Traditions, Transitions and Transformations, Prof. Guido Benvenuto
Interviewed by Amina Afif
In this video interview, Amina Afif speaks with Prof. Guido Benvenuto, keynote speaker at AEA-Europe 2026, about his professional journey in educational assessment and the evolution of assessment literacy in Italy. Drawing on the themes of his keynote, Traditions, Transitions and Transformations, Prof. Benvenuto reflects on the current state of the Italian education system and the challenges of strengthening assessment literacy across different levels. The conversation explores how national expectations can be balanced with the autonomy of schools, universities and individual professionals, and what this means for the future of educational assessment.
In the second part of the interview, Amina Afif and Prof. Guido Benvenuto explore how national assessment data, including INVALSI results, can become meaningful tools for school improvement. The conversation examines the challenges of connecting external assessment information with everyday school practices and considers what capabilities and shifts in thinking are needed among teachers, school leaders and policymakers to foster a stronger, more coherent assessment culture.
Guido Benvenuto
Full Professor in the Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Guido Benvenuto is Full Professor (Research Method in Education) in the Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. His main teaching courses and research interests are: Assessment and Evaluation Studies, Literacy, Student dropout, and Social Education. He has participated in numerous research projects at international level: IEA Reading Literacy Study, IEA Writing Assessment, OECD/PISA (Programme for International Students Assessment).
His involvements at national level include research commissioned by the Ministry of Education, the Regional Institutes for Educational Research (IRRSAE), now regional Institutes for Educational Research (IRRE), and the European Centre of Education (INVALSI – National Institute for the Evaluation of the Educational System of Instruction and Training).