Call for Consultants to develop an adult education digital competency capacity building programme

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: remote

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 29-APR-2024

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Background

Since 2019, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) has worked with DVV International and the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE) on curriculum globALE, a generic competency-based curriculum for training adult educators worldwide.

Since then, the rapid digital transformation of society has continued to significantly impact adult education throughout one’s lifespan as technologies become increasingly integrated into the lifelong learning process. Digital technologies have the potential to support adult learners achieve their learning goals by enabling access to learning materials, facilitating communication with educators and peers, and offering personalized learning experiences. Adult learners are increasingly able to access learning opportunities and materials, consume a wide range of media, and direct their learning at a time and space of their choice. New technological developments in large language learning models and other types of publicly available generative AI applications, mixed reality, blockchain and other emerging technologies offer opportunities and challenges that all adult educators should have the capacity to evaluate and apply in their daily practice.

Long Description

In response to this, UIL is implementing the “Strengthening digital competencies of adult educators in policy and practice” project with the support of Shanghai Open University. To date, a Digital Competency Framework for Adult Educators and sample training modules are being  developed on (1) Digital Collaboration and Communication, (2) Artificial Intelligence, (3) Media and Information Literacy and (4) Design of digital learning and Inclusion. A Community of Practice space  has been created on the UIL Learning Hub for the purpose of connecting experts and policymakers involved in this project and to discuss ongoing challenges with the digital transformation of society and its impact on educators, education systems and lifelong learning.

Long Description

A capacity building programme is required to introduce and contextualize the abovementioned resources in selected five countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America in 2024. The expected outcome of the programme is to improve the quality of adult education in the countries by developing both policy and programmatic tools that strengthen adult educators’ competencies to use technology for more meaningful, relevant and effective teaching.    

Long Description

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning and the supervision of the Team Leader for Quality Learning Ecosystems, the contractor shall provide the following services:

1. Coordinate with the five countries’ national technical teams, particularly the nominated focal points, to ensure the active participation and engagement of the countries throughout every phase of the capacity building programme.

2. Develop and moderate throughout every phase of the capacity building programme the Community of Practice on the UIL Learning Hub to ensure enrolled users’ questions or problems are addressed, consistent weekly engagement from the enrolled users, and that users’ posts are in accordance with the code of conduct.

3. Develop the online modular learning content for delivery on the UIL Learning Hub, a Moodle-based platform, that covers over the course of four weeks: the impact of the digital transformation on all types of adult educators, the Digital Competency Framework for Adult Educators, models for the systemic integration of digital competencies into training curricula, national teacher standards or frameworks, national qualifications frameworks, etc, and development of adult educator training programmes. Specific documents to be prepared include:

1. A course blueprint setting out module titles, learning objectives, duration, media, learning activities (including discussion forum prompts, reflection activities, etc), and assessment tools.
2. All learning content for each module.
3. Course completion criteria and grading rubrics.

4. Design a workshop of five days duration in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, that will take place in-person with all national technical teams to guide national technical teams through the process of adapting and contextualizing the available tools and resources to their country’s specific needs. Specific documents to be prepared include:

1. Concept Note and Workshop Programme
2. Guiding documents and tools for interactive learning activities involving individuals, pairs or groups of participants
3. Plans for the integration of digital applications and tools into the workshop
4. Pre- and post-workshop surveys using digital applications

Deliverables

Deliverable 1 due on 27 May 2024 / Monthly report 1:

1. Progress report on all items under “Tasks and Responsibilities”
2. Detailed weekly workplan from the contract start date to the end date

Deliverable 2 due on 27 June 2024 / Monthly report 2:

1. Progress report on all items under “Tasks and Responsibilities”

Deliverable 3 due on 26 July 2024 / Monthly report 3:

1. Progress report on all specified Tasks and Responsibilities
2. Submit the first draft of all modules of the online capacity building course on the UIL Learning Hub

Deliverable 4 due on 27 August 2024 / Monthly report 4:

1. Progress report on all items under “Tasks and Responsibilities”
2. Submit all final modules of the online capacity building course on the UIL Learning Hub
3. All workshop documentation submitted.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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UNESCO will provide feedback to each deliverable submitted and hold regular meetings to ensure the progress and quality of the consultant’s work.

The contractor should ensure that all visibility materials are produced in line with UNESCO’s branding guidelines.

In line with UNESCO’s overall gender mainstreaming strategy, the contractor is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible.

All documents produced will be the property of UNESCO.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. The applicant must have at least a graduate degree (Master’s or equivalent) in ICT in education, ICT for development, international development, education or similar field.
2. The applicant must have at least 5 years’ experience in developing and conducting capacity building for government officials and/or providers in the area of education, digital skills, teacher training or adult education.
3. Excellent oral communication and writing skills in English. Good knowledge of French.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

1. Proficiency other UN languages would be an advantage (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish).
2. Experience working in both national and international contexts would be an advantage.
3. Experience developing and delivering digital competency/digital skills trainings for entities within the United Nations systems would be an advantage. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Interested candidates should complete the on-line application, download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information:

Part 1: Technical Proposal

1. an up-to-date curriculum vitae.
2. a statement indicating how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the assignment.
3. an indication of the approach (methodology, detailed workplan) to carry out the assignment, including any inputs that may be required from UNESCO.
4. List of relevant publications and projects, if any. Please provide links or URLs to view online.

Part 2: Financial Proposal

A competitive fee for the assignment, which should be quoted in Euros and expressed on a monthly basis, and total cost of the assignment, expressed as an overall lump-sum. 

Applications submitted without Technical and Financial proposals will not be considered.

Evaluation of qualified applicants include a competency-based interview.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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