Following the previous ICILS cycles (2013 and 2018), ICILS 2023 will address a question of critical interest today: How well are students prepared for study, work, and life in a digital world?
The study measures international differences in students’ computer and information literacy (CIL): their ability to use computers to investigate, create, participate and communicate at home, at school, in the workplace, and in the community. Participating countries also have an option for their students to complete an assessment of computational thinking (CT) and approaches to writing software programs and applications.
Over the past four decades, ICT has had profound impact on our daily lives, work and social interactions. ICILS deals with the core knowledge, skills and understanding students need to succeed in this dynamic information environment. Participating in ICILS will provide countries with reliable, comparable data about young people’s development of 21st century CIL skills.
The study helps countries to monitor their own national targets regarding students’ digital competences and also provides information for monitoring progress toward the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, ICILS data is recognized as an official EU target by the European Council and EU Member States to support strategic priorities towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021-2030).
ICILS supports countries to make informed decisions about how best to prepare students for life in an age of constantly evolving digital technologies. The study helps countries to understand how digital technologies are used in classrooms and their impact on teaching methods to develop CIL skills. It also provides evidence of how students’ CIL (and CT skills) relate to out-of-school contexts that support learning.
Total number of education systems participating in ICILS 2023: 35
Austria; Azerbaijan; Belgium, Flemish; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Chile; Chinese Taipei; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia); Greece; Hungary; Italy; Kazakhstan; Korea, Rep. of; Kosovo; Latvia; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Oman; Portugal; Romania; Serbia; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; United States; and Uruguay.
Benchmarking entities are listed in brackets.
March 2020
1st meeting of National Research Coordinators (NRCs)
2020 - mid 2021
Framework revision, establishment of testing platform and instrument development
May - June 2021
Pilot (optional)
February - June 2022
Field trial
March - June 2023
Main survey data collection in Northern Hemisphere countries
September - November 2023
Main survey data collection in Southern Hemisphere countries
Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Publication of the results
March 2025
Launch of a public-use database and documentation
In recognition of the contribution from ICILS data toward developing European education policies, the European Commission provides funding for Erasmus+ countries participating in ICILS 2023. The initiative—led by the Education, Audiovisual, and Culture Executive Agency—provides up to 75% of international costs for Erasmus+ countries to participate. Read more here.
Furthermore, for this cycle of ICILS the European Commission's DG EAC is providing additional support by covering the costs of Western Balkan participants interested in enrollment.