Introduction: An overview Chapter 1: Consolidation of the notion of competence by Dominique Simone Rychen, Swiss Federal Statistical Office Chapter 2: Multiple approaches in the policy realm to defining and selecting key competencies by Laura Hersh Salganik, Education Statistics Services Institute, American Institutes for Research Chapter 3: A limited set of competencies valid in and across social fields by Dominique Simone Rychen, Swiss Federal Statistical Office Chapter 4: Relevance of key competencies - desired outcomes by Heinz Gilomen, Swiss Federal Statistical Office Chapter 5: Implications for assessment by Scott Murray & Eugene Owen, Statistics Canada/National Center for Education Statistics, US Concluding Remarks

What competencies are needed for a successful life and well-functioning society? As part of an interdisciplinary, policy-oriented project carried out by the OECD, this volume lays out normative, definitional, and conceptual criteria for defining and selecting key international competencies.