This session explores the role of PISA evidence in monitoring the performance of education systems. Two examples will be discussed. First, Margo Schel and Sybren Spit from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in the Netherlands will present on how PISA is used in the Netherlands to monitor students’ basic skills. Second, Juhani Rautopuro and Najat Ouakrim-Soivio from University of Jyväskylä, Finland will present PISA and other large-scale assessments are used as tools for quality assurance in Finland.

This session explores how PISA evidence is utilized in research at both national and sub-national level to look at education issues of relevant for a specific education context. Jennifer Diedrich from the Technical University of Munich will present some selected examples of how the PISA National Centre of Germany has accompanied national PISA research projects and these projects’ potentials for informing education policy and practice. Francesca Crotta and Miriam Salvisberg from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland will present how researchers and policy makers in the Canton of Ticino in Switzerland are collaborating on the use of PISA evidence to inform policy.

This session will highlight four examples of mobilizing PISA evidence in education policymaking processes. João Marôco ISPA, will present how PISA evidence has been used in educational reforms in Portugal, Ilze Saleniece, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia will present how Latvia has mobilized data of student learning from PISA and other large-scale assessments in policy making. Janez Vogrinc and Matej Vošnjak will discuss the importance of PISA data for policy-making process and improving the quality of school practice in Slovenia. And, Maie Kitsing, Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia, will share the experience of Estonia in using PISA evidence to inform policy. Moderator: Tomasz Gajderowicz, Deputy Director for Research, Educational Research Institute, Poland