3. DeSeCo and ALL are complementary research efforts in response to policy needs

The DeSeCo Project was designed as a complementary theory-oriented study to international large-scale assessments such as TIMSS, IALS, ALL and PISA and is part of a common effort to respond to an increased policy interest in information about the quality and adequacy of education and training, the role of competence in creating social inequity in individual economic, social and educational outcomes and the effects of human capital investment on overall levels of social and economic development.

As noted above ALL defined life skills¹ based on the scientific literature on cognition and on occupation skill standards and job analyses and measured relevant cognitive skills that correspond to the demands of the labour market and the broader society thought to be critical to economic and social success, while DeSeCo - although taking these important aspects into account (e.g. Levy and Murnane, 2001; Weinert, 2001; Kegan, 2001; Canto-Sperber and Dupuy, 2001) - sought to approach the question of key competencies from an interdisciplinary and policy perspective.

DeSeCo's main goal was to develop theoretical and conceptual foundations for defining a comprehensive set of key competencies that are relevant for personal, social, and economic well-being.

Different from ALL, considerations of how the identified competencies can be assessed or measured were not at the forefront of DeSeCo.

Yet, from the outset, close linkages with ALL and other international large-scale assessments were maintained in recognition that success in this complex field depends not only on theoretical and empirical work, but also on a constant dialogue and exchange among the various specialists and stakeholders to assure that an iterative process takes place (e.g. Murray, 2003; Schleicher, 2003).

Together, DeSeCo and current comparative assessments such as ALL and PISA, provide theoretical and empirical evidence that it is worthwhile to invest in key competencies for all as a means to enhance sustainable socio-economic and democratic development of societies.