about us
who we are
QUEST stands for Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation. We are an independent, democratic and participatory European network aiming to bring together NGOs, institutions, schools and universities advocating for change in education and the promotion of lifelong learning.
Together with our members, we conduct research projects, conferences, trainings, workshops, and work to have an impact on EU policies.
We aim to serve as a multiplier of best practices, actions and research.
our mission
To connect educational organisations in promoting children’s rights in education by fostering democratic, inclusive, and sustainable practices across Europe and beyond through action research, advocacy, exchanges, and trainings.
our vision
A world where children and young people have equal access to an education – both formal and non formal – that not only upholds their rights and agency, but also values their needs, aspirations and contributions to a just and regenerative society.
our history
The NGO was founded in 2017 with the objective of bringing innovative and transformative alternatives to the educational landscape in Brussels – achieved through both research and practical implementation.
Early on, the organisation set up different educational activities such as outdoor learning days and the Brussels Outdoor School (BOS), a multilingual democratic school set in Brussels aimed at reconnecting children with nature in its broadest sense and creating educational programmes where every child is respected as a competent, unique person, encouraged to follow their own curiosity and passions.
With time, we started dedicating more resources to research in education, in order to broaden the scientific basis to the pedagogical practices it supported, and to advocate for durable changes in educational policies.
In parallel, we sought to connect with other European organisations with a common vision, and to have the EU as an interlocutor to promote innovation projects in education and foster change at the national level.
In 2022, QUEST formally constituted itself as a European Network, in order to officialise the wide and rich relations established, and to serve as a multiplier of best practices, actions and researches. Today, QUEST represents 78 members, connecting them, supporting their activities, and advocating for their recognition, towards democratic, inclusive, and sustainable education.
our strategy
- Disseminating evidence-based information, training and methodologies to practitioners in Europe on cutting-edge pedagogies educational philosophies and methods in a lifelong learning perspective
- Shaping new education views and cultures enabling supportive environments for children and youth’s personal development as well as collective growth
- Informing and fostering policies supporting transformative education pedagogies and practices anchored on democratic, sustainable and inclusive principles
Creating a network of organisations active in Europe and beyond, committed to QUEST’s vision
- Supporting knowledge sharing and learning within and beyond our network
- Promoting knowledge, actions & best practices in Europe to shape a fair, sustainable and collaborative society
- Creating a bridge between “alternative” innovative schools and more traditional education
- Provide evidence-based solutions for practitioners and recommendations for policy-makers in education
- Enable legitimacy and credibility of innovative pedagogies and practices at the EU-level through evidence-based research, projects and data collection
- Bridge the gap between the academic sphere, civil society and decision makers
Areas of work
DEMOCRATIC EDUCATION
Self-directed learning and shared decision-making
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
Inclusion and diversity in the learning environment
SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION
Outdoor learning and nature pedagogy
