UNESCO

UNITWIN / UNESCO Chairs Programme UNITWIN / UNESCO Chairs Programme Strategy and Development:

UNESCO Why a UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme ? UNESCO’s response to main trends in international cooperation in Higher Education UNESCO’s response to main trends in international cooperation in Higher Education Develop inter-university solidarity to support Higher Education in developing countries Develop inter-university solidarity to support Higher Education in developing countries Alleviate the adverse effects of the brain drain Alleviate the adverse effects of the brain drain Build up centres for advanced studies and research Build up centres for advanced studies and research Secure support of the international community for institutions and systems of Higher Education in developing countries Secure support of the international community for institutions and systems of Higher Education in developing countries

UNESCO Trends in Higher Education Socio-economic development has become increasingly knowledge-based. Hence increased role of Higher Education in society Socio-economic development has become increasingly knowledge-based. Hence increased role of Higher Education in society Widening of the knowledge gap between industrialized and developing countries Widening of the knowledge gap between industrialized and developing countries Situation of Higher Education became dramatic in the developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa Situation of Higher Education became dramatic in the developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa Need for a flexible mechanism to contribute to the rapid transfer and sharing of knowledge via inter-university links and exchanges Need for a flexible mechanism to contribute to the rapid transfer and sharing of knowledge via inter-university links and exchanges Increased scale of brain drain from developing and transition countries Increased scale of brain drain from developing and transition countries Inter-university cooperation has emerged as major instrument for channeling support both to national systems and to institutions of Higher Education Inter-university cooperation has emerged as major instrument for channeling support both to national systems and to institutions of Higher Education

UNESCO MODE OF ACTION IN THE UNITWIN/UNESCO CHAIRS PROGRAMME Two modes of action Two modes of action  UNESCO CHAIR  UNITWIN NETWORK How to establish a UNESCO CHAIR ? How to establish a UNESCO CHAIR ? Request Request  Universities  Other institutions of Higher Education  Research Institutions Approval, both by the institution and the National Commission for UNESCO Approval, both by the institution and the National Commission for UNESCO

UNESCO Creation Proposal submitted by one or several institutions of Higher Education or by NGO, endorsed by the National Commission(s) for UNESCO Proposal submitted by one or several institutions of Higher Education or by NGO, endorsed by the National Commission(s) for UNESCO Examination of proposal by the units concerned in the UNESCO Secretariat Examination of proposal by the units concerned in the UNESCO Secretariat Agreement between the host institution and UNESCO, signed by the DG and the ViceChancellor / President / Rector Agreement between the host institution and UNESCO, signed by the DG and the ViceChancellor / President / Rector

UNESCO Appointment of the Chairholder Criteria  Reknown specialist in the domain of knowledge to be covered by the Chair/Network  Capacity to handle international action in similar domains  Guarantee for assuring high academic standard  The host institution of a Chair may make individual proposals for a Chairholder  Note: Nomination of a Chairholder does not necessarily involve creation of a specific post and does not always constitute an employment opportunity  Selection through international recruitment ( proposals made by the host institution )

UNESCO Procedure Procedure  Nowadays, the most current practice consists of selecting the candidate for a UNESCO Chairholder among academics working in the same institution, or  selecting an academic from an institution abroad to be invited for short term visits  In the second case, an important role is played by the national project coordinator Appointment of the Chairholder

UNESCO n The overall success of the programme greatly depends on financial and in-kind support from:  Institutions of Higher Education in the industrialized countries  Institutions in the developing countries  Governments and governmental organizations taking part in the programme  NGOs of Higher Education which agree to establish links between their own programmes and UNITWIN  UNESCO’s Participation Programme  UNESCO’s Programme Sectors under Regular Programme (Start- up funding)  Foundations and other donors  Industry and private sector How and by whom are financed UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs projects ? The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme is a joint undertaking UNESCO plays the role of catalyst

UNESCO All participating institutions are called upon to make material and financial contribution All participating institutions are called upon to make material and financial contribution A specific type of Chairs called UNISPAR was developed with support from industries A specific type of Chairs called UNISPAR was developed with support from industries The experience shows that a majority of donors to UNITWIN projects prefer to channel their funds directly to the UNESCO Chairs and the UNITWIN Networks The experience shows that a majority of donors to UNITWIN projects prefer to channel their funds directly to the UNESCO Chairs and the UNITWIN Networks This modality brought to UNITWIN US$ 30 millions between This modality brought to UNITWIN US$ 30 millions between

