Education is key to economic growth and to people’s ability to earn a living. Education is important for societies, too, as they respond to increasing cultural and ethnic diversity, inequality and the needs of disadvantaged people. OECD’s Education Directorate works to help countries promote learning opportunities for all - regardless of age, gender or social background. Find out more.

What's new

Launch meeting for the Review of National Policies for Education: South Africa, 6 October 2008, Pretoria

from 01-Oct-2008 to 07-Oct-2008

This review is based on co-operation between the OECD and non-member economies around the world. It is particularly interesting for those involved in educational policy, as well as for professionals directly working in the education system of South Africa. It covers the entire system of education, from pre-school to tertiary education and lifelong learning, and analyses it in terms of its economic, social and political impact.

Soaring student numbers pose funding and quality challenges for universities in OECD countries

09-Sep-2008

Education at a Glance 2008 shows that with more and more high-school graduates going on to university, governments face tough decisions on funding and quality standards to ensure that their education systems respond adequately to booming demand for degrees.

Be more purposeful in guiding tertiary education, OECD tells governments

16-Sep-2008

In today’s knowledge-driven global economy, countries need to build on tertiary education to generate innovation, sustain competitiveness and boost economic growth.  A new OECD report, Tertiary Education for the Knowledge Society, offers policy recommendations to help meet these goals.

Meeting Summary - Addressing the Challenges of Policy Implementation in Education (OECD Education Policy Committee meeting at CEO level)

from 02-Sep-2008 to 03-Sep-2008

Chief executive officers of the education ministries of OECD member countries met in Seoul, Korea on 2-3 September 2008 to discuss Addressing the Challenges of Policy Implementation in Education. They were joined by education CEOs from several non-member countries and representatives of international organisations. The meeting, chaired by Woo Hyung-Sik, Korea’s Vice Minister of Education, Science and Technology, generated insights into effective strategies to implement education policy reform and explored the processes of policy formulation and implementation.

The quality, relevance and impact of higher education - Conference organised by OECD’s Programme on Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE)

from 08-Sep-2008 to 10-Sep-2008

In today’s knowledge-driven economy, higher education is a major driver of economic competitiveness. OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría will participate in a panel discussion focusing on value for money in higher education. Other sessions of the conference will cover such topics as Assessing Learning and Employment Outcomes and Reputation and Ranking – the impact on institutional strategy and behaviour of international ranking tables. Registration is now closed.

Trends Shaping Education

Education is influenced by the world we live in. The new OECD book "Trends Shaping Education" looks at specific impacts on schooling of things happening elsewhere in our lives, from climate change and the growth of the Internet to changing lifestyles and family structures. Does the diversification of family forms mean a changing balance of responsibilities between the school and the home? And what is the impact on schooling of other phenomena, from the rise of obesity to the spread of mobile phones?

Back to school – OECD work on education to help governments and educators

18-Aug-2008

Good education systems are key to dynamic and healthy economies. OECD measures how education systems and students perform as part of its mission to help education authorities develop effective policies. Over the next few weeks, OECD will publish some pertinent new reports, articles, views and podcasts and hold a three-day conference on higher education at its Paris headquarters. Here is a foretaste of what you can expect at the start of this academic year.

See more news and events… Top of page