OECD:

The framework illustrated in this document represents a new, ambitious and still experimental approach to global competence which the OECD has developed in consultation with the international community of experts and which could provide a starting point for the PISA 2018 assessment. In particular, its emphasis on attitudes and values is novel in comparative assessment. Respect and a belief in human dignity place a stake in the ground for the importance of right and wrong and offer a counterweight to the risk that sensitivity to other viewpoints descends into cultural relativism. The dilemma at the heart of a globalised world is how we strike the balance between strengthening common values, that cannot be compromised, and appreciating the diversity of “proprietary” values. Leaning too far in either direction is risky: enforcing an artifcial uniformityof values damages people’s capacity to acknowledge different perspectives; and overemphasising diversity can undermine the legitimacy of any core values at all.

Global Competence is only one dimension of what people will need to learn; the OECD is looking at a broader range of dimensions in The Future of Education and Skills: an OECD Education 2030 Framework. This project is still in its early phase, and is proceeding in consultation with OECD member countries. Over time it could present a picture of the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and competencies required for the 2030 world. The framework could shape approaches to measurement; and the measurement outcomes could in turn help re ne the framework and de ne policy interventions at different levels.