1. The School of Tomorrow

This pillar is aiming at supporting the necessary transformation of schools into attractive, inclusive, democratic and collaborative learning ecosystems that provide relevant support for parents in their duties to educate their children.

Parents International envisions schools as inclusive, democratic and collaborative learning communities led by teacher who are learning facilitators that recognise children as active participants in their learning and parents as knowledgeable and equal educational partners. Building on research and experience from projects such as DEMOCRAT, EFFEct and DRONE, this pillar challenges traditional school structures, teacher role, and curricula, promotes learner-centred education that prepares children for 21st-century living, participatory leadership, meaningful family engagement and the development of essential competences for the future.

Through research, co-creation, professional development and pilot initiatives, IPA aims to develop, test and scale an evidence-informed School of Tomorrow framework that helps schools become more responsive to the realities, needs, rights and aspirations of children, families and communities.

2. The Family of Tomorrow

This pillar is aiming at empowering families and recognising their evolving roles in children’s learning, development and wellbeing.

The Family of Tomorrow pillar recognises parents as their children’s primary – not only the first, but also most impactful – educators and families as essential environments for learning, development, wellbeing and participation. Acknowledging the diversity of contemporary families and the challenges of rapidly changing societies, Parents International promotes an asset-based, rights-conscious policy and practice approach that empowers all families rather than treating them as deficient or problematic.

Through research, consultation, co-creation, policy advocacy, and international partnerships, IPA aims to develop a shared vision of the Family of Tomorrow, accompanied by practical resources, training programmes for the professionals working with parents and families as well as the parents themselves. It also develops and offers tried and tested support models that strengthen parental agency, recognising and supporting children’s evolving capacities, intergenerational learning and meaningful collaboration between families, educational institutions and communities.

3. Growing Up in a Hybrid World

This pillar is aiming at building the competences, relationships and environments children need to thrive across online and offline life.

Recognising that children grow, learn and participate in an interconnected online and offline world, this pillar promotes digital literacy, critical thinking, digital citizenship, resilience and responsible engagement with technology. Drawing on solid research evidence from the SAILS, DRONE, EFFEct and PARTICIPATE projects, Parents International challenges approaches focused on restrictions and bans, advocating for empowerment, risk mitigation and shared responsibility among families, professional educators, policymakers and technology providers instead.

IPA develops research-informed training, practical tools, quality frameworks and international partnerships as well as advocates for policies informed by this research to support children and the adults around them in navigating digital opportunities and challenges, including artificial intelligence, misinformation, cybersecurity and online relationships, while respecting children’s rights and agency with special focus on the development of personal skills of professional educators.

4. Wellbeing in a Changing World

This pillar is aiming at supporting holistic – mental and physical – wellbeing through relationships, participation, resilience, and supportive communities.

Parents International approaches wellbeing as a holistic, relational and shared responsibility, shaped not only by individual competences but also by family relationships, educational environments, social conditions and experiences across online and offline life. Building on research into digital resilience, bullying, inclusion, feeling of belonging, participation and trusted relationships, this pillar challenges approaches that place responsibility for wellbeing solely on individuals while overlooking harmful institutional practices or unsupportive environments. Through research, advocacy, professional development, practical resources and partnerships with educational, community and social service organisations, IPA aims to promote environments in which children, parents and professionals experience belonging, agency, safety and meaningful participation, creating the conditions for everyone to flourish.