Dean's Lecture Series:
Global tests, like the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), are driving what counts as valuable learning, impacting national assessment systems worldwide. But what have large-scale international assessment studies really taught us about student learning, and how can these lessons help us mould the future of education?
Recognised as a leading assessment study, PISA evaluates students' proficiency in science, mathematics, and reading literacy as they conclude their compulsory education. The results have unveiled wide variation in student performance and educational outcomes across countries, with many Western countries scoring average or below-average scores. These rankings spark considerable media attention, unfortunately, seldom providing attention to more important matters tested in PISA, such as students’ approaches to learning, self-regulation, critical thinking and attitudes and knowledge of climate change.
Backed by empirical studies based on PISA data over more than two decades, Professor Hopfenbeck's Dean's Lecture will explore the use and abuse of international large-scale studies and why they still matter, including the risks of over reliance on rankings, the improper policy use of PISA and the need for responsible contextualisation of findings.
Professor Therese N. Hopefenbeck
Professor Therese N. Hopfenbeck is Professor in Educational Assessment and Director of The Assessment and Evaluation Research Centre, at the Faculty of Education. She has been directing numerous research projects internationally and been an expert advisor for several government and non-profit organisations.
Dr Hopfenbeck's research agenda focuses upon bridging research on self-regulation and classroom-based assessment and making sense of international large-scale studies in education. She has been and expert advisor on the implementation of formative assessment programs in India, South Africa, Tanzania, Norway and the Emirates and carried out policy work for UNESCO/OECD and the Norwegian Ministry of Education Norway.
Previously, Dr Hopfenbeck was Director of the Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment and continues to be a Visiting Fellow at Kellogg College.
She is Adjunct Professor of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), member of the Visiting Panel for Research at the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, chair of the expert PISA 2025 Questionnaire Framework group, appointed by OECD and ACER (2022 – 2026). Dr Hopfenbeck is the elected President of The Association for Educational Assessment-Europe (2022-2024) and Lead Editor of the journal Assessment in Education, Principles, Policy and Practice.