Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation (QUEST)

What Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation (QUEST) does

QUEST (Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation) is a Brussels-based non-profit association (ASBL) founded in 2017 that operates a pan-European network connecting pioneer schools and education organisations to promote democratic, inclusive, and sustainable education. The organisation is organised around three thematic pillars — Democratic Education, Inclusive Education, and Sustainable Education — and structures its work around four activity streams: advocating at EU level, connecting education organisations across Europe, running project-based participatory action research, and convening communities of practice. Its product portfolio consists of Erasmus+ projects (including DARE, RAI, SWELL, REGEN 2, YPARC, YOUDEX, DECUS, VOLT, YOU-CARE, BUSTA, YGBN, Inclusive Voices, and the European Solidarity Corps volunteer programme), publications and policy guidelines (e.g., Nonviolent Communication Guidelines for Teachers, Democratic Education Guidelines), the Youth Advisory Board for ages 13–25, Member Forums, and the Brussels Outdoor School demonstration model. Membership is free and open to schools, NGOs, training centres, institutions, and universities, with the network having grown to 90+ members across 36 countries.

The organisation does not operate any proprietary technology platform, software product, or commercial offering; it runs on standard web infrastructure (quest-eu.org, social media, monthly newsletter) with no disclosed API, SDK, or mobile applications. Its business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: QUEST generates revenue primarily through European Union programmes — specifically Erasmus+ project grants and Operating Grants for Civil Society Cooperation in Education — to deliver research projects, conferences, trainings, and workshops. The organisation does not charge membership fees, does not sell products or services, and has no disclosed headcount-based commercial revenue. Governance is collective through its member organisations under Belgian ASBL law, with co-founders Martina Paone (Coordinator) and Mia Schmallenbach (Project Manager) leading a roughly 14-person team organised into Mission, Policy & Research, Project, and Membership & Communication circles.

Name

Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation (QUEST)

Legal name

Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation (QUEST)

Website

https://quest-eu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

QUEST is a Brussels-based non-profit network connecting 90+ pioneer schools and education organisations across 36 countries to advance democratic, inclusive, and sustainable education through Erasmus+ funded projects, EU policy advocacy, and youth participation programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Network and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Erasmus+ and Government-Sponsored Exchange Partnerships (EDAIABAJ)

Keywords

• Education network
• Erasmus+ projects
• Democratic education
• Sustainable education
• Inclusive education

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. EU Funding and Grants: QUEST operates as a non-profit network funded primarily through European Union programmes, particularly Erasmus+ and Operating Grants for Civil Society Cooperation in Education. The organization conducts research projects, conferences, trainings, and workshops supported by EU funding.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

QUEST operates as a Brussels-based European network connecting pioneer schools and organizations across 34+ countries to promote democratic, inclusive, and sustainable education. It offers free membership, manages Erasmus+ funded projects, conducts EU-level policy advocacy and research, runs youth participation programs including a Youth Advisory Board, and facilitates knowledge exchange through member forums, trainings, and publications.

Product overview

QUEST (Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation) is a Brussels-based network connecting pioneer schools and organisations from 34+ countries to promote change in education. The organization offers a portfolio of programs organized around three core pillars: Democratic Education (self-directed learning, shared decision-making), Sustainable Education (outdoor learning, nature pedagogy), and Inclusive Education (access for all learners). Its service portfolio includes an Erasmus+ project management platform (with projects like DARE, RAI, SWELL, REGEN 2, YPARC, YOUDEX, VOLT, YOU-CARE, BUSTA, YGBN), a membership network (78+ members across 36 countries) providing advocacy, training, and funding opportunities, the Youth Advisory Board for youth participation, the European Solidarity Corps volunteer program, policy research and advocacy services, Member Forums for best practice exchange, and the Brussels Outdoor School as a demonstration model. QUEST also manages the Erasmus+ Coalition representing over 6,200 member organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Connected 90+ member organisations across Europe working on cutting-edge education
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Erasmus+ CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Co-led by Lifelong Learning Platform and European Youth Forum since 2010, the Erasmus+ Coalition includes 81 EU-wide networks with over 6200 member organisations. QUEST participates as a member advocating for increased Erasmus+ budget and programme improvements during Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations.
• Child Rights Action GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on promoting and protecting children's rights, where QUEST contributes its expertise on educational rights and youth participation.
• Alliance for Investing in ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance working to ensure children's rights are integrated into EU policies and funding decisions, with QUEST representing educational perspectives.
• Alliance for Investing in YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on meaningful youth participation in decision-making processes, aligning with QUEST's Youth Advisory Board and youth-led initiatives.
• Education for Climate CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-level education initiative focused on climate action where QUEST contributes its sustainable education expertise.
• Lifelong Learning PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean civil society organisation co-leading the Erasmus+ Coalition. QUEST collaborates through this coalition on education policy advocacy.
• European Youth ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform representing youth organisations in Europe, co-leading the Erasmus+ Coalition with Lifelong Learning Platform. QUEST works through this relationship on youth participation in education.
• YOU CARE Project Partners (Inovatyvi Karta, Felcos Umbria, Love & Care for People, For You)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ project consortium focused on eco-anxiety among youth, bringing together organisations from Lithuania, Italy, Ireland, Bulgaria, and Belgium to conduct participatory action research.
• YOUDEX Project Partners (Orvita, EUDEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ project empowering youth with tools and spaces to collect and share lived experiences of democracy, implemented with partners in Belgium and Germany.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• European Schoolnet: Larger Brussels-based network of 34 European ministries of education working on digital learning and school innovation. Comparable in pan-European education coordination but operates at a ministerial level rather than civil society.
• Ashoka Europe: Global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs, with significant presence in education innovation. Comparable as a network organization funding and convening change-makers, but operates at much larger scale across many sectors beyond education.

Emerging players

• Democracy International: European network advocating for democratic participation and citizen engagement across Europe. Comparable thematic overlap with QUEST's democratic education mission and EU-level advocacy approach, though focused on broader democratic governance.

Direct peers

• Lifelong Learning Platform: European civil society network of 40+ organizations working on lifelong learning policy. Co-leads the Erasmus+ Coalition alongside the European Youth Forum and is a close partner of QUEST on EU education advocacy.
• European Parents' Association: Federation of parent associations across Europe engaged in EU education policy. Comparable as a Brussels-based, EU-funded civil society network advocating for educational change at the European level.
• European Youth Forum: Platform representing over 100 youth organizations across Europe. Co-leads the Erasmus+ Coalition and aligns with QUEST's Youth Advisory Board and youth participation mission in EU education policy.
• OBESSU (Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions): European umbrella for national school student unions advocating for student rights and democratic participation in education. Highly comparable as a pan-European education civil society network engaging with EU institutions.
• European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA): European NGO representing 130+ organizations in adult education and lifelong learning. Operates as a comparable Brussels-based, EU grant-funded network coordinating member organizations in education policy and project advocacy.
• EUDEC (European Democratic Education Community): Pan-European network advocating for democratic education and self-directed learning. EUDEC is also a member of QUEST and operates as a sibling network serving overlapping schools and organizations pursuing learner-led pedagogy.

Regional players

• Network of Education Policy Centers: Network of education policy analysis centers across Central and Eastern Europe. Comparable as a civil society network coordinating educational research and policy advocacy at the European level, though with regional rather than pan-EU orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@QuestEu
• Facebookfacebook.com/Questasbl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quality-education-in-europe-for-sustainable-social-transformation-quest
• Instagraminstagram.com/quest.network

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation (QUEST)