The Research on Improving Systems of Education (RISE) Programme, co-hosted by the Blavatnik School of Government with the Centre for Global Development in Washington DC and Oxford Policy Management, and funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID), has published its first working papers and is preparing for its annual conference to be held at the Blavatnik School in June 2016.
Since the launch of the programme in March 2015, the RISE Team has been busy sourcing bids to form its in-country research teams, which involved a tour of six countries over July and August to meet with potential bidders. These teams will produce high-quality research that aims to answer the question: “How can education systems be reformed to deliver better learning for all?” Their research will help deliver a global paradigm shift in thinking about education and will have an impact on policy reform in developing countries. The first country awards are expected in spring 2016, with a second round of awards due to be announced later in the year.
The programme has already published five working papers on education systems research. Produced by members of the RISE Intellectual Leadership Team (ILT), a global group of leading academics and practitioners with expertise in various aspects of education systems, international development, measurement and analysis, the RISE working papers series will help develop the thinking behind the programme and an understanding of how education systems function. It was launched at the end of October this year and new papers will be produced regularly throughout the lifecycle of the programme. Accompanying the papers are summary insights and blogs posted on the RISE website, aimed at sharing ideas and creating on-going conversations around the need to improve learning outcomes for all – see the latest blogposts here.
The RISE Programme Annual Conference will be held on 16 June 2016 at the new Blavatnik School of Government building. The conference will be a chance for country research teams to present their research agendas and for other RISE researchers to comment and reflect on the direction the research is going. More details on speakers, papers and registering interest in attending the conference will follow in due course.
The programme has already attracted high levels of engagement from MPP students, following an information event held in November by Clare Leaver, the RISE Research Coordinator. The RISE Programme offers the chance for Blavatnik School students to undertake research assistance, blog-writing and conference-planning, with the opportunity for a summer project placement being developed.
To read the working papers and keep up-to-date on all information on the RISE Programme, see the RISE website.
To receive emails about RISE research and programme activity, sign-up to the online mailing list.
Photo: Rukmini Banerji (RISE ILT member), from her working paper on teaching in Bihar - see here for more
