General Conference Twenty-ninth Session, Paris 1997 ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNESCO INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION OUTLINE

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1 General Conference Twenty-ninth Session, Paris C 29 C/10 28 October 1997 Original: English Item 4.5 of the provisional agenda ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNESCO INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION Source: 152 EX/Decision OUTLINE Background: In pursuance of this decision adopted by the Executive Board at its 152nd session, the Director-General submits herewith to the General Conference a report on the Establishment of a UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. Purpose: To provide Member States with an international mechanism to assist them in the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education and to monitor their foreseeable impact on educational processes following the recommendations of the second International Congress on Education and Informatics (Moscow, July 1996). Decision required: paragraph 28.

2 Introduction 1. In all UNESCO s fields of competence, the new information and communication technologies (ICTs) constitute a major opportunity and a major challenge for international cooperation. They are an opportunity for the increased exchange of knowledge and know-how, for the promotion of creativity and intercultural dialogue and for greater understanding among nations - in short, for the strengthening worldwide of the interactive triangle of development, democracy and peace. 2. In keeping with its intellectual and ethical mandate, UNESCO has been particularly concerned that the tools represented by the new information technologies are equitably shared among countries of the world and that they do not serve to further increase the gap between the developed and the developing countries. 3. In its documents - the Medium-Term Strategy ( ) and Programme and Budget of the last two biennia, UNESCO has been reformulating priorities and streamlining its programme activities in this area in response to specific requests from Member States. The Organization has been repeatedly invited by its Member States to display more leadership on issues related to the introduction of ICTs in education and training and help them develop corresponding national capacity and infrastructure. 4. These concerns have been clearly expressed at the two international congresses on education and informatics organized by UNESCO in 1989 and 1996 respectively. They brought to the fore the difficulties encountered by the developing countries and countries in transition in developing national strategies and international partnership schemes in the field of ICTs and reaffirmed the leadership role that UNESCO was called upon to play with respect to the use of ICTs in the educational and other fields. 5. More specifically, the second International Congress on Education and Informatics: Educational Policies and New Technologies (Moscow, 1996), organized by UNESCO in co-operation with the Government of the Russian Federation and attended by approximately 1,000 participants and observers representing some 70 Member States, United Nations Specialized Agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, adopted a Declaration and several recommendations for follow-up action in the field in accordance with UNESCO s global intellectual watch function. 6. One main recommendation adopted by the second Congress invited UNESCO to examine the possibility of establishing a UNESCO institute which should promote the use of new information technologies in education. This recommendation followed up on a recommendation made by the International Commission on Education for the Twenty-First Century in its report to UNESCO, which stressed the need for the setting up of a mechanism which should think ahead to the twenty-first century and monitor the foreseeable impact of ICTs on the future of mankind, in general and on educational processes, in particular. 7. Pursuant to this recommendation a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of the Russian Federation and UNESCO in July 1996 in which both parties stressed the increasing impact of the use of information technologies on education and

3 - page 2 expressed their intention to set up in Moscow a UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education The implementation of the Moscow Congress follow-up actions, including the establishment of a UNESCO Institute in the field of ICTs, was endorsed at the 45th session of the International Conference on Education (Geneva, October 1996) and at the 150th session of the Executive Board of UNESCO (150 EX/Decision 5.1, para. 29) in October A UNESCO intersectoral mission was sent to Moscow, from 9 to 12 December 1996, in order to evaluate the intellectual and technological potential existing in Russia and to examine with the Government of the Russian Federation the steps towards the establishment of a UNESCO Institute in Moscow. 10. The report submitted by the members of the mission to the Director-General of UNESCO recommended that two principal stages be followed in the creation of the Institute. The first stage was intended to result in the signing of an Agreement between UNESCO and the Government of the Russian Federation on the establishment and opening of the Institute (February 1997). The second stage consisted in the presentation of the Agreement and of a report on the Institute to the Executive Board at its 152nd session and the twenty-ninth session of the General Conference. 11. The Agreement concerning the establishment of a UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) was signed in Moscow on 10 February 1997 by Mr Federico Mayor, Director-General of UNESCO and by Mr Vladimir G. Kinelev, Minister of General and Professional Education of the Russian Federation. 12. The terms of the Agreement stipulate that the Institute shall start its activity on an experimental basis as of Spring If the twenty-ninth session of the General Conference of UNESCO so decides, the Institute shall become operational on a permanent basis as a part of UNESCO from 1 January In order to better identify the mission, objectives and programme of the new Institute, the Director-General invited a high-level group of experts to meet in Paris, from 12 to 13 June The participants in this consultation meeting included leading specialists with experience in the development of national and international strategies with respect to the application of new information technologies in education, representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as representatives of other UNESCO institutes. In formulating their recommendations (Annex I) the high-level experts took stock of the suggestions made by the Executive Board of UNESCO at its 151st session with respect to the need for establishing a clear division of tasks and avoiding duplication of efforts among the UNESCO education institutes and vis-à-vis the Secretariat. They shared the opinion that the Headquarters should preserve its reflection and prospective mission with regard to policy and co-ordination in the field at worldwide level. 1. The name originally proposed for the Institute was UNESCO Institute for Educational Policy and New Information Technologies, reflecting the basic themes and title of the Congress. Following subsequent discussions about its mission, UNESCO and the Government of the Russian Federation have agreed on the present name.

