In education and training, systematic process comparing the activities, processes and performance of a programme, organisation, country, etc. against a reference, with the aim of identifying ways to improve performance.
Comment
- Benchmarking can be either qualitative or quantitative;
- the Lisbon strategy has set the following education and training benchmarks:
- benchmarks for 2010 were:
- the share of low-achieving 15-year-olds in reading should decrease by at least 20%;
- the average rate of early school leavers should be no more than 10%;
- at least 85% of 22-year-olds should complete upper secondary education;
- the total number of graduates in maths, science and technology should increase by at least 15%, while the gender imbalance in these subjects should be reduced;
- average participation of adult population in lifelong learning (age group 25-64) should reach at least 12.5%;
- benchmarks for 2020 were:
- at least 95% of children between the age of four and the age for starting compulsory primary education should participate in early childhood education;
- the share of 15-year-olds with insufficient abilities in reading, mathematics and science should be less than 15%;
- the share of early leavers from education and training should be less than 10%;
- the share of 30-34-year-olds with tertiary educational attainment should be at least 40%;
- an average of at least 15% of adults (age group 25-64) should participate in lifelong learning.
- benchmarks for 2010 were:
Source
The Economist, 2010; European Commission, 2011.