Bringing Academia and Youth Engagement Together: IP-PAD at the European Youth Parliament

The European Youth Parliament welcomed three doctoral candidates from the IP-PAD (Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Politics of Adolescence & Democracy) network into its International Office in Berlin from mid-June through the following ten months. This collaboration brought together academic research and on-the-ground civic engagement, as the IP-PAD researchers supported EYP activities while deepening their understanding of how youth engage with democratic processes.

Bridging research and practice

The IP-PAD project explores how adolescent brain development, cognition and social contexts shape political behaviour. From trust in institutions to reactions to polarisation, disinformation and low voter turnout. The project brings together universities across Europe: University of Amsterdam, Vienna, Panteion (Greece), Jagiellonian (Poland) and Royal Holloway (UK), and partner organisations including EYP and many other non-profit organisations with a political focus.

Inside EYP’s International Office

During their time with EYP, Irene Arahal Moreno, Mykyta Kovalov and Gustavo Couto de Jesus worked as Assistants in the International Office. They contributed to event coordination, data analysis and the design of data pipelines and reports, all while seeing how a youth-led civic organisation operates from the inside. Their involvement brought research closer to practice and helped EYP better understand and communicate its impact.

Gustavo reflected: “The European Youth Parliament is a rare example of how youth-led civic initiatives can meaningfully combine passion with structure. During my time at its International Office, I saw up close how deeply committed young people are to shaping a more democratic and sustainable future. Supporting them, from coordinating events to analysing survey data, gave me a unique opportunity to contribute to EYP’s long-term impact goals. Designing data pipelines and writing analytical reports wasn’t just about numbers; it was about helping the organisation better understand, measure, and communicate the difference it makes across Europe. That blend of purpose and rigour made the experience both professionally formative and deeply inspiring.”

Mykyta said: “The EYP stands at the very forefront of engaging the next generation in democratic life. During my time working in International Office, I had the rare privilege of getting practical, on-the-ground experience in youth political engagement, the very topic that I normally study in a more abstract, scientific way. That firsthand immersion has been invaluable in shaping my research and perspective, and I remain both grateful for and deeply fond of the time I spent with EYP.”

Irene added: “The European Youth Parliament truly stands out as a powerful demonstration of what the dedicated efforts of civic youth-led initiatives are able to achieve. During my time working in its International Office, I frequently wished in awe that young people everywhere were more similar to the few volunteers I met than to the landscape that the IP-PAD survey presents us with.”

What this meant for both sides

This exchange gave the doctoral researchers invaluable real-world perspective on youth civic engagement, while enriching EYP’s International Office with analytic support and fresh insights grounded in interdisciplinary research.  By helping to conduct and analyse our membership survey, the IP-PAD researchers gave the EYP a clearer insight into the experiences and impact of our network. These results now provide a stronger foundation for understanding how EYP contributes to young people’s democratic engagement across Europe, and allow us to communicate that value more confidently.

We are deeply grateful to Irene, Mykyta and Gustavo for their support and the time they spent with us. It was wonderful to have them as part of the team, and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours!