Papers from this conference focus on acquiring and using empirical information as a basis for monitoring and studying education with the special ambition of making such information both meaningful and powerful and the use of such information dynamic. The papers are: (1) "The Way to a Strategic View on Evaluation" (Kimmo Leimu); (2) "Strategic Arenas of Influence in Pursuing Quality in Education: Some Conceptual and General Issues" (Ulf P. Lundgren); (3) "The Potential and Challenges of International Comparative Studies of Educational Achievement" (Tjeerd Plomp); (4) "Educational Indicators" (Eugene Owen); (5) "National Viewpoints on International Evaluation and Research" (Erkki Kangasniemi); (6) "The National Intertwined with the International" (Pirjo Linnakyla); (7) "Staking Claims for Quality in System Evaluation in Germany" (Rainer Lehmann); (8) "Challenges to a National Strategy of Evaluation: Visions and Expectations" (Vilho Hirvi); (9) "How To Use Evaluation Findings" (Pentti Takala); (10) "Pillars of National Evaluations: Reconciling Research and Policy Interests in Evaluation Programs in Finland" (Pentti Yrjola); (11) "Research in the Context of National Assessment" (Jouni Valijarvi); and (12) "Conclusions, Challenges, and Visions" (Kimmo Leimu). Each paper contains references. (SLD)