NEXT-UP is a large-scale interdisciplinary and multi-method research project with the goals of

1. investigating and predicting the long-term effects of the COVID-19 crisis on youth transitions from school to work and
2. co-creating, with stakeholders, evidence-informed, future-oriented policies and programmes.

This  project is financed by Horizon Europe and implemented by a consortium of ten reserach organisations and one student union located in nine European countries. The European Centre’s contribution to the project focuses on the analysis of youth employability policies used during the pandemic and the development of measures fit to meet future needs in the context of the digitial transition.

The European Centre is partnering in a consortium with Ecorys Europe, HIVA KU Leuven, and Milieu Consulting to provide analytical and methodological support related to qualitative analysis, mapping and mixed methods to the European Labour Authority (ELA). The provision of analytical and methodological support consists of identifying, compiling, analysing and presenting qualitative data from external sources. This can include desk research (e.g. literature or document reviews) as well as primary research (e.g. expert interviews, focus groups, delphi surveys, case studies etc.). The consortium thus might be asked to design and implement qualitative data gathering exercises on behalf of ELA, as well as to compile, analyse and present the information. While the focus of this Lot is on qualitative research methods and data, a mixed methods approach might be requested for individual assignments, that is the combination of qualitative approaches (main task) with a minor degree of quantitative ones (e.g. contextualisation or supplementary statistics).

The European Disability Expertise (EDE) is a framework contract, financed by the European Commission, managed by the Human European Consultancy to collect, analyse and provide independent scientific data and information relating to national policies and legislation, linked with provisions at EU level, as well as providing information about the situation of persons with disabilities. Magdi Birtha, Eszter Zolyomi and Felix Gross-Wohlgemuth are part of the central team of senior experts in the EDE network and are responsible for the annual European Semester task and the development of statistical reports, linked to the annual thematic and ad-hoc reports. 

The objective of this project is to support the implementation of the ongoing reform of the long-term care (LTC) system in Slovenia. The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research team facilitate the co-design of change processes in LTC delivery, monitor the progress of the reform, and offer strategic advice to decision-making and implementation processes across critical areas, namely needs assessment procedures, equitable and integrated service provision and care planning as well as coordinated change to ensure smooth transitions and a joint effort towards shared goals. Relevant stakeholders have been involved to support the implementation of the LTC Act-1 in Slovenia and to ensure its adherence to key European strategies — namely principle 18 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which affirms the right to accessible and affordable high-quality LTC, and the related European Care Strategy.