Erasmus+ – Implementation of Adult Competency Research in the Republic of Croatia

Based on the official notification from the Ministry of Science and Education to the European Commission on June 14, 2018, and to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on June 15, 2018, Croatia has joined the implementation of the second cycle of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). The Agency for VET and Adult Education has been appointed as the institution responsible for conducting this research in Croatia. The PIAAC survey is the largest and most innovative assessment of adult literacy on a broad scale. Its aim is to provide a comprehensive picture of key skills among the working-age population (16-65) and investigate how these skills are used in the workplace and society, how they change concerning the level of education, qualifications, and adults’ learning experience, and how skill proficiency is associated with educational, economic, and social outcomes, including salary levels, employment status, economic growth, productivity, and ultimately, social well-being.

The obligation of all countries participating in the research is an annual payment of membership fees (known as international contributions). To encourage and facilitate the participation of EU member countries in this research, the European Commission has allowed the submission of Erasmus+ projects through a closed call, aiming to co-finance (up to 80%) the mentioned membership fee costs (international contributions) for participating in the PIAAC research from 2021 to 2023. Based on this call, the Agency for VET and Adult Education developed a project proposal, which was subsequently accepted.

The project’s value is EUR 229,272.00, and it is aimed at providing financial support for Croatia’s participation in the second cycle of the PIAAC research conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the period from 2021 to 2023.