OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) - Documentation

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What competencies are necessary for individuals to cope with important challenges in the different spheres of life, such as the economic sphere, the political sphere, and family life? Is it possible to identify a finite set of competencies necessary for an overall successful life and a well-functioning society? If so, what is the nature of these competencies? To what extent are key competencies similar across countries and sectors? What are the implications of the concept of key competence for learning and teaching throughout life? And what are the challenges for enhancing and assessing key competencies? These are some of the questions that have served to stimulate the research within the OECD project Definition and Selection of Competencies: Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations (DeSeCo) and the contributions and discussions at the second international DeSeCo Symposium.

The complexity of the demands generated by an increasingly interdependent, changing and conflictual world places the objectives of education and the strategies to achieve education goals in center stage of the debate on broad educational reform. In line with a growing concern about the adequacy and quality of education and training and the actual return on public educational expenditure, there has been since the mid-1980s an increased policy interest in comparable outcome indicators in the education field. In fact, measuring the quality of education outcomes, estimating economic and social returns to learning, and identifying key determinants to educational success is an ongoing discussion topic that stimulates keen interest around the world.

Policy interest in international surveys on Adult Learning (AL) has increased strongly. AL survey data are used as benchmarks for a country‘s educational system. However, results of key indicators like participation in learning activities often vary remarkably between different data sources. Stating that these differences are due to varying concepts and methods is not enough. The key question is: Which figures represent reality more appropriately? Therefore, evaluation of survey concepts and methods is crucial for international comparison of Adult Learning. This report provides guidelines on methodological and conceptual issues. Part one covers methodological aspects while part two deals with concepts, definitions and example questions. Recommendations are based on input from 14 countries.

The fundamental goal of the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALL) is to shed new light on the twin processes of skill gain and loss. This is achieved through measurement of prose and document literacy of adults for a second time in some countries. Further, the study has extended the range of skills measured by adding problem solving, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT) skill. This allows one to examine the profiles of important foundation skills. Thus the study makes it possible, for the first time, to explore the interrelationships among skill domains as well as their links to major antecedents and outcomes, such as the quantity and quality of initial education and skill’s impact on employability, wages, and health.

The study offers an understanding of the nature and magnitude of literacy issues faced by countries and explores new insights into the factors that influence the development of adult skills in various settings – at home, at work and across countries. The 20 countries represented account for over 50 per cent of the world’s entire gross domestic product. As such, the literacy data can contribute importantly to an understanding of the demand and supply of skills in the global, knowledgebased economy. The results confirm the importance of skills for the effective functioning of labour markets and for the economic success and social advancement of both individuals and societies. They offer policy makers a useful tool for policy analysis and for crafting policies and programmes that can contribute to economic and social progress.

At a time when governments face the challenges of maintaining competitiveness in a global economy, it is necessary to have high-quality comparative information regarding the fundamental skills of the adult population. Such information can help governments to evaluate policies and design more effective interventions. This article describes a strategy currently being developed by the OECD for assessing the literacy skills of adults, including familiarity with information and communication technologies and the ability to manage information, construct new knowledge and communicate with others. The work will enhance understanding of the effectiveness of education and training systems in developing basic cognitive skills and key generic work skills.