ATC21S is an international research effort aimed at
empowering students with the right skills to succeed
in the 21st-century workplace.

Purpose

Empowering Kids to Succeed

The Challenge: Transform Education for the 21st Century

Today’s curricula does not fully prepare students to live and work in an information-age society. As a result, employers today are often challenged with entry-level workers who lack the practical skills it takes to create, build and help sustain an information-rich business.

Although reading, writing, mathematics and science are cornerstones of today’s education, curricula must go further to include skills such as collaboration and digital literacy that will prepare students for 21st-century employment. Establishing new forms of assessment can begin a fundamental change in how we approach education worldwide.

The Foundation: Assessment

To make changes at the classroom level, policy-makers need accurate information about the skills of the student population. Gathering that data through assessment is a critical component.

ATC21S is developing methods to assess skills that will form the basis for 21st-century curricula, with an emphasis on communication and collaboration, problem-solving, citizenship, and digital fluency.

Into the Classroom

ATC21S aims to offer 21st-century curricula recommendations for education systems to support an improved workforce. Our goal is to create a new assessment framework with teaching and learning resources to help students develop 21st-century skills.

Translating these skills to the classroom will shape the economic and social development of countries and communities for years to come.

  • ATC21S White Papers »

    ATC21S’ foundational research, written by more than 60 of the world’s top education researchers.
  • 21st-Century Skills »

    Learn about the critical skills students need to be successful in the digital age and beyond.
  • Watch Our New Video »

    Streaming video content featuring leading academics from around the globe.
  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Find answers to frequently asked questions about ATC21S.

    Read Our FAQs »
  • Acknowledgments

    We acknowledge that many people have contributed to our joint success.

    Acknowledgments List »
  • Progress

    Read our Project Update Reports to learn more about the progress being made.

    Read Now »