UNESCO Setting up new academic programmes and updating existing ones Setting up new academic programmes and updating existing ones Training at graduate and postgraduate levels (Sub / regional centres of excellence) Training at graduate and postgraduate levels (Sub / regional centres of excellence) Conferences and workshops related to the field of competence of the Chair Conferences and workshops related to the field of competence of the Chair Research (emphasis on joint projects) Research (emphasis on joint projects) Publications Publications All activities are based on interdisciplinarity and involve an international dimension All activities are based on interdisciplinarity and involve an international dimension Nature of the activities

UNESCO Current state of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs programme Although constrained by lack of funds, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs programme has known a very rapid development, which indicates that it has been accepted favourably by the Member States and by higher education institutions Although constrained by lack of funds, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs programme has known a very rapid development, which indicates that it has been accepted favourably by the Member States and by higher education institutions In 2002 total number of established UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks is 510 In 2002 total number of established UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks is 510

UNESCO UNITWIN/UNESCO CHAIRS January September 2002

UNESCO DISTRIBUTION OF UNESCO CHAIRS As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO DISTRIBUTION BY REGION As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO UNESCO CHAIRS BY REGION As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO DISTRIBUTION BY FIELD As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO DISTRIBUTION BY FIELD AFRICA As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO DISTRIBUTION BY FIELD ARAB STATES As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO DISTRIBUTION BY FIELD ASIA AND THE PACIFIC As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO DISTRIBUTION BY FIELD EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO DISTRIBUTION BY FIELD LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO DISTRIBUTION BY FIELD WESTERN EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO UNITWIN NETWORKS Evolution over the period

UNESCO UNITWIN NETWORKS DISTRIBUTION BY REGION As at 12 September 2002

UNESCO How to establish UNITWIN Network ? Twinning of existing UNESCO Chairs at regional or global level Twinning of existing UNESCO Chairs at regional or global level Already existing networks could express interest to link up with UNITWIN by gearing activities towards the needs of higher education in developing countries Already existing networks could express interest to link up with UNITWIN by gearing activities towards the needs of higher education in developing countries Universities twinned by bilateral agreements decide to expand them into multilateral ones Universities twinned by bilateral agreements decide to expand them into multilateral ones Projects established from the beginning as networks, e.g. : Projects established from the beginning as networks, e.g. :  Utrecht-Southern-Africa UNITWIN Network  ORBICOM  UNESCO Cousteau Chairs in Ecotechnology …

UNESCO n Networks established through agreements between UNESCO and NGOs of Higher Education, e.g.:  UNAMAZ  The Copernicus and Columbus programmes of CRE Several institutions (from developed countries) served as focal point or coordination of networks, e.g. : Several institutions (from developed countries) served as focal point or coordination of networks, e.g. :  Universities of the Santander Group (Chairs in Africa and Latin America)  Oxford University for Networks on Refugee Studies in Africa and the Arab States Creation of Networks Creation of Networks  Agreement on Cooperation for a four year period  Renewal of agreement, following thorough evaluation by UNESCO

UNESCO Appointment of networks’ responsibles Appointment of networks’ responsibles  Subject to approval by UNESCO and the competent academic bodies of the institutions associated to a Network  Usually, one institution / UNESCO Chair assumes responsibility for coordination and management of a Network Funding of networks Funding of networks Based on the same principles as for UNESCO Chairs Based on the same principles as for UNESCO Chairs Activities of networks Activities of networks  Setting up new academic programmes and up-dating existing ones  Staff development, through grants and periods of study/research abroad  Training at the graduate and postgraduate levels  Short term workshops  Research (mainly joint projects)  Service activities

UNESCO Continuous monitoring and evaluation through regular reporting system by: Continuous monitoring and evaluation through regular reporting system by:  - The participating institutions  - UNESCO Secretariat Regular update of the UNITWIN Database established in 1997 Regular update of the UNITWIN Database established in 1997 UNITWIN Directory published by UNESCO every two years, as a subproduct of the database. UNITWIN Directory published by UNESCO every two years, as a subproduct of the database. Internal (1996) and external (2000) evaluations of the Programme Internal (1996) and external (2000) evaluations of the Programme Launching of the UNITWIN Portal in September 2002 Launching of the UNITWIN Portal in September 2002UNITWIN Portal UNITWIN Portal MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAMME

UNESCO  Strengthening action at the regional and sub-regional levels  Launching of the Academics across Borders - (AAB) initiative  Facilitating the application of ICTs and of Open/Distance Education  Opening up to new partnerships and alliances  Developing new funding strategy  Making UNITWIN better known in each country and internationally ELEMENTS OF FUTURE STRATEGY

UNESCO UNITWIN started as an IDEA… Grew into a PROGRAMME… Can and should become a GLOBAL MOVEMENT, based on solidarity and sharing

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