4 - page 3 Aims and functions of the proposed Institute 14. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement signed by UNESCO and the Government of the Russian Federation and to the recommendations of the High-Level Expert Group Consultation on the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE), the Institute s role is to contribute to the design and implementation of the programme of the Organization in regard to the application of ICTs in education (Annex II). To that end, its functions shall be: to promote the collection, analyses, dissemination and exchange of information on the use of ICTs in education; to provide advisory services and promote studies in Member States on the application of ICTs in education at the request of Member States; to offer technical assistance based on research findings in the design of curricula and courses on the use of ICTs in education; to organize pre- and in-service training, including open and distance education, of the educational personnel on the use of ICTs in education, giving priority to developing countries and countries in transition; to foster the development of UNESCO s regional programmes on the application of ICTs in education in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Type and structure 15. The Institute is to be administered by a governing board consisting of 11 members, appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO on a geographical distribution basis that is as equitable and as wide as possible. The governing board is to be responsible for determining the general policy and the nature of the Institute s activities within the framework of the general policy of UNESCO, with due regard to the obligations resulting from the fact that the Institute is to be established in the framework of UNESCO. It would have authority over all financial and administrative matters related to the Institute. The Director of the Institute is to be appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO in consultation with the governing board. UNESCO s contribution 16. Subject to decisions of the General Conference concerning future programme and budgets, UNESCO would contribute to the funding of the Institute by allocating it a grant-inaid from its regular budget as is done for other UNESCO institutes benefiting from similar arrangements. 17. In addition, UNESCO and the Institute would use their best efforts to mobilize extrabudgetary resources and voluntary contributions from Member States; international governmental and non-governmental bodies; foundations and trusts; funding agencies, United Nations system and others; sponsoring from the private sector. 18. It is proposed to grant a financial allocation of US $1,000,000 under Major Programme I in order to finance the Institute s programme activities for the period and cover three international posts: a director, a programme specialist and an administrative officer.

5 - page 4 Contribution of the Russian Federation 19. Pursuant to Order No. 13 of 6 January 1997 the Government of the Russian Federation and in keeping with the provisions of the Agreement on the establishment of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education of 10 February 1997, the Government of the Russian Federation has decided to provide rent-free the necessary office space for the Institute at 8, Kedrova Street, Moscow (a five-storey building). In order to enable the Institute to start operation as stipulated in the Agreement, the Government of the Russian Federation intends to carry out a full renovation of the building by the end of The Russian Federation will bear the running costs. 20. The Government of the Russian Federation also intends to provide the basic equipment necessary for the beginning of the Institute s operation. The Institute will be provided with an internal and external information and communication network, which will include the local information-computer network of IITE; two servers; an Internet connection; the Slavyanka receiving-transmission earth station for space communication; the Medvezhy Ozyora teleport of space communication (which will organically complement the Slavyanka space communication station to be set up at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris); laboratories equipped for educational film and multimedia production; and modern printing house facilities. 21. For its educational and research activities the Institute will be provided with 34 workplaces for regular staff members, 60 workplaces for persons who will undergo training courses, three classrooms, as well as two conference rooms. The bigger conference room will be adequately equipped for simultaneous interpretation and videoconferencing. The Government of the Russian Federation intends to cover the costs related to the maintenance of local personnel (professional and auxiliary) amounting to 31 persons (including 11 posts of national project officers). Programme activities of IITE in 1997 and proposals for in the framework of UNESCO s programme in the field of ICTs in education 22. In 1997 IITE has been focusing its attention on carrying out the following activities: elaboration and publication, in co-operation with the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), of Informatics for Primary Education - A Curriculum for Schools, as a sequel to the documents prepared for, and adopted by, the Moscow Congress (EI 96), Informatics for Secondary Education (A Curriculum for Schools) and A Modular Curriculum in Computer Science, published by UNESCO/IFIP in 1994; development of a course in Informatics through Games and Exploration (textbook, CD-ROM) for 8-10 year-old children in co-operation with Moscow State University of Economics, Statistics and Informatics (MESI); publication of the Moscow Congress Proceedings and of the National Reports of Member States; preparation of analytical studies at the request of several Member States, which attended the Moscow Congress, on the current trends, developments and experiences in respect of the use of information and communication technologies in education; organization of an international seminar on the Role and Possibilities of Distance Education in the Solution of the Problems of Education (Saint Petersburg, Russian

