It is estimated that some 23 per cent of non university students fail in their studies. This is particularly relevant in Spain, which has the highest rate of school failure in the European Union according to recent data from EuroStat (the European Statistics Office).

Researchers from the University of Aveiro have studied how to improve the learning of maths by using new teaching resources that they have implemented in the Science Garden, an informal educational space that promotes scientific culture in children. As well as encouraging knowledge of maths, this initiative also trains teachers and carries out research into science education.

The Didactic Excellence, Innovation, and Quality Research Group of the Universidad de León (ULE), which is attached to the Department of General and Specific Didactics and Education Theory and led by Professor Isabel Cantón Mayo, is working on a line of research concentrating on knowledge management by university students.

When an graduate enters the labour market he/she is required to have acquired not only precise knowledge in his field but also a series of skills that have generally not been worked on during his/her university studies. These include the capacity to solve problems under uncertain conditions, creativity, independent work and self-study, social skills such as empathy or the capacity to negotiate, leadership capacity, decision-making, and organisational and planning skills.

In collaboration with the Observatory of International Cooperation for Development of the University of Valladolid (UVA), the Valladolid County Council is coordinating a European project called the Rural DEAR Agenda (Development, Education and Awareness Raising), the ultimate aim of which is improving the planning of education action for development in the rural world.