LeadEx project – Learning about the Educational Approach to Develop Excellence

LeadEx aims to enhance regional education policies in Europe by fostering excellence, inclusion, and digital innovation, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups.

The Estonian Quality Agency for Education (HAKA) has been involved as a partner in the international Interreg Europe cooperation project LEADEX (Learning about the Educational Approach to Develop Excellence) since spring 2025. The project will run for three years and is funded by the Interreg Europe 2021–2027 programme.

LEADEX focuses on strengthening policy-making and quality in the education sector, with particular attention to educational equity and achieving excellence, especially among vulnerable target groups. The project seeks to enhance the accessibility and inclusiveness of education, support social and economic integration, and develop innovative solutions to help create a fairer and more equitable education system across Europe.

HAKA’s role in the project

HAKA’s role is primarily related to sharing experiences in quality assessment and educational policy-making, bringing into the international cooperation effective practices from Estonia’s general education system. A special focus is placed on clarity of roles and the responsibilities of different stakeholders in ensuring the quality of education. The project also offers HAKA the opportunity to learn from other partners and further develop its approaches to become even more effective.

The LEADEX consortium includes the following organisations:

• Region of Murcia. Regional Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (Spain)
• Advisory partner: European Association of Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning (Belgium)
• Central Denmark Region
• Estonian Quality Agency for Education
• Varaždin County (Croatia)
• The Centre for Vocational Education (Montenegro)
• Podkarpackie Region (Poland)
• Ministry of Education (Slovenia)

The project is solely focused on knowledge exchange and the implementation of good practices that help partner regions enhance their education policy and governance.

The implementation of LEADEX is coordinated by the General Directorate of Human Resources, Educational Planning and Innovation – Regional Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (Spain).

The total budget of the project is €1 771 186.

For HAKA, this represents an important step in expanding international cooperation and improving the quality of Estonia’s education sector through peer learning and knowledge sharing.

Project webpage: https://www.interregeurope.eu/leadex