A new Economics of Education Research Centre (EERC) to develop a robust evidence base for education and skills policymaking, is being established by the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), UCL’s Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities (CEPEO) and the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).

The Department for Education (DfE) has awarded close to £3mn to the research centre which will offer an opportunity for policymakers and academics to collaborate closely.

The centre will be led by Professor Lindsey Macmillan (UCL CEPEO), Professor Sandra McNally (CEP LSE and Surrey) and Christine Farquharson (IFS).

The centre will initially run until March 2028. During this time, the consortium and DfE will jointly set out a work programme focused on developing new evidence on and methodological tools for appraising the value of education and skills policies and their broader social and economic benefits.

With major new government strategies on areas including early years, special educational needs and disabilities, and post-16 education in the last two years, and ongoing issues such as meeting skills needs in the economy, and how AI will be used for learning, the new EERC will help the DfE make evidence-based decisions on which policies to pursue.

“Education economists examine how resources, regulation and policies shape outcomes for learners – and thus for society. They explore the causal effects of education and skills on income, social mobility and wellbeing," said Professor McNally, director of CEP’s education programme. "This centre provides a great opportunity to help facilitate evidence-informed policy making. I look forward to working towards this goal with many others in our organisations and beyond.” 

Read the UCL Consultants announcement here.