Marginalisation and Co-Created Education - MaCE: an international comparative study about dropout and inclusion in schools and universities in the EU area

Objectives of study
The objective of this international comparative Erasmus+ study is to enhance the quality of student education, prevent dropout in education and reduce youth unemployment in the EU area. By educating bachelor and master students as co-researchers, the project aims at improving the student’s skills, confidence and critical thinking. The project is a collaboration between University College of South Eastern Norway, the University of Cumbria in the UK and VIA University College in Denmark.
Empirical basis
The empirical basis of this project is qualitative research interviews conducted by students and researchers in the three partner countries. The informants are young people (aged 15-25) with dropout experiences. Through two cycles of collecting data, approximately 135 interviews will be conducted, for students and researchers to share in their analysis. The interviews are conducted on the basis of “the indirect approach”, a technique developed by Norwegian researchers Geir Moshuus and Ketil Eide. In this specific technique, the informant’s narrative is guiding the dialogue, and the interviewer poses no prepared questions and concepts.
Theoretical framework
In this presentation, we will present our tentative analysis derived from the scrutiny of the first cycle of collected data. The theoretical framework for these tentative analyses is primarily based on central concepts of sociologist Pierre Bourdieu and phycologist Michelle Fine.
Expected conclusions/findings
In the presentation, we will shed new light on young people’s dropout experiences. By doing so, we wish to contribute to the ongoing discussion of inclusion in schools and universities across the EU area.