EU-THRIVE - Thriving through Reflection on Digital Engagement for Learning and Well-being

THRIVE addresses one of Europe’s most pressing educational challenges: understanding and guiding adolescents’ self-reflective use of digital technologies in the era of generative AI. The project’s central aim is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based understanding of how digital practices affect adolescents’ self-regulated learning (SRL) and emotional well-being, and to transform these insights into scalable interventions and actionable guidance for schools and policymakers. To achieve this, THRIVE employs a four-phase methodology (CUES): Capture baseline evidence on ~4,000 adolescents (ages 14–16) in 30 schools across seven countries through mixed-methods surveys, guided self-reflections, and teacher/school-leader inputs; Understand digital practices and derive design patterns using computational analysis of youth reflections, followed by randomized controlled trials of two AI-supported reflective interventions (intelligent tutoring, adaptive feedback) embedded in an open-source tool (ORBITA); Empower schools by synthesizing results into the European Adolescence Well-being Intervention Framework (AdWell), supported by playbooks and policy guidelines; and Scale impact through open science dissemination, the European School Digital Well-being Network (E-Well+ connect), Erasmus+ teacher training, and FAIR/CESSDA-compliant open resources. THRIVE directly benefits study participants transforming them from research subjects into active beneficiaries. By embedding adolescent voices, ensuring equity across gender, socio-economic and disability groups, and applying value-sensitive AI design, THRIVE delivers robust scientific evidence and practical tools that foster digital agency, metacognitive skills, and resilience. In line with Horizon Europe priorities on digital education, well-being, and inclusion, THRIVE equips Europe with data- driven, scalable solutions to promote healthy, self-regulated use of technology in schools.