Xavier Bonal

Xavier Bonal is a Professor of Sociology at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and Special Professor of Education and International Development at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). He directs the Globalisation, Education and Social Policies (GEPS) research group at UAB and coordinates the GLOBED Erasmus Mundus Master on Education Policies for Global Development. His work focuses on comparative social policy, welfare state dynamics, education equity, and globalization's impact on education systems.

Bonal has coordinated major projects such as ECASS (European Cities Against School Segregation) and contributed to UNESCO, UNICEF, and the European Commission. His research emphasizes school segregation mechanisms, educational markets, and policy responses to inequality. Over 200 scholarly outputs include books on education policy and globalisation, with a focus on spatial disparities and policy implementation.

His recent publications analyze post-pandemic educational inequities, digital divides, and the role of private actors in education. Bonal’s work bridges academic research with policy advocacy, addressing systemic challenges in education systems globally.