Initiatives of the European Union and other international organisations such as OECD or UNESCO led to the establishment of policy-relevant indicator systems related to education. In the strategic framework concerning the European Education Area, for example, seven EU targets have been set for the period until 2030, which are subject to an accompanying evaluation.
Data sources are primarily the Microcensus Labor Force Survey and annual education statistics, processed according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED); international assessment studies such as the International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) and PISA are also used. Thematically, the focus is on participation in the education and training systems and on their personnel and financial resources, on educational attainment and competence levels, on phenomena of transition to employment, and on participation in continuing education.