Individual Consultant (Author) - Transversal Competencies Expert

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Bangkok

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Bangkok Time) : 30-APR-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The “integrating transversal competencies in effective teaching and learning” project aims to support countries’ on-going curriculum reforms to integrate transversal competencies in effective classroom teaching and learning by helping translate curriculum into effective classroom practices through teacher training and support. Effective integration of transversal competencies in teaching and learning is a central component of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as defined by the Transforming Education Summit (TES) thematic action track “learning and skills for life, work and sustainable development”. From an intersectoral perspective, the project also relates to UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector’s priority on “Advancing a Culture of Enquiry among the Youth and Transform Learning in a Complex World” under the MOST (Management of Social Transformations) Programme. The project support two participating countries namely Nepal and Solomon Islands to strengthen teachers’ understanding and capacity to effectively teach transversal competencies. 

Long Description

The project will produce three outputs:

a. The project will review national programmes and policies for teacher training on transversal competencies (output 1) to provide the participating countries with concrete recommendations for revising the content, structure and modality of training. This review will look both at training modules within initial teacher education as well as in-service training offers in the area of transversal competencies.

b. Upon the findings of the review, the project will develop the relevant teacher training modules (output 2) and train master teacher trainers to integrate transversal competencies in their teacher training programmes the participating countries.

c. Furthermore, the project will develop repository of contextually relevant exemplars, guidelines and tools (output 3) to help teachers integrate selected transversal competencies in their teaching practices. This repository also aims to facilitate the roll-out of training to a wider set of teachers. 

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Within this context, the main purpose of this assignment is to support the Member States (namely Nepal and the Solomon Islands) in the effective implementation of new curriculum constructs in classroom practices, by:

a. Integrating selected transversal competencies in their curriculum framework as part of a competency -based curriculum reform (in the case of Nepal) and developing content and frame pedagogical approach to embed selected transversal competencies into pre-service course unit/s (in the case of the Solomon Islands);

b. Designing the relevant capacity development materials and training tools;

c. Planning appropriate training programme; and

d. Train master trainer at the selected teacher training institutions for scaling up and mainstreaming into existing teacher training programmes.

The work will focus specifically on four competency domains from the framework: “collaboration”, “creativity”, “reflective thinking” (also known in other frameworks as critical thinking) and “reasoned decision-making” (also known as problem solving). These competencies were identified during the inception phase of the project as the most commonly found competencies in curriculum and assessment frameworks with the most well-defined constructs.

Furthermore, the capacity development work will focus on the primary and secondary education level (depending on the participating countries) and tools and examples for some specific identified learning area within these levels. The focus on upper primary and secondary education will contribute to preparing learners to actively and effectively contribute to building more sustainable futures and to be better prepared for rapidly changing societies and economies.

It aims to contribute to making the curriculum of secondary education more relevant to equipping future graduates with the skills necessary to build more sustainable futures.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and the direct supervision and overall guidance of the Chief of Education Section, and daily guidance of the Team Leader of Education Policy and Planning, and in close collaboration with the relevant education staff at UNESCO Kathmandu and Suva Offices, the individual specialist is expected to perform the following tasks:

a. Review existing teacher training programmes to identify how best to reinforce pre-service training on transversal competencies and alignment with the designed in-service or pre-service training modules.

b. Co-develop with the respective national technical teams the definitions and descriptions of a subset of selected transversal competencies with hypothesised learning indicators.

c. Co-develop with the respective national technical teams the nationally contextualized teacher training module for training teachers on the integration of selected soft skills in classroom teaching.

d. Co-organize with the respective national technical teams training workshops for master teacher trainers on tools and methods to integrate a subset of selected transversal competencies in teaching practices, using train-the-trainers models. (In the case of Nepal)

e. Co-organize with the respective national technical teams a technical consultation with relevant departments of the Ministry of Education and teacher training institutions to design roll-out plans for pre-service and in-service teachers’ continuous professional development in transversal competencies.

f. Provide technical guidance to the respective national technical teams for the design or strengthening of a national repository including the training module, tools, guidelines and examples for teachers on transversal competencies teaching and learning.  

g. The assignments will require country visits to Nepal and the Solomon Islands.

STYLE MANUAL, FORMAT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Individual Specialist shall specifically perform the following:

a. Make sure that all the details of Style Manual (2004 version available at https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000141812) have been adhered such as terminology, abbreviations, acronyms and format of footnotes, etc.;

b. In line with UNESCO’s overall gender mainstreaming strategy, ensure the Guidelines on Gender-Neutral Language is applied throughout the report and guide  (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377299) as well as integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible; 

c. When referring to the region, ensure to avoid using ‘in the Asia-Pacific’ and ‘in Asia Pacific’. Instead, use one of the following terms interchangeably: in the Asia-Pacific region, in Asia and the Pacific, and in Asia-Pacific;

d. Use the proper names and place names that correspond to UNESCO official usage and comply the official names of these following countries (where applicable): Taiwan = Taiwan province of China, Hong Kong = Hong Kong SAR, China, South Korea = Republic of Korea, Vietnam = Viet Nam, Iran = Iran (Islamic Republic of), Laos = Lao PDR. UNESCO member states to be double checked at https://en.unesco.org/countries;

