1. Research Forum OECD’s Role in Educational Research: International & Australian Activities Monday, 3 April 2006

2. The OECD’s work in education and training: an overview William Thorn Counsellor (Education, Science and Training) Australian Delegation to the OECD

3. Outline of presentation Organisation The work program Other issues -quality -involvement in OECD work -access to information Contacts and addresses

4. The OECD: a bit of history Established in 1961 Australia joined in 1971 Currently 30 member countries plus European Commission Current debate about the future of the organisation, particularly ‘enlargement’

5. Mission of the OECD To achieve highest level of sustainable growth and employment and rising living standards To contribute to sound economic expansion in member and non-member countries To contribute to expansion of world trade on a multilateral, non-discriminatory basis

6. Organisation Work managed through a series of committees serviced by OECD secretariat Some 25 committees covering most areas of economic and social policy Work guided by principle of peer review

7. Australian Delegation to the OECD Delegation led by an ambassador. Several agencies represented: Treasury Employment Education, Science and Training Agriculture Industry

8. Education Directorate Education and Training Policy CERI INES PISA IMHE PEB NME

9. The Work Program (1) Statistics and indicators Education at a Glance Surveys PISA Adult skills Teachers

10. The Work Program (2) Policy Reviews Teacher Policy Tertiary Education School Leadership Recognition of informal and non-formal learning

11. The Work Program (3) Innovation and ‘futures’ Schooling for tomorrow Higher education futures Brain research

12. The Work Program (4) Guidelines Quality Provision in Cross Border Higher Education Earthquake safety in schools

13. Other work Seminar on indigenous education Ministerial Meeting (Athens, June) Committee on Science and Technology Policy Human resources in science Young people’s interest in science

14. An OECD line? (1) Human capital contributes to economic growth Concerns about employment of low skilled workers and the low skilled Recommendations regarding enhancing pathways for young people and strengthening vocational education and training system

15. An OECD line? (2) Policy based on research/analysis Role of private finance Devolution of decision making Focus on equity

16. Quality and Impact of Work ‘Le bilan est globalement positif’ - Georges Marchais, 1979

17. Can Education Authorities get involved? No problem Several examples - ‘Schooling for tomorrow’, formative assessment, recognition of informal and non-formal learning

18. Useful addresses OECD www.oecd.org Education Directorate Home Page www.oecd.org/edu Brain research www.oecd.org/edu/brain

19. DEST contacts Petra Kavunenko petra.kavunenko@dest.gov.au William Thorn william.thorn@aei.gov.au

20. Qld Department of Education and the Arts DEA’s research website: www.education.qld.gov.au/corporate/research Provides links to: DEA’s Research Strategy and Priorities Papers related to today’s research forum