1. Item 5.3 Feasibility studies
Eurostat F3
Education and Training Statistics Working Group – 1-2 June 2017

2. IESS framework regulation: feasibility studies
IESS (Integrated European Social Statistics) framework regulation: feasibility and pilot studies to be implemented
First discussion in the ETS WG of 2-3 June 2016
Clarification that:
Participation in feasibility studies is voluntary
Grants are planned for funding such studies
'Feasibility study' actually means pilot testing (cognitive or field testing) of new content

3. Feasibility studies: conclusion of the ETS WG of June 2016
Addition in the LFS of information on work-based learning related to the variable HATLEVEL: agreed in December 2016 LAMAS meeting
Add in draft list of feasibility studies for future AES:
Actions planned for LFS relevant for AES
Feasibility study on difficulties to reach certain groups
Feasibility studies on soft and transversal skills due to their policy relevance; job-specific technical skills to be considered at least as contrasting item

4. Revised list of feasibility studies for the future AES
Definitions, variables and questionnaires
(1) Statistical monitoring of (self-reported) skills: study to develop European statistical terminology and variables for monitoring of self-reported skills
(2) Feasibility studies in the field of self-reported skills, including soft and transversal skills; possible consideration of job-specific technical skills
(3) Adjustment of the household/population definition to comply with the common definitions to be used for all social surveys
(4) Testing of possible new AES variables (other than self-reported skills)
Methodology
(5) Weighting schemes: methodological work to improve the weighting system of AES
(6) Quality of the AES results: methodological work to improve accuracy and/or coherence
(7) Testing discrepancies between AES and LFS data for the participation in education and training with a 12 month reference period

5. Revised list of feasibility studies for the future AES
Sampling
(8) Sampling frame: change of sampling frame in view of the IESS requirement
(9) Strategy/test to cope with the new target population ( young people aged 18-24)
Fieldwork
(10) Feasibility study on difficulties to reach certain groups: how to improve their response rate?
(11) Multi-mode data collection: to develop appropriate case-management systems for multi-mode data collection; to develop adaptive survey designs (assigning different modes/strategies to different persons). To develop methods of adjustment for measurement effects, to produce robust AES estimates using data coming from different modes of data collection.
(12) Non-response (to develop methods in the field to reduce non-response)
(13) Incentives in data collection (benefits of incentives: what impact might incentives have on response rates/profiles; and what types of incentive are most effective?)

6. Timetable for the implementation of the future LFS and AES
Grant action to be proposed under the 2019 budget
Testing of possible new content possible, however adding new content (new variables to be balanced by dropping some existing content (2016 AES variables) as burden to be kept stable

7. ETS Working Group is asked to:
Comment on the revised list of feasibility studies
Indicate interest in participation in some feasibility studies