This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the IFIP TC 3 International Conference, KCKS 2010, held as a part of the 21th World Computer Congress, WCC 2010, in Brisbane, Australia, in September 2010. The 43 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The range of issues cover many aspects of ICT in relation to competencies in the knowledge society; they present theory, research, applications and practical experiences on topics including but not limited to developing creativity, digital solidarity, e-management in education, informatics and programming knowledge technologies, lifelong learning, policy development, teacher(s) in a knowledge society, e-inclusion, AGORA: the IFIP initiative on lifelong learning, collective intelligence, digital literacy, educating ict professionals, formal and informal learning, innovations of assessment, networking and collaboration, problem solving teacher learning & creativity as well as teaching & learning 2.0.

Higher education policy has increasingly gained a European dimension, with its own distinct influence over national education policies. Against this background, a major project was launched, the REFLEX project, which aims to make a contribution to assessing the demands that the modern knowledge society places on higher education graduates, and the degree to which higher education institutions in Europe are up to the task of equipping graduates with the competencies needed to meet these demands. The project also looks at how the demands, and graduates’ ability to realise them, is influenced by the way in which work is organised in firms and organisations. The REFLEX project has been carried out in sixteen different countries and consisted of a large scale survey among some 70.000 graduates. This report presents the major findings and draws important policy implications.

Annotation Finding considerable achievements of the Competency-Based Education movement to be in jeopardy, educators from Britain and the US contribute a capability perspective. They draw on the experiences of the different groups within the movement to seek greater conceptual and methodological clarity about the nature of competence and capability and its assessment, to help practitioners deliver it more effectively. There is no index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

This publication contains a number of working papers which examine the growing importance of curricula development, the quality of educational provision and key educational competencies to address identified socio-economic and political priorities. In the light of these challenges, the papers discuss what competencies are considered to be important in contributing to sustainable development, social welfare, cohesion and justice, as well as to personal well-being.

Explores contemporary trends in human resources development and training. Examines the shift towards economies and societies that increasingly rely on human knowledge and skills in producing goods and services and reviews the new objectives of education and training. Investigates reforms in education and training systems and examines policies and practices that encourage more and better training opportunities for employed and unemployed workers and those with special needs. Looks at international cooperation and donor policies in this area.

What skills and competencies are needed for individuals to lead a successful and responsible life, both in the workplace and in other social environments, and for society to face the challenges of the present and future? What are the foundations (normative, theoretical, and conceptual) for defining and selecting a limited set of key competencies? These are among the important questions, of considerable relevance for fields such as education and training, employment, social affairs and welfare, health, and justice, that provided the starting point for an international and interdisciplinary endeavor carried out by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office and the National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The current volume, which has resulted from this work, compiles essays from renowned scholars who explore these questions from multiple perspectives (anthropology, economics, history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology), along with commentaries from leading representatives of policy and practice who provide an important complement to the reflection on key competencies. This volume thus presents a multifaceted sketch of issues related to defining and selecting key competencies in an open, still ongoing debate at national and international levels.

This volume lays out relevant normative, definitional and conceptual criteria for defining and selecting key competencies in an international context.