The science of learning provides groundbreaking insights into how people acquire knowledge and develop skills. Yet, these advancements often fail to inform education reform, leaving policymakers and educators without the tools they need to create effective, evidence-based systems. At the Annual Meeting of the Global Alliance on the Science of Learning for Education, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on December 2-3, 2024, Syeed Ahamed, CEO of IID, called for bridging this gap through knowledge brokering—a process that connects researchers, policymakers, and educators to translate complex evidence into practical solutions.
As a Steering Group Member of UNESCO’s Network on Education Quality Monitoring in the Asia-Pacific (NEQMAP), Syeed participated in the session titled “Translating Science of Learning into Policy and Practice: The Role of Knowledge Brokers.” The session explored how knowledge hubs, academic societies, and professional associations can facilitate the use of research in real-world educational strategies.
“There’s no shortage of robust evidence from the science of learning,” Syeed said. “But without effective knowledge translation, this evidence rarely reaches the policymakers and educators who need it most.”
Syeed highlighted IID’s 3i Knowledge Brokering Framework—Inquire, Inform, and Involve—emphasizing the importance of understanding local contexts, translating research into actionable insights, and engaging educators, policymakers, and communities in co-creating practical, scalable solutions tailored to local needs.
He highlighted several barriers to integrating the science of learning into education reform:
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- Cultural and Contextual Mismatches: Global research often fails to account for local nuances, limiting its applicability in diverse settings.
- Resistance to Change: Overburdened educators and rigid bureaucracies often resist adopting new methodologies.
- Resource Inequalities: Disparities in funding and access to technology widen the gap between well-resourced and under-resourced regions.
- Political Agendas: Education reform is frequently influenced by political and ideological agendas, as seen in Bangladesh. Pre July-movement curriculum changes were used to propagate political narratives, and post-movement efforts faced heavy-handed interference from competing interest groups, even forcing the disbandment of a short-lived curriculum committee.
Knowledge Brokering: Bridging the Gap
Despite these challenges, Syeed emphasized the transformative potential of knowledge brokering. By fostering trust, empathy, and collaboration, knowledge brokers help ensure that global evidence aligns with local needs and priorities. They play a critical role in overcoming barriers, such as cultural mismatches and resource disparities, to enable meaningful reform.
“Education reform isn’t about simplifying evidence; it’s about building systems that reflect both global benchmarks and local realities,” Syeed remarked. He called for scalable, cost-effective solutions that empower educators to implement evidence-based practices, even in resource-constrained environments.
The Annual Meeting brought together experts from around the world to discuss topics ranging from literacy and mathematics to social-emotional learning and technology integration. The meeting’s theme, “Building Bridges to Transform Learning,” served as a powerful reminder that the science of learning can only fulfill its potential if the gap between research and reality is bridged.