Topics:

1. Evaluation and Assessment Framework: Overview of components of the system of educational evaluation and assessment: student assessment, teacher appraisal, school evaluation, education system evaluation. Relationships between particular components; challenges faced by developed countries with respect to educational evaluation and assessment.

2. Student assessment: Summative and formative assessments and their different formats in different countries. National assessments, national examinations, longitudinal assessments; knowledge and skills assessed; performance criteria and the reference standards; use of the results, effects for students.

3. Appraisal of teachers and school heads: Internal and external evaluation; improvement and accountability functions; performance criteria and the reference standards; instruments: e.g.classroom observation, self-evaluation, teacher portfolio, interview, student results or learning outcomes, teacher tests.

4. School evaluation: Internal and external evaluation; improvement and accountability functions; performance criteria and the reference standards; evaluation processes and evaluators; methods; use of the results; school inspectorates.

5. Education system evaluation: Approaches; objectives; responsibilities; reference standards; data sources: e.g. educational statistics, national and international student assessments, school assessments, policy reviews, ad-hoc reports commissioned on specific topics.

6. International comparative assessment surveys: History of international assessment surveys; IEA surveys, OECD PISA, adult literacy surveys, cycles of studies; assessment domains; methodology and its developments; challenges. Future perspectives; measurement of 21^st century skills.

7. Quality Assurance: Quality assurance as the process through which systems try to ensure that quality is achieved and continuously improved: policies, systems, procedures and practices that are designed to achieve, maintain or enhance quality in the school sector, and that rely on an evaluation and assessment process.