Educational research as space for dialogue and social transformation

The contribution highlights the significant progress made in Italy in educational research, particularly in areas such as inclusive education, educational poverty, and emergency contexts. It has fostered innovative models for inclusion across diverse educational settings, including post-disaster environments, promoting coping skills and resilience through individual and community-based training. This paper explores the intersections between inclusion, educational poverty, and emergencies, positioning educational research as a key tool for understanding and addressing global challenges such as inequality, deprivation, migration, and instability. It underscores the role of education in fostering not only academic success but also social participation and well-being. Addressing various forms of educational poverty requires a shift in approach to analyzing systemic issues and interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure equitable, inclusive, and resilient education systems worldwide. Educational poverty goes beyond the lack of school access, reflecting the absence of meaningful opportunities to develop fundamental skills like literacy and soft skills. This phenomenon perpetuates socioeconomic inequalities and cycles of poverty, especially in marginalized communities. Inclusive, high-quality education is crucial to overcoming these barriers, fostering active participation and social well-being. In this context, educational research plays a critical role in identifying the root causes of educational poverty and devising targeted solutions, particularly in emergency settings, where education serves as a tool for resilience and social reconstruction.