Question: Who is in charge of TIMSS?

Answer: TIMSS was developed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) to allow participating nations to compare learners’ educational achievement across borders. The IEA is an independent international cooperative of national research institutions and government agencies, with nearly 70 member countries worldwide. The IEA contracts with the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College to lead the design and implementation of TIMSS. The TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center works with country representatives, called National Research Coordinators, to design and implement TIMSS, assure quality control and international comparability, and report results. In South Africa, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) hosts the office of the National Research Coordinator, and the organisation is responsible for administering TIMSS.