The proposed symposium is based on the research work currently done by a team that consist of fifteen researchers from universities in eight European countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Portugal, Rumania, Sweden and The UK). The project with title EuroPEP-Comparison of Priority Education Policies in Europe is supported by a grant from the European Commission (Socrates Program, Actions 6.1.2 and 6.2). The study is planned to be carried out for a period of two years (from 2006 to 2008). From a conceptual stand point Priority Education Policies (PEP) are complex to define because of their dependence of particularities, both of educational and social character, of the national contexts. It is, however, possible to describe PEP as intentions to face inequities in education by providing additional educational and financial resources to students belonging to socially disadvantaged groups or the so called “risk groups” in society. PEP are much concerned with educational outcomes and the general social impact that such outcomes might have. With differences given by national contexts and development of the educational system the countries participant in the project, and in this symposium in particular, are all implementing PEP. The papers that will be presented, as well as the entire research project, are based on the analysis of national ‘realities’ which are diverse and heterogeneous. The elaboration of a set of theoretical constructs that will be available to policy makers and researchers is amongst the intentions of the analysis. Other ambitions are presented further down in the proposal (see Conclusions). Researchers from five European countries participating in the project will examine concrete cases of PEP. These cases will then be used to form the focus of a comparative discussion about the ways in which practical dilemmas relating to PEP are experienced in different local contexts and with what consequences. One of the papers focuses on cross national issues in relation to the development of PEP. The outcome of the symposium will be a more detailed analysis of the different features of PEP as well as the different challenges that PEP are facing in different European contexts. The discussion in the symposium is expected to make a meaningful contribution to inform more sophisticated comparative methodologies about PEP in Europe. Both Presenters and Discussants are challenged to go beyond the landscape and challenges of PEP in the participant countries with an analysis that could be meaningful for the further research that this intricate theme demands.

The methodology used in the research work that forms the basis of the symposium includes: -study of research literature (national and international) about PEP -Analysis of political and administrative documents -Analysis of the databases available in relation to PEP -Interviews with experts and officer of various kinds responsible of PEP both at national and international (European level) For the case of PEP of recent implementation the research work includes observations and collecting quantitative and qualitative data. This and the earlier mentioned methods are expected to guarantee the comparative analysis. During earlier seminars within the project guidelines of analysis has been elaborated and already used.

In line with the aims of the project the results that will be presented in the symposium are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the functioning and the various problems in relation to the PEP in different European countries. The papers that will be presented shows that a qualitative improvement of the impact of PEP will by highly benefited by a critical analysis of how the policies are implemented and what are the results in the different target groups. Among the expected outcomes of the project are (a) two main publications, (b) a synthesis containing recommendations to political actors, (c) the creation of a web site and the organization of a European international seminar once the project had concluded. There is also an intention to create and international monitoring resource for the observation of PEP. The first report recently concluded analyses the present situation of PEP in the different countries and discusses the challenges ahead. In the specific context of this symposium it is expected that the research outcomes of the various contributors will be challenged and critically discussed.