e. Compile a list of tables, figures (including diagram, chart, illustration), photos (including images, cartoons, icons) and other graphic elements from the third party-materials by using a template provided by UNESCO and secure the intellectual property rights by using the “permission consent form” (provided by UNESCO);

f. Ensure that no plagiarized or self-plagiarized material is published without appropriate acknowledgement of the source;

g. Provide a proper credit or citation to the original work of the third-party materials. For any materials created by author, the “Source: author” should be placed underneath aforementioned materials;

h. Avoid including maps (global, regional, country) that could be politically sensitive or that could affect the legal status of any country, territory, city, area, or its authorities, or the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. If the map must be used, seeking DPI/PAX clearance is required (refer to a memo);

i. Ensure greater coherence among Education publications, the structure should be following this order; cover, legal page, short summary, blank page, inside title page, foreword, acknowledgements, table of contents and list of figures and tables, executive summary and the content (refer to (1) How to Structure and (2) Foreword/Preface guideline);

j. Ensure that the report and guide is in full compliance with the international copyrights policy to avoid any illegal consequences as outline in the ‘General Terms and Conditions’ which annexed in this contract;

k. Submit a draft manuscript in MS Word file including those permission form (if any) to UNESCO;

l. Improve and incorporate suggested changes (if required) and finalize the manuscript until it is considered as satisfactory;

m. Strictly meet the committed deadline.

Individual Specialist shall comply the following:

a. UNESCO shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks with regard to all material which bears a direct relation to, or is made in consequence of, the services provided to the Organization by the Individual Specialist;

b. In preparing the Work, the Individual Specialist shall bear in mind the provisions contained in the “Guide for the preparation of manuscripts” annexed to this contract;

c. The Individual Specialist shall also bear in mind that, in accordance with UNESCO publishing policy, all UNESCO publications are to be made available in Open Access, under the IGO-Creative Commons or any other open licensing system;

d. The completed Work shall be deemed acceptable to UNESCO unless it gives the Individual Specialist written notice to the contrary or indicates changes that it may consider desirable. In the latter case, such notice will set a time limit for the delivery of the requested changes; if acceptable changes are not delivered to UNESCO within the prescribed time limit, UNESCO may terminate this contract by written notice to the Author; 

e. The Individual Specialist shall submit to UNESCO the Completed Work together with, all illustrations, tables, charts or other materials essential to the Work. It is understood that such materials are considered a part of the work and that all rights granted by the author to UNESCO hereunder apply to the use of such materials; and

f. The Individual Specialist hereby grants to UNESCO: 

1. i.) The worldwide copyright in the Work, which shall, during the whole term of the copyright, have the exclusive right to translate, adapt, reproduce, perform, broadcast, communicate to the public, print and publish in any language and in any form the whole or any part of the Work, and to authorize others to exercise any or all of its rights hereunder;  
2. ii.) It is understood that the manuscript and the accompanying data is complete in all respects and all property rights in such manuscript or other materials delivered to UNESCO pursuant to Article I shall become the sole property of UNESCO;
3. iii.) The worldwide irrevocable right to deposit the whole or any part of the Work in its multilingual Open Access Repository in electronic form. This entails the right of access to copy, usage, distribution, adaptation, for lawful purposes, within specified constraints; and
4. iv.) The worldwide right to further assign licenses to allow anyone to use the content in the publication for any lawful activity, without any prior permission but with due credit to the Author and UNESCO for the original creation. Any transmission, reproduction, use or transformation of any content beyond permissible limit and for commercial gains will however require an express written permission of the copyright owner.  

TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES

From 1 May 2024   To: 31 March 2025    

TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES (Continued)

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• A doctorate degree in the field of social sciences, international studies, education, or a related field.

Work Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in the area of education policy and teacher education. 

Long Description

Skills/Competencies

• Proven conceptual and analytical skills especially in transversal competencies teaching and learning
• Excellent research skills
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and maintain effective team cooperation
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and other software
• Capacity to work independently and in a timely manner

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS 

• Familiarity with the Asia-Pacific context
• Previous experience working with United Nations, international organizations or government agencies is an advantage

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested individuals are invited to submit to UNESCO Bangkok office the specific requirements through careers.unesco.org.

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now” and upload the following documents as a single PDF document in place of the Employment History Form.

• An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a cover letter describing how your qualifications and experiences make you suitable for the assignment.
• A list of past works such as reports or publications you have authored or co-authored with hyperlinks to access such works if they are available online or a copy of samples of such works if they are only available offline.
• A brief motivation letter.
• Written technical and financial proposals (in English):
  • Approach and methodology for carrying out the assignment (maximum 5, A4 pages), a workplan and comments on the Terms of Reference, in brief, if any, and
  • The proposed daily or monthly rates or the amount/budget to be charged for the assignment, which should be quoted in USD.

The complete application shall be submitted on or before 30 April 2024, midnight, Bangkok time (GMT+7).

Note:

• Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidate(s) about the outcome or status of the selection process.
• Please submit your application through SuccessFactors. Only if you are unable to attach requirements in system, please inform us at iqe.bgk@unesco.org.

Assessment:

• Only applications providing the information requested in the application procedure will be considered.
• Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization best value for money.

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