Eidos Institute partners use Eidos Institute resources in ways that advantage their collective position. Eidos Institute is not merely a collaborative structure; it is itself the space for collaboration.

At its simplest, Eidos Institute is an independent research institute and public policy think tank that focuses on human capital to drive our understanding into reducing the growing gap within the knowledge economy.

At a time when governments rely increasingly on evidence-based research to inform public policy, the Eidos capacity to connect good research with enlightened policy and available funding is second to none. Eidos brokers teams of academics and consultants from within its membership as well as from its national network of associates in order to deliver large-scale and long-term projects of importance. Our emphasis on quality research translates to good policy outcomes.

Eidos Institute is a partnership amongst diverse organisations linked by a common purpose –passionate commitment to understanding into reducing the growing gap within the knowledge economy. Eidos Institute represents an up-front commitment by these organisations to change they way they work together towards a common vision for social and economic change.

The Institute is a network of ten universities. Within Eidos Institute’s member universities and government agencies, there are more than 100 research and policy centres, and over 500 active senior and early career researchers. Eidos Institute harnesses these resources to maximize their contribution to state, national and global education and social research, policy and practice.

Eidos Institute is founded on three points of difference:

• Eidos Institute is collaborative
• Eidos Institute uses open source technologies
• Eidos Institute builds the capacity and influence of its partners

Most institutes are seen to be successful if they have a large income and large staff. Eidos Institute is successful if it maintains a small staff and small income. Eidos Institute considers itself to be successful if its partners benefit.

The institute’s work is focused on practical, applied, policy relevant research. Eidos believes research is likely to have a greater impact on policy and practice through supporting coordinated bodies of work, rather than a scatter of atomized, free-standing projects. Eidos’ research focuses on four program areas:

• LIFE: life course learning and workforce transitions, including early years, middle years, secondary years, post secondary, workforce and seniors;
• WIRED: new communications, technologies, and education and social policy;
• COMMUNITY: learning, labour and community; and
• SUSTAINABLE: sustainable education systems and education for sustainability.