UNESCO Institute for Statistics

ISCED Revision

Fields of Education and Training

ISCED-F

Outline

1. Process

2. Proposed structure of ISCED-F

3. Key concepts for classification

4. Specific issues

5. Outcome of global consultation

6. Timetable for adoption

1. Process

Resolution by 36th UNESCO General Conference (November 2011) to review the 1997 ISCED Fields of Education

New ISCED Technical Advisory Panel UIS’s data collection partners (Eurostat and OECD)

and ILO nominees by UN Expert Group on Classifications

(Canada and New Zealand) and regional experts from Asia, Latin America and

Africa

1. Process

Draft proposal developed (May-Dec 2012) TAP consulted on three occasions. Draft finalised with

ILO in November and translated to ES and FR in December

Global consultation (Feb-March 2013) Via Permanent Delegations to UNESCO Involving Ministries of Education, Science, Culture and

Labour and NSOs 54 responses – mainly MOEs and NSOs

Consultation draft was main structure only

2. Proposed structure of ISCED-F

Broad fields Narrow fields Detailed fields

00 Generic programmes/qualifications 3 3

01 Education 1 5

02 Arts and Humanities 3 13

03 Social sciences, journalism & information 2 8

04 Business, administration & law 2 10

05 Natural sciences, mathematics & statistics 4 13

06 ICTs 1 5

07 Engineering, manufacturing & construction 3 16

08 Agric, forestry, fisheries & veterinary 4 9

09 Health and welfare 2 13

10 Services 4 14

3. Key concepts for classification

Inspired by Australia’s 1993 ABSCQ Main subject content determines field to which

programmes and qualifications are assigned Main subject content = greater share of students’

intended learning time (excluding self-study)

Criteria for broad and narrow fields Similarity of subject content (in priority order)

• Theoretical knowledge content• Purpose of learning• Objects of interest• Methods and techniques• Tools and equipment

4. Specific issues

Inter-disciplinary studies Main subject content determines narrow field to

which programmes and qualifications are assigned Detailed field designated by code ‘8’ in last digit

(and named ‘Inter-disciplinary programmes and qualifications involving [name of narrow field]’)

Allows the identification (by summing all code ‘8’s) of inter-disciplinary programmes and qualifications as a group

Loss of information on other fields contributing to the inter-disciplinary studies (which together may represent the majority of intended learning time)

4. Specific issues

Languages Mother tongue and Foreign (as in FoET

1999) are replaced by:• Literature and linguistics (designed for native

or fluent speakers of the language)• Language acquisition (designed for speakers

of other languages) Although the characteristics of learners are

used to distinguish the fields, these are seen as proxies for the subject content

4. Specific issues

Education Distinction between subject specialisation

of vocational and non-vocational teacher training (as in FoET 1999) dropped

Veterinary studies A strict application of the classification

criteria would suggest Veterinary fits better in Health and Welfare (but we have retained in the Agriculture broad field)

4. Specific issues

Exceptions to majority subject rule Vocational studies – assigned to field of

intended occupation Teacher training – assigned to relevant

field of teacher training (rather than subject of specialisation)

5. Outcome of global consultation

Over 50 responses received covering more than 40 countries including most represented on the UN Expert Group

Responses mainly from relevant Ministries and NSOs (20 Ministries, 12 NSOs, 9 joint)

Most responses supportive As a consequence we believe we will be able to

submit a final draft for adoption by the UNESCO General Conference in 2013

6. Timetable for adoption

Assessment of global April 2013

consultation feedback Revised text in EN end April

2013 UN Expert Group meeting mid-May 2013 Final text in EN mid-June 2013 Translation to other UN langs by Aug 2013 Adoption by UNESCO GC Nov 2013

Consultation documents

Available in EN, ES and FR at:

www.uis.unesco.org\isced

Final proposal to the UNESCO General Conference will be available on the same page from June 2013.