Research Projects

The purpose of the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCES) is to investigate ways in which young people are prepared to undertake their roles as citizens in a range of countries. The study builds on the previous IEA study of civic education (CIVED) undertaken in 1999. It will report on student achievement on a test of conceptual understandings and competencies in civic and citizenship education and its contexts in each participating country. It will also collect and analyse data about student dispositions and attitudes relating to civic and citizenship education. Teacher and school questionnaires will gather information about teaching and class management practices, school governance and climate, and others.

The population to be surveyed will be Year 8 or its national equivalent. Thirty-eight countries are participating in ICCS. In addition to the core international tests and questionnaires, there are regional modules with region-specific instrumets for Europe, Latin America and Asia. .

ACER is the International Coordinating Centre in collaboration with the National Foundation for Educational Research in England and the LPS at Roma Tre University, Italy. The main survey has been conducted by May 2009. Reports are planned for 2010.

As the International Study Centre, ACER is responsible for:

  * the overall coordination of project activities;
  * the development of the methodology and procedures required to implement the survey in all participating countries;
  * the development of student tests and student background and perceptions questionnaires;
  * the scaling and analysis of data and the preparation of the first international and technical report.