The launch of the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012) has strengthened the importance of literacy both nationally and internationally. The aim of the Decade is to provide access to literacy for people of all ages and in all societies.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports the national translation of the decade by financing different projects in the area of literacy.

One of the projects, which is funded by the BMBF under the reference 01AB072602 and conducted by the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE), is a project titled

�Literacy/Basic Education � State of the Art from a Historical and Systematic Perspective in Terms of Transferability�

The project is an integral component and part of of the project initiative �The basics for Literacy/Basic Education � scientific requirements for institutionalization and professionalism� ( for further Information: Alpha - Wissen)

The objective of the project Literacy/Basic Education - State of the Art is the advancement of the current state of research in adult literacy.

The timeframe is three years, from January 2008 until December 2010.