Prof. Dr. Ferre Laevers is a leading figure in European education and professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven (Belgium). He is the founder and director of CEGO – the Centre for Experiential Education, where he has spent over four decades developing the Experiential Education (EGO) framework, a scientific and practical model widely applied from early childhood to elderly care.

His work addresses a broad range of educational themes, including:

– advanced teaching methods

– classroom climate

– social-emotional development

– moral education through solidarity

– talent-based learning

– integrated quality assurance systems

In 1991, together with C. Pascal and T. Bertram (University of Worcester), Laevers co-founded EECERA (the European Early Childhood Education Research Association), serving as its president starting in 2005.

Through extensive international lectures, research, and collaborations, Prof. Laevers has helped shape Experiential Education into a globally recognized approach — one of the five educational strategies endorsed by the OECD — and implemented in countries including the UK, Australia, and Japan.

His Vision on Education

Ferre Laevers believes that education should actively contribute to a more just and equitable society.
By supporting children’s natural drive to explore and play — and by monitoring their well-being and engagement — educators can foster emotionally resilient and mentally healthy individuals.

“When basic emotional needs such as affection, safety, validation, and belonging are unmet, the capacity for deep learning is severely compromised.”

Two central indicators in his approach are:

– Well-being – a child’s emotional state of comfort and security

– Involvement – a deep, focused engagement in activities (similar to “flow”)

These are assessed using the Leuven Scales, practical tools to evaluate learning environments and develop targeted strategies that promote meaningful, in-depth learning.

Experiential Education (EGO)

Experiential Education is a child-centered, rights-based approach that focuses on how children experience learning — not just what they learn.
Its core mission is to improve educational quality by:

– enhancing emotional well-being

– encouraging deep engagement

– empowering educators to observe, reflect, and adapt their practice

Prof. Dr. Ferre Laevers will be present in Romania in October 2025, delivering:

– A keynote masterclass on October 4 in Timișoara

– An interactive workshop for educators

For more publications and insights:
🔗 ResearchGate – Ferre Laevers

Video resources:

– Well-being and Engagement – The Perfect Guides to a Powerful Learning Environment

– Interview at Early Years Scotland’s Annual Conference, 2016