This synthesis report is based on a survey carried out during 2022 with Cedefop's reporting network ReferNet. It makes an important contribution to understanding the magnitude of early leaving from VET (ELVET) in those European countries where relevant data are available, and the mechanisms and support measures countries employ to measure and…

The 12th iteration of the International Conference on Educational Data Mining (EDM 2019) is organized under the auspices of the International Educational Data Mining Society in Montreal, Canada. The theme of this year's conference is EDM in Open-Ended Domains. As EDM has matured it has increasingly been applied to open-ended and ill-defined tasks…

In the past decades, the importance of developing and validating informal and nonformal learning processes has been launched by several international organizations including UNESCO and the OECD, originally mostly focusing on adult learning experiences. Meanwhile, in recent years an increased focus has been evidenced on introducing informal and…

A key challenge in formative evaluation is to gather appropriate evidence to inform the continuous improvement of initiatives. In the absence of outcome data, the programme evaluator often must rely on the perceptions of beneficiaries and staff in generating insight into what is making a difference. The article describes the approach adopted in an…

"Making a place in the world: Experiences of those who took less conventional paths from school" is the latest report from the NZCER longitudinal study "Competent Learners" that has followed young New Zealanders from their final months in early childhood education to age 26. This research aimed to find out how those who leave…

The 7th International Conference on Education Data Mining held on July 4th-7th, 2014, at the Institute of Education, London, UK is the leading international forum for high-quality research that mines large data sets in order to answer educational research questions that shed light on the learning process. These data sets may come from the traces…

With almost one-third of young people unemployed or underemployed, it is important for early school leavers to gain skills that improve their employment opportunities. The role that vocational education and training (VET) plays is critical, particularly for young early school leavers. Through interviews and focus groups with young people and those…

Educational achievement in rural America is one of the country's great overlooked challenges. Rural students achieve below the U.S. average on national tests, and high school dropout rates are higher and college attendance lower than they are in cities and suburbs. When the U.S. Department of Education asks low-achieving schools to be turned…

Apprentices with a learning disability can face significant barriers to completing their training. This paper explores what these apprentices, their lecturers and disability support staff see as the most effective strategies for helping them to overcome these difficulties. Instructional approaches which accommodate students' learning styles,…

This qualitative combined methodology study was undertaken to identify key factors in re-engagement by students aged 18-21 years returning to Secondary School. It was conducted in classrooms providing educational programming for students in treatment, care, custody or correctional facilities. An interview approach was adopted since continuous…

In 2003, 3.5 million U.S. young people ages 16-25 did not have high school diplomas and were not enrolled in school. Youth who lack a high school diploma are much more likely to be unemployed, go to jail, or require government assistance. Any instructional strategy that holds promise for stemming the tide of high school dropouts deserves…

What causes students to leave school? According to Azzam (2007), over 47% of students in the United States who drop out of school reported they did so because school was boring and irrelevant to their life situation. What can schools and teachers do to encourage students to stay in school? One possible solution may be to look at experiential…

Dropping out of school is a universal problem, concerning fairly similar target groups in all countries. Several action plans to prevent dropping out and to activate the dropouts have been developed worldwide. The object of this study, the Activity School of East Finland, is an exceptionally comprehensive entity, within which alternative…

The Capital Children's Museum, the Options School, and the Model Early Learning Center are the three major components of the National Learning Center. The museum exposes children to a variety of subjects and concepts, including fine arts, science, foreign and local cultures, and social history. Its exhibits are designed to promote active…

Minneapolis' Connection Center provides interim education for dropouts in a permanent alternative setting. History Alive! uses problem-solving group work, interactive slide lectures, experiential exercises, response groups, and interactive writing to engage learners in social studies. (SK)