6 - page 5 Federation, 30 June-4 July 1997), organized in close co-operation with the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP); 23. In the light of the recommendations made by the High-Level Expert Group Consultation and of the priorities laid down in the Draft Programme and Budget of UNESCO for the period in the field of the application of ICTs in education, the Institute should focus its attention on: the creation of a clearing house and dissemination of information in the field to Member States; the development and initiation of processes describing the provision of services, design of textbooks, training and methodological materials, educational tools, with special emphasis on networking; organization of pre- and in-service training of the educational personnel at the request of Member States, using the distance education facilities available; organization of regional and subregional seminars and intensive courses in co-operation with National Commissions for UNESCO, other UNESCO institutes and UNESCO field offices; quantification of objectives and evaluation of achievements in the application of ICTs in Member States. 24. In the implementation of the above activities the Institute should endeavour: (a) to preserve the cultural and language diversity, particularly for target groups and countries of priority to UNESCO; (b) to take into account the needs of potential users and prepare them to participate in the emerging information society; and (c) to adapt and translate existing teaching materials. Conclusion 25. The information and communication revolution compels UNESCO to strengthen its intellectual watch function and to define new strategies in its fields of competence. This intellectual watch function has been strongly stressed during the debates of the General Conference and Executive Board. Member States have asked UNESCO to examine the impact of the new ICTs given its mandate. 26. The recommendations made by Member States at various international meetings organized by UNESCO over the last two years, as well as those of the High-Level Expert Group on the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education have stressed the importance and timeliness of establishing such an Institute which is called to cater for the needs of Member States, particularly developing countries and countries in transition and assist them in developing their national infrastructure. 27. The Executive Board examined the report on the establishment of a UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education at its 152nd session and recommended its submission, along with the draft statutes of the Institute, to the twenty-ninth session of the General Conference for approval.

7 - page In the light of the above, the General Conference may wish to adopt the following draft resolution: The General Conference, Recalling 28 C/Resolution 1.17 The Use of New Technologies in Education, which invites the Director-General: (a) to promote research and develop the research on methodology, education and teaching needed to ensure not only mastery of the new technologies by teachers and learners alike, but also better understanding of the effects of these new technologies on education systems; and (b) to encourage and support the implementation of distance-education projects, particularly in developing countries, Taking into account the recommendation of the second International Congress on Education and Informatics (Moscow, July 1996), decision 5.1, paragraph 29, adopted by the Executive Board at its 150th session (Paris, October 1996) and the recommendations of the High-Level Expert Group Consultation (Paris, June 1997), Recognizing the great potential that ICTs possess at the service of education, science, culture, peace and international understanding, Taking into account the needs of developing countries in order to bridge the gap between them and the developed countries, Recognizing the importance of establishing an international mechanism to assist Member States in the application of ICTs technologies in education, Taking note of the report on the proposed establishment of a UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) (29 C/10), Noting further 152 EX/Decision of the Executive Board, Decides to establish in Moscow an Institute for Information Technologies in Education in accordance with the Approved Statutes annexed to this resolution; Authorizes the Director-General: (a) (b) to grant a financial allocation of US $1,000,000 under Major Programme I and to continue his efforts aimed at establishing and developing the activities of the Institute; to accept on behalf of the Institute financial or other assistance from Member States, international governmental and non-governmental bodies, foundations, funding agencies as well as sponsoring from the private sector in conformity with UNESCO regulations and subject to the approval of the Governing Board of the Institute.

