The conference was opened by Andreas Schleicher, Director of the Directorate-General for Education and Skills and Special Advisor on Education Policy at OECD. In his own innovative way, he substantiated his thoughts on how to prepare the workforce to face the challenges of modern technology, and the importance of learning in the everyday environment.
During the two-day event, the invited experts presented selected findings derived from PIAAC data analyses. Topics of interest were: measuring cognitive and non-cognitive skills in the labour market (Daniele Checchi), association between achievement and health (Justin Rodgers), teacher skills and quality (Ana Hidalgo-Cabrillana), and differences in gender gaps between PISA and PIAAC comparative data (Francesca Borgonovi). Leyla Mohadjer discussed small areas estimation of proficiency measures on a case of a region. Camilla Michelleta used her institution as an example to demonstrate the usefulness of the E&S Online, which is based on methodology and population estimates of PIAAC survey results, and enables national and international comparison of the data obtained through this survey.
The PIAAC Board of Participating Countries that will take part in the second round of the PIAAC International Adult Competencies Survey met before the conference. It will be held between 2018 and 2023 and will include more than 30 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Canada, Korea, Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and Portugal. The data will be obtained in 2021 and 2022, with the preliminary results available in 2023.
The representatives of the PIAAC Slovenia research team received valuable information from the representatives of those countries that have already used the E&S Online tool for individual testing. This is of great importance for the central development activity of the project Introducing the E&S Online instrument and the establishment of a national point, planned by the SIAE this year.
Jasmina Mirčeva, MSc (jasmina.mirceva@acs.si), SIAE
