How to promote dialogue among academics, researchers, politicians, policy makers, and educational communities? What is the role of collaboration in improving educational systems? And how can we encourage inclusion, diversity, social justice, and sustainability in schools? These were some of the questions addressed at the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI 2024) recently held in Dublin.
The event provided an opportunity to explore international perspectives on the impact of quality education in the school context, with the participation of scholars and researchers from different countries around the world.
Josefina Eluchans, Head of Evaluation at Fundación Luksic, participated in the congress through a presentation where she showcased the main results of the Aspiraciones Sobre el Futuro (ASF) program, an initiative implemented since 2021 aiming to promote continued studies for young people graduating from technical and vocational high schools in Chile.
“Participating in ICSEI 2024 was a very enriching opportunity for collaboration and learning. It’s always good to listen and learn about how different challenges in the field of education are being addressed in other countries, and I also believe it’s valuable that we can share the lessons and experiences we have developed in Chile with the world,” emphasized Josefina.
Sharing the Results of Aspiraciones Sobre el Futuro
The methodology behind ASF begins with a survey, where senior high school students express their preferences and knowledge about the process of accessing higher education. Then, each student receives a personalized informational booklet, with useful information about their preferred careers and available financing options, such as Gratuidad.
Some students also receive support through mentorship addressing topics such as entry into higher education and its financing.
In her presentation, Josefina Eluchans provided details about the impact evaluation conducted by the Foundation in collaboration with two external researchers regarding this initiative, and the main findings provided by the program. In that regard, during the 2021 academic year, through a randomized evaluation, the effects of providing information alone and providing information along with the mentoring program were measured.
The results revealed that providing only information significantly improved students’ understanding of the higher education system, and that combining such information with mentoring also increased the likelihood of students taking the admission exam and entering higher education (Barrios, Eluchans, and Ramírez, 2023).
To learn more about Aspiraciones Sobre el Futuro, Fundación Luksic has made available a Policy Brief with more details about the initiative on its website.
