Education research is the cornerstone of effective policies and practices that can in turn drive societal progress and empower individuals for the future. The Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) is dedicated to supporting countries with timely research insights and forward-looking approaches to help them design robust and future-ready education systems. At the heart of CERI's mission is the recognition of education research as a fundamental pillar for achieving quality education. The work conducted in the Strengthening the Impact of Education Research project contributes to that mission by providing evidence-based insights and fostering a greater understanding of how countries can reinforce policy makers’ and practitioners’ engagement with education research.

Policy makers face tough choices when evaluating policy alternatives; it is crucial they weigh up the costs of change and balance the positives versus potential negative economic or political impacts. Should they pursue what is most technically feasible? What is most politically and socially achievable? Or focus on what can be sustainable long term? Policy makers also need to find the right balance between modernising and disruption, foster innovation while recognising the socially highly conservative nature of education, and leverage potential with existing capacity.

The OECD Strengthening the Impact of Education Research project uncovered a rich landscape of actors and mechanisms striving to reinforce the quality, production and use of education research in OECD countries. Yet, it also revealed important barriers to the use of research in policy and practice, as well as a lack of systems approaches to increasing research engagement.