8 Annex I ANNEX I HIGH-LEVEL EXPERT GROUP CONSULTATION ON THE UNESCO INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION (IITE) UNESCO Headquarters Place Fontenoy, Room VIII June 1997 RECOMMENDATIONS The High-Level Expert Group Consultation on the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE), convened in Paris, from 12 to 13 June 1997, Having considered the establishment on a provisional basis of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education in Moscow, Having examined the documents and discussed the mission, structure and main areas of activity of the Institute, Noting the importance and timeliness of establishing the Institute by UNESCO, Appreciating the offer made to UNESCO by the Government of the Russian Federation to create such an Institute, Recalling resolution 1.17 The Use of New Technologies in Education, adopted by the twenty-eighth session of the General Conference of UNESCO (October-November 1995), which invites the Director-General: (a) (b) to promote research and develop the research on methodology, education and teaching needed to ensure not only mastery of the new technologies by teachers and learners alike, but also better understanding of the effects of these new technologies on education systems; to encourage and support the implementation of distance-education projects, particularly in developing countries, Proposes that the Institute: provide expertise and analysis for the application and implementation of the information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education and formulate suggestions to Member States; promote applied research on ICTs in education and training; encourage the implementation of activities in the field of open and distance learning aimed primarily at developing countries and countries in transition; and

9 Annex I - page 2 Draws the attention of the UNESCO Secretariat to the need to produce an IITE work plan for the biennium. Such work plans should be established and updated by the Governing Board of the Institute every two years in accordance with UNESCO s target priorities in the field; It is suggested that IITE focuses on: 1. the needs of potential users and adjusts its work plan accordingly; 2. creating a clearing-house in the field of ICT application in education and training; 3. the development and initiation of processes describing the provision of services, design of textbooks, training and methodological materials, educational tools, with special emphasis on networking; 4. organization of initial and in-service training of personnel in the field of education; 5. quantification of objectives and evaluation of achievements in the application of ICTs. In the implementation of the above activities the Institute should endeavour to: prepare all to participate in the emerging information society; adapt and translate existing teaching materials; preserve cultural and language diversity, particularly for target groups and countries of priority to UNESCO; IITE s activities should be carried out in close co-operation with other institutes and organizations in the field; The participants in the consultation, Invite the Director-General of UNESCO to continue efforts aimed at establishing, and developing the activity of, the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education; Recommend that the Director-General of UNESCO submit the necessary documents on IITE to the 152nd session of the Executive Board and the twenty-ninth session of the General Conference of UNESCO; Ask the Government of the Russian Federation to continue its support for the operation of the Institute in Moscow.

10 Annex II ANNEX II DRAFT STATUTES OF THE UNESCO INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION (IITE) 1 Article I Establishment of the Institute 1. An Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) (hereinafter called the Institute ) is hereby established within the framework of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 2. The Institute shall be located in Moscow, the Russian Federation. Article II Aims and functions 1. The Institute shall contribute to the design and implementation of the programme of the Organization in regard to the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education. 2. To that end, its functions shall be: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) to promote the collection, analyses, dissemination and exchange of information on the use of ICTs in education; to provide advisory services and promote studies in Member States on the application of ICTs in education at the request of Member States; to offer technical assistance based on research findings in the design of curricula and courses on the use of ICTs in education; to organize pre- and in-service training, including open and distance education, of the educational personnel on the use of ICTs in education, giving priority to developing countries and countries in transition; to foster the development of UNESCO s regional programmes on the application of ICTs in education in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Article III Governing Board Membership 1. The Institute shall be administered by a Governing Board (hereinafter called the Board ) consisting of 11 members, appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO on a geographical distribution basis that is as equitable and as wide as possible. One of the members shall be a 1. To be submitted for adoption by the General Conference of UNESCO at its twenty-ninth session.

