INTEGRED: An Integrative Approach to the Production, Use and Governance of Evidence in European Education

INTEGRED aims to transform how evidence is produced, used, and governed in European education systems by co-developing and institutionalising an Integrative Evaluation Framework (IEF). The project responds to the need for robust and context-sensitive evaluations while also strengthening the capacity to identify middle-range theories that enable findings to be generalised beyond specific contexts. Current evaluation approaches are fragmented. Counterfactual methods offer rigour but limited generalisability, while theory-based approaches provide contextual insights but face challenges with causal attribution. INTEGRED bridges this divide by combining multiple causal logics within a pluralist framework adaptable to diverse governance settings.The IEF will be piloted in six countries, each centred on preventive measures such as delayed tracking, tutoring, and inclusive teaching. Co-created with policymakers and practitioners, these pilots will test and refine the framework’s methodological innovations while embedding evaluation into policy cycles. In parallel, the project will contribute to diagnosing and strengthening institutional capacity for policy evaluation and evidence uptake, developing a European blueprint for the good governance of evidence.Led by an interdisciplinary consortium, INTEGRED will generate impact across three domains. In science, by advancing an evaluation approach that brings together different logics of causation and combines rigour with contextual relevance. In policy, by enhancing evaluation capacity and fostering sustainable evidence cultures. In society, by informing preventive policies that promote equity, inclusion, and system resilience. Moreover, INTEGRED will implement a comprehensive capacity-building programme to develop enduring competences among policymakers, practitioners, and researchers. Ultimately, the project will contribute to more effective, inclusive, and future-ready education systems.