The Innovation Forum (IF) held on February 1, 2025, in Genoa, Italy, was conceived as a pilot initiative—an initial experiment in fostering a participatory space for dialogue and reflection within the CLEAR project. The primary objective was to test and evaluate the participatory process and to generate insights and recommendations for the upcoming forums in the partner countries. Since December 2024, the teams from the University of Genoa (UNIGE) and CODICI have been working collaboratively to co-design each phase of the forum.
Aims and engagement
In line with the project’s goal to engage a broad range of educational stakeholders, the Genoa IF focused on the impact of evaluation—its rationale, processes, and measures—within school environments and its effects on student’s emotions, aspirations, and plans.
The forum drew on the personal and professional networks of the UNIGE research team. This approach facilitated trust-building and encouraged active involvement, which is reflected in the significant turnout. Participants were selected based on established research contacts at the local level, comprising 2 policy-makers, 7 professionals and 14 young adults.
Structure and discussion topics
The event opened with an introductory session where the CLEAR project was presented, followed by an overview of the planned activities. Participants were then divided into four mixed-profile sub-groups to ensure diverse perspectives at each discussion table. Each group worked with a specific graphic output derived from research findings.
The discussion themes were structured around key insights from various CLEAR Work Packages (WPs):
- Youth perceptions of education – A poster displaying four statements, derived from WP3 statistical analyses, illustrated different perceptions and expectations young people hold regarding their educational futures and career planning.
- Diverging life paths – Inspired by WP4’s institutional framing of learning outcomes, participants explored a scenario where two individuals with similar backgrounds had vastly different career trajectories. The goal was to unpack the structural and individual factors influencing these outcomes.
- Future scenarios for education systems – WP6 provided three hypothetical models of national education system evolution. Participants engaged with a poster outlining these scenarios, assessing their plausibility and desirability.
- Intergenerational narratives in education – Drawing from one excerpt from WP5 interviews, participants reflected on how young people are often perceived by older generations as lacking commitment or maturity. The discussion invited them to challenge and contextualise these narratives based on their personal experiences.
Additionally, transversal inputs from WP7 national discussion papers were introduced by the UNIGE research team, offering comparative insights into the Italian education system and its counterparts in partner countries.
Reflections and feedback
In the closing session, participants were invited to share their experiences through two guiding questions:
- How did today’s forum meet (or challenge) your expectations?
- What suggestions would you offer to improve future Innovation Forums?
Encouraged by an open and non-hierarchical setting, participants gradually began to share their thoughts sparking a collective reflection. We include some of the feedbacks as an illustration:
- Stimulating: “The IF prompted so many thoughts and emotions.” or “I found myself reflecting more deeply after hearing other’s experiences.”
- Welcoming and non-judgmental: “I said things here that I can’t say at school.” or “At first, I was defensive, but the topic resonated with me. Perceiving adult’s humanity was liberating.”
- Perspective-shifting: “I was able to see the same issue from different angles.”
Recommendations
While participants expressed general satisfaction with the IF, they also suggested several ways to enhance future editions:
- Extended discussion time: Longer sessions would allow deeper engagement with the topics.
- Inclusion of more diverse voices: Future forums should actively seek out a broader range of perspectives, encouraging greater divergence of viewpoints.
- Integration into educational settings: Bringing this discussion model into schools could help rebalance hierarchical roles and create meaningful intergenerational dialogue.
- Recognition of personal narratives as evidence: Forums should emphasise the value of lived experiences as valid contributions to educational research.
- Empowering self-organisation: There is a need for more participatory spaces where young people can articulate their own educational aspirations and concerns.
Looking ahead: WHAT I.F.?
The first Innovation Forum in Genoa served as a crucial testing ground for this participatory model. The insights gained from this experience will inform future forums, helping to refine the approach and ensure that the dialogue remains inclusive, impactful, and action-oriented. By fostering open discussions, the IF tries to pave the way for more responsive and equitable education systems across Europe. We will keep you updated with our further results from the partner countries.