11 Annex II - page 2 national of the Russian Federation. Members shall be chosen for their eminence in the field and sitting in a personal capacity. 2. The members shall be appointed for four years. They shall be eligible for a further term but shall not serve consecutively for more than two terms. 3. If any member resigns or is prevented from carrying out his/her duties, the Director- General of UNESCO shall appoint a new member to hold office for the remainder of the term of the person he/she replaces. 4. The Director-General or his appointed representative shall attend all meetings of the Board. He/she may at any time make oral or written statements to the Board concerning any questions under consideration by them. 5. Members shall not receive salaries in respect of their duties, but the expenses incurred on behalf of the Institute should be reimbursed to them. The functions of the Board shall be: Article IV Functions (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) to determine the general policy and the nature of the Institute s activities within the framework of the general policy of UNESCO, with due regard to the obligations resulting from the fact that the Institute has been established within the framework of UNESCO; to decide how the funds available for the operation of the Institute are to be used, in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII and to approve the annual budget of the Institute on the basis of estimated resources; to approve the acceptance of voluntary contributions and contractual revenues from sales of services or fees for special purposes as stated in Article VIII, paragraph 2; should the acceptance of contributions, gifts or bequests involve additional liabilities for the Institute, the Board shall request the prior approval of the Director-General and the Executive Board of UNESCO; to adopt and address to the Director-General of UNESCO an annual report on activities and to review progress in the work of the Institute with a view to achieving the aims of the Institute; to examine the financial statement of account after having been submitted by the Director-General of UNESCO for audit to the External Audit of UNESCO; to assist the Director-General of UNESCO in his nomination of a Director of the Institute by submitting a list of three names from which his choice will be made.

12 Annex II - page 3 Article V Procedure 1. The Board shall elect its Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. 2. The Board shall meet at least once a year and whenever necessary in the interest of the Institute or for the requirement of its business. It shall be summoned by the Chairperson, who shall draw up the agenda, at least four weeks before the date of the meeting. The Chairperson must call a meeting if the Director or at least five members of the Board request it. 3. Decisions shall be taken by simple majority. Each member of the Board shall have one vote. 4. A quorum shall consist of six members of the Board. 5. The Director of the Institute shall act as Secretary to its meetings. 6. Minutes of meetings shall be taken which shall record the resolutions passed and shall be signed by the Chairperson and Secretary. 7. The Chairperson shall represent the Board between the meetings and supervise work together with the representative of the Director-General to the extent to which authority is delegated to him/her by the Board and to which he/she shall report on the actions taken. 8. The Board shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure. Article VI The Director 1. The Director of the Institute shall be appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO in consultation with the Board. 2. The Director, within the lines laid down by the Board, shall conduct business of the Institute. 3. In particular, the Director shall prepare the programme and budget of the Institute in keeping with the general policy of UNESCO, the decisions of the General Conference, the policy orientations and the main lines of emphasis of the education programme of UNESCO, as well as the annual reports of activities. 4. The Director shall nominate the local staff and submit to the Director-General of UNESCO proposals of candidates for National Project Officers (NPOs) supported by the Government of the Russian Federation. Article VII The staff 1. The Director and the international professional staff of the Institute shall be regarded as officials of UNESCO within the meaning of Article VI, Section 18 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies.

13 Annex II - page 4 2. Members of the Institute s specialized staff may be authorized, under conditions laid down by the Director, to take part in research or in surveys organized by other international institutions or by governments on questions falling within the Institute s field of competence. In no case, however, may the loan of services of a staff member of the Institute entail interruption or serious delay in the accomplishment of the day-to-day activities of the Institute. Article VIII Finance 1. The business year of the Institute begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December in each year. 2. The funds set aside for the operation of the Institute shall consist of the financial allocations determined by the General Conference of UNESCO, contributions made by the Russian Federation, as well as of subventions, gifts and bequests to it by other United Nations agencies, governments, public or private organizations, associations or individuals and of fees collected for special purposes. 3. Funds received for the operation of the Institute shall be paid into a special account to be set up by the Director-General of UNESCO, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Organization s Financial Regulations. This special account shall be operated and the Institute s budget administered in keeping with the above-mentioned provisions. Article IX Transitional provisions 1. The Director-General of UNESCO shall make all necessary arrangements for the Institute s entry into operation and for the establishment of its Board. For this purpose, pending the adoption of the Institute s annual budget, the Director-General of UNESCO shall incur the necessary expenditure from funds voted by the General Conference. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles IV and VI, the Director-General of UNESCO shall appoint the first Director and, in agreement with the latter, appoint the first senior officials of the Institute without consulting the Board. Article X 1. The present Statutes can be amended only if proposed alterations are presented to the members of the Board at least two months before the meeting during which a decision shall be taken. Amendments to the Statutes require a majority of at least three-quarters. 2. Any amendment of Article II shall require the approval of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Director-General of UNESCO.