Andreas Schleicher

Andreas Schleicher is Director for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He initiated and oversees the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and other international instruments that help policymakers, researchers and educators worldwide develop and improve education policies and practices.

For more than 20 years, he has worked with ministers and education leaders to improve the quality and equity of education. Arne Duncan, former US Secretary of Education, said that Schleicher 'understands the global issues and challenges as well as or better than anyone I’ve met, and he tells me the truth'. Michael Gove, former UK Secretary of State, called him 'the most important man in English education'. Schleicher is German and lives in France.

Before joining the OECD, he was Director for Analysis at the International Association for Educational Achievement (IEA). He studied physics in Germany and earned a degree in mathematics and statistics in Australia. His honours include the Theodor Heuss Prize for 'exemplary democratic engagement', named after Germany's first Federal President. He holds an honorary professorship at the University of Heidelberg.