IEA's R&D (Research and Development) sixth call is now open.
IEA invites research proposals aimed at improving and advancing the science and methodology of IEA studies, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of international large-scale assessments in education.
The R&D program welcomes proposals from researchers external to IEA (e.g., individuals or those associated with a university or survey organization), staff and experts from study centers for IEA studies, and IEA staff. Awards are based on proposal merit only.
The sixth R&D call is thematically open, continuing to build on IEA’s mission to advance research and innovation. Areas of importance aligned with current debates and interests for IEA include, but are certainly not limited to:
- Questionnaire design and innovative question formats;
- Improving/extending the measurement of core constructs within IEA studies;
- Comparability of assessments across cycles (e.g., platform comparability, bridging of materials with different representations over time);
- Improved measurement of, and imputation approaches for, socio-economic status;
- Using technology to improve field operation procedures (e.g., data collection and quality assurance);
- Dealing with bias and non-response (e.g., sources of sampling bias, attrition in longitudinal studies, use of replacement units, weighting methodologies);
- Application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to the methods, procedures, and analysis of IEA studies;
- Augmentation of collected data using external sources, e.g., administrative or EMS data;
- Data visualization and communication of results; and
- Tools for tracking and synthesizing secondary analysis using IEA data.
Further information about the call and how to apply can be found in the Call for Proposals. Proposals must be submitted via the IEA Opportunities Platform by Monday, 14 September 2026, at 13:00 CEST.
About R&D
IEA proudly started its R&D calls in 2021 and has since awarded 32 research projects with funding across five calls. Read more about the available outcomes on the R&D page. We invite you to share this opportunity with colleagues and look forward to receiving your proposals!
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of proposals does the IEA R&D Fund support?
The fund supports research and development that advances the methods, procedures, tools, or implementation of IEA studies and international large-scale assessments in education. Proposals should lead to a clear and tangible improvement for IEA’s work.
How closely must a proposal relate to IEA’s mission and work?
Closely. Proposals must show a clear connection to IEA’s work in educational assessment and explain how they could improve one or more aspects of IEA studies. Proposals without a credible link to this context are unlikely to be considered.
What makes a proposal competitive?
Strong proposals combine scientific quality with clear practical relevance for IEA. They are theoretically sound, methodologically rigorous, innovative, feasible, and explicit about the value they would add to IEA studies.
What are the main changes for the 2026 Call?
The main changes for 2026 include limitations and declarations on the use of generative AI, limits on participation across proposals, budgets in Euros, and more detailed expectations for timelines, outputs, and cooperation with IEA.
May generative AI be used in preparing a proposal?
Yes, but only in a limited way. AI tools may be used for support tasks such as brainstorming, identifying sources, or language proofreading. Any use of AI must be disclosed. Applicants may not use AI to generate or substantially develop the core intellectual content of the proposal. Of course, the topic of the proposal can focus on LLMs, machine learning and other types of models and approaches.
I am still unsure or have a different question.
Questions may be submitted at any time to Ralph Carstens, Lauren Musu, and Fatima Bouchibane via rd@iea.nl.