Project R-17120

Making the grade beyond the school gates: young people's educational pathways through the Flemish Examination Board (Research)

This doctoral research focuses on young people pursuing a secondary education diploma through the Flemish Examination Board ('Examencommissie'). It does not only seek to identify who follows this route, but also to explore the stories behind these pathways. Candidates share the goal of obtaining a secondary education diploma, but the ways in which they prepare can differ substantially. Following the same qualification route therefore does not necessarily mean having access to the same learning environments. In this project, particular attention will be paid to young people who experienced a mismatch between their needs and their previous school environment. Taking a relational approach, the project examines how difficulties arise through the interaction between young people's needs and their learning environments. The proposed mixed-methods design consists of three connected studies. First, a systematic literature review will bring together international evidence and refine the conceptual framework. Second, administrative data from the Flemish Examination Board will help describe candidates and identify profiles. Third, retrospective qualitative interviews will provide insight into previous educational experiences, transitions, and ongoing or completed learning pathways. Interviews may incorporate timelines and/or support maps. These will help participants discuss their stories through important transitions, key moments ('critical events') and the people or organisations they could rely on. By connecting these three studies, this project aims to capture the diversity of young people's educational pathways before, during and after their participation in the Flemish Examination Board.

01 October 2026 - 30 September 2030