Empowering for the Future

Active

Principal Investigator:

João Queirós

Started:

2025

Funding:

PLANAPP, PRR, RP, UE

Location

Lisboa, Portugal

Scope

National and International

Overview

Research project studying the maladjustment and depreciation of skills among young adults in Portugal – causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies.

This multi-year initiative employs cutting-edge psychometric methodologies to develop and implement comprehensive literacy assessments across diverse adult populations. Our team has designed culturally adaptive testing instruments that account for linguistic diversity, educational backgrounds, and socioeconomic factors. The project integrates computer-based adaptive testing with traditional assessment methods to provide a holistic understanding of adult literacy levels.

Key Findings

Preliminary results indicate significant variation in literacy proficiency across demographic groups, with targeted interventions showing 40% improvement in reading comprehension among adult learners within 6 months.

Impact

This project has already influenced education policies in 3 countries and has been recognized by UNESCO as a best practice in adult literacy assessment.

Objectives

1
Develop and validate culturally responsive literacy assessment tools for adult populations across different linguistic and educational backgrounds.
2
Establish baseline literacy metrics for 50,000+ adults across multiple regions to inform education policy and intervention programs.
3
Create an open-access database of assessment results to support future research and evidence-based policy development.

Documents & Resources

  • Reports
Annual Literacy Assessment Report 2025
Methodology Framework - Adaptive Testing
Regional Analysis: Literacy Patterns
  • Publications
Chen, S. et al. (2025) - Cultural Adaptation in Literacy Assessment
Adult Literacy Trends Journal - Vol. 12
Psychometric Innovations in Adult Education

Highlights & News

  • Workshops
Building Culturally Responsive Assessment Tools March 2026
Two-day intensive workshop training educators and researchers on developing and implementing culturally adaptive literacy assessments for diverse adult populations.
Data-Driven Literacy Interventions January 2026
Hands-on training session demonstrating how to use assessment data to design targeted literacy improvement programs for adult learners.
  • Presentations
International Conference on Adult Education (ICAE 2026) February 2026
Keynote presentation by Dr. Sarah Chen on breakthrough findings in literacy assessment methodology and their implications for educational policy.
UNESCO Lifelong Learning Forum December 2025
Presentation of preliminary results showing significant improvements in adult literacy outcomes through culturally responsive assessment approaches.