Research, Policy and Practice in Dialogue: Reflections from the RAY Triangular Summit

In October 2026, Dublin hosted the RAY Triangular Summit, bringing together researchers, policymakers, youth workers and young people from across Europe to explore how evidence can inform the future of youth policy and practice. At its heart was a simple but powerful proposition: meaningful progress in the youth field depends on continuous dialogue between research, policy and practice.

As Malta’s national youth agency, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ’s work sits at the intersection of these three dimensions. Through youth work, youth information and youth participation initiatives, we engage directly with young people and communities. Through our contribution to national priorities and European programmes, we support the implementation of youth policy. Through research and evaluation, we seek to better understand young people’s experiences and the effectiveness of our responses.

Significantly, the Maltese delegation itself embodied this triangular approach, bringing together representatives from Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, the European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA), the Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ (KNŻ) and the research community. This diversity of perspectives reinforced one of the summit’s central messages: better decisions emerge when different forms of knowledge are brought into conversation with one another.

Beyond Evidence for Its Own Sake

One of the key reflections emerging from the summit was that evidence only becomes meaningful when it informs action. The RAY Network has spent more than fifteen years generating research on the impact of European youth programmes, drawing on the experiences of over 125,000 participants and nearly 30,000 project team members. The value of this work lies not simply in producing data, but in using knowledge to improve policies, strengthen programmes and create better outcomes for young people.

Inclusion Means Looking Beyond Those Already Participating

A particularly thought-provoking reflection concerned the meaning of inclusion. As Suzanne Kavanagh, Acting Head of Youth, ESC and Sport at Léargas, observed:

“Inclusion cannot simply mean making a programme available to everyone. It means paying attention to who is not finding and getting through the door.”

This observation challenges us to move beyond participation figures and consider who remains excluded from opportunities. Genuine inclusion requires understanding the barriers that prevent some young people from accessing opportunities and designing responses that actively address them.

Trust and Institutional Responsibility

Another theme that featured prominently throughout the discussions was trust. As Andreas Karsten, RAY transnational research coordinator, remarked:

“This is not an issue of young people not trusting institutions. This is institutions gambling away the trust of young people.”

The statement serves as a reminder that trust cannot be demanded; it must be earned. Young people are more likely to engage when they feel listened to, respected and able to influence decisions that affect their lives.

This is where the research-policy-practice triangle demonstrates its value. Research helps institutions understand young people’s experiences and expectations. Policy can establish structures that promote participation and accountability. Practice provides the everyday interactions through which trust is built and sustained.

From Beneficiaries to Partners

The summit also prompted reflection on the quality of youth participation itself. A question posed by Jadranka Vukovic Johnsson, Senior Expert – Youth Policy at the European Commission Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, captured this challenge particularly well:

“How does Europe want to work with its young people: as beneficiaries, as consultees, or also as partners?”

This question aligns closely with the ambitions of the EU Youth Strategy 2019–2027, which promotes meaningful participation, evidence-informed policymaking and stronger dialogue between young people and decision-makers. Young people should not simply be recipients of policy but active contributors to shaping it.

What This Means for Malta

Perhaps the most important lesson from Dublin was that the youth sector functions best as an interconnected ecosystem. Young people, youth workers, researchers, policymakers, public agencies and youth organisations all contribute different forms of knowledge and expertise. Progress is most likely when these perspectives inform one another rather than operate independently.

For Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, this message is particularly timely. Many of the discussions echoed the ambitions of the EU Youth Strategy 2019–2027: evidence-informed policymaking, meaningful youth participation, social inclusion and stronger cooperation across sectors. As we continue to support young people, strengthen the youth sector and contribute to both national and European priorities, the challenge is not simply to produce research, develop policy or deliver services. The challenge is to ensure that these three dimensions remain connected. Decisions should be informed by evidence, policies should remain grounded in young people’s realities, and practice should continue to generate knowledge that shapes future action.

The discussions from the RAY Network Triangular Summit reinforced a simple but powerful message: when research informs policy, policy enables quality practice, and practice generates new knowledge, the result is a more responsive, inclusive and effective system of support for young people. At a time of rapid social change and increasing complexity, maintaining this dialogue between research, policy and practice is not simply desirable. It is essential.