Across Europe, schools and ministries are asking the same question: how can we use education data in a way that genuinely supports learning, equity and wellbeing without overwhelming teachers, or compromising students' rights?

Over the past three years, the AgileEDU project set out to explore this question by listening closely to those who live these challenges every day: teachers, school leaders, policymakers, students, researchers, EdTech partners and public authorities. Through case studies, learning stories, expert workshops and national "Dialogue Labs", the project collected hundreds of insights about teaching, learning and governance in increasingly data-rich school systems.

At Eminent 2025, these lessons came to life. Two parallel workshops brought together practitioners and policymakers to reflect on what meaningful data use should actually look like at different levels of the system.

The policy workshop, moderated by Lidija Kralj, explored the macro and meso responsibilities needed to create trustworthy data ecosystems. Discussions centred on national digital strategies, secure infrastructures, data governance frameworks and the need for transparent, ethical and inclusive approaches aligned with GDPR and the AI Act. Participants emphasised that meaningful data use is ultimately a shared responsibility; requiring clarity of roles, cross-sector collaboration, and strong professional development structures.

At the same time, the practitioner workshop, moderated by Antoine Selim Bilgin, shifted the focus to what happens in classrooms and schools. Teachers and school leaders discussed how data can support student agency, wellbeing, professional learning, and inclusion not simply accountability. They explored learning stories from across Europe: playful small-data projects with sensors in Denmark, student-led surveys in Spain, collaborative data teams in Ireland, and reflective assessment practices in Finland. The message was consistent: data becomes powerful when it helps people think, talk, collaborate and grow.

These conversations informed two new AgileEDU reports:

• Policy Recommendations for Meaningful Use of Data in Education, offering European and national decision-makers a practical roadmap for ethical, coherent and future-proof data ecosystems.
• Guidelines for Educators and School Leaders, providing hands-on strategies that can be used in classrooms and schools to promote inclusive, purposeful and responsible use of education data.

Both reports highlight an essential idea: data should serve learning, not the other way around. The goal is not more data, but better data used thoughtfully, collaboratively and with respect for learners' diversity, rights and wellbeing.

As Europe continues to navigate digital transformation, the Agile EDU project highlights a simple but essential principle: meaningful use of education data starts with people. The questions teachers ask, the professional communities they build, the strategies policymakers design, and the responsibility to ensure that students learn in safe, fair and empowering environments.

Explore the full Agile EDU reports for policymakers and educators.

You may also be interested in our latest Agile Collection of Information: AI in School Education, which examines how European education systems are approaching the use of AI in schools.