analytical reports by the experts that essentially refers to the synthesis of findings from completed research studies, relevant EU policies and country examples or good practices. The final report is the result of an analytic process and an interpretive product that ascertains systematically, comprehensively, and transparently the selected theme, and provides straightforward policy recommendations.

If the topics are proposed by the Commission, only step 3 and step 4 are relevant for delivering analytical reports.



Quality management

Delivering high quality analytical reports is vital for NESET II. To this end NESET II has organized a quality management plan

for its deliverables.


Quality management


Quality management

Quality planning mainly concerns defining the deliverables required by the Network, with their respective quality criteria,

quality methods and the quality responsibilities of those involved in

order to provide Network experts as well as the EC with confidence that the quality

requirements can be fulfilled.


Quality managementFor the purpose of assuring quality of the NESET II deliverables (i.e. analytical reports), we have developed a set of

internal quality assurance procedures and a mandatory quality check protocol to be used with all deliverables. This protocol

needs to be filled by the NESET II reviewers in order to provide an

appreciation of the overall quality of the analytical report. The draft full version

with the reviewers’ comments will be shared among the authors for feedback. The final version (focusing on Yes/No fields) will be communicated to the Commission with the final version of the report.


The NESET II network and its approach and objectives

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