This article is part of EDU-LAB Newsletter II, which provides updates on the progress and findings of the EDU-LAB Horizon Europe research project. In this issue, we highlight the work of Work Package 4 , which focuses on participatory case studies that place young people’s lived experiences at the centre of research on education and labour market transitions.

Work Package 4 focuses on making young people's voices heard and placing their lived experiences at the centre of EDU-LAB's research. The main objective is to develop a deeper understanding of young people's perspectives and experiences in the areas of education, training and employment, drawing on their insider knowledge of decisions, educational and career paths, and transitions they have experienced so far. In addition, WP4 aims to co-construct solutions with young people that support participation and successful completion of education and training programmes and facilitate integration into the labour market.

A participatory, youth-centred research approach

WP4 is based on a qualitative case study design and follows a participatory research approach. Young people are not only considered as respondents, but as active contributors who help shape the research process. Right from the onboarding phase, the researchers and young people work together to build relationships based on trust, empathy and cooperation.

 The aim is for young participants to feel that their views and experiences are valued, that their participation is meaningful, and that their contributions can have an impact beyond the immediate research context.

Researchers and young people jointly identify the key challenges and dilemmas that young people face in their education, training and employment trajectories. The solutions developed jointly within WP4 focus on specific barriers and overlapping factors that hinder or facilitate young people's transitions. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that the results of WP4 remain relevant and meaningful beyond the duration of the project

Case studies across diverse European contexts

Figure: Map of EDU-LAB Case Study Location Countries

Data collection within WP4 takes place in seven European countries at a total of twelve locations and covers a wide range of education systems, labour market structures and socio-economic contexts. The case study locations include Austria (Vienna, Graz), Finland (Helsinki, Tampere), Italy (Bologna), Kosovo (Pristina), Poland (Warsaw, Łódź), Portugal (Porto, Santarém) and the United Kingdom (Birmingham, Worcestershire).

Methods and current progress

WP4 plans to involve 600 to 960 young people aged between 15 and 30, including those in education, training and employment, as well as young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Recruitment began in May 2025 and is ongoing. It is supported by local, trusted partners who facilitate access, onboarding and safe participation conditions.

Data collection is carried out through focus groups, participatory workshops and weekly structured diaries. The focus groups examine young people's views, experiences and expectations regarding transitions in and to education and training, and the labour market.
Participatory workshops bring together young people of similar ages to analyse challenges in their pathways to data and develop solutions together over several sessions. The structured diaries enable participants to reflect on their experiences over a longer period of time and in their everyday contexts.

Data collection and analysis are carried out in parallel and will continue until autumn 2026. They provide a rich qualitative evidence base for EDU-LAB's overarching analytical and policy-related work.

This article is adapted from EDU-LAB Newsletter II.
Read the full issue: https://www.edu-lab-project.eu/e-newsletter-ii/
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