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Parallel events

Conferences, workshops, publications, etc.

CONFERENCES - NEWSPUBLICATIONS
Conferences and Campaigns
6-8 September 2010 Birmingham, UK
The European Early Childhood Education Research Association and the Centre for Research in Early Childhood is organising its 20th annual conference focused on the theme, Knowledge and Voice in Early Childhood.
http://www.eecera2010.org

22-24 September 2010, Moscow, Russia
UNESCO World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education

27-29, September 2010, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The IAU-International Congress on Higher Education international conference: The social and ethical commitment of universities: International and regional perspectives and challenges
http://www.salvador.edu.ar/home/congreso/indexe.html

27-29 September 2010, Moscow, Russian Federation
The first UNESCO World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education (WCECCE), Building Wealth of Nations, will follow up on major milestones towards Goal 1 of the EFA goals.

4-6 October 2010, Raleigh, USA
11th Annual National Outreach Scholarship Conference, hosted by North Carolina State University
http://www.ncsu.edu/project/OPDWebSpace/2010OSC/pre-conference-workshops-and-tours.html

5-7 October, Bamako, Mali
Fourth International Conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa and Capacity Building Workshop (ICQAHEA)
http://web.guni2005.upc.es/news/detail.php?chlang=en&id=1609

28-31 October 2010, Indianapolis, USA
10th International Research Conference on Service-Learning and Community Engagement, "International Perspectives: Crossing Boundaries through Research"
Co-sponsored by the International Association for Research on Service-learning and Community Engagement and Indiana Campus Compact, this multi-stakeholder conference focuses on in service-learning, campus-community partnerships, and civic outcomes of education in varied contexts worldwide. Proposals will be accepted until March 22nd, 2010.
http://www.researchslce.org/_Documents/Conferences/2010_Conference/Call_for_Proposals.pdf

23-26 November 2010 Barcelona, Spain
The Global University Network for Innovation in collaboration with the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya is organising its 5th International Conference centred on the theme of Higher Education’s Commitment to Sustainability: from Understanding to Action.
http://www.guni-rmies.net/conference2010/

24-28 November 2010 Kochi, India
The 6th Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open and Distance Learning, entitled ‘Access and Success: Global Development Perspectives to Learning for Development', will specifically explore how universities contribute in community development. Themes include community development, social justice, skills development and formal education.
http://www.pcf6.net

News
Calls for proposals
First Symbiosis International Conference on Open and Distance Learning, Theme: Open and Distance Learning as a Key Growth Driver for Socio-Economic Development, 21-23, 2011, Pune, India
Deadline: 30 September 2010
http://www.scdl.net/sic/sicindex.asp

Calls for proposals
2010 UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) in Education, Theme: Digital Literacy: Preparing Adult Learners for Lifelong Learning and Flexible Employment
Deadline: 30 September 2010

2011 GMR Consultation
Consult summaries from the 4-week online consultation for the 2011 Global Monitoring Report (GMR) which focuses on education and violence.
http://www.unesco.org/en/efareport/reports/2011-conflict/pre-launch/

Free primary education in Lesotho
Free compulsory education is now a legal right in Lesotho, enacted by the Education Act 2010.

NGOs and HE brought together to tackle illiteracy

The Working Group on EFA of the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee organised a 2-day colloquium to exchange ideas between representatives from universities and NGOs and to bring forward recommendations on how to better engage these two communities in tacking illiteracy and reaching marginalised populations. Download Final Programme

Action Plan adopted to reconstruct Haiti’s University System
The AUF International Conference to reconstruct Haiti’s university system adopted an Action Plan which encourages post-graduate students to be engaged in Haiti’s development and envisions redrafting and harmonizing programmes and diplomas.
http://www.assises-haiti.info/

New UNESCO Regional Centre for Arab States on Early Childhood Education and Care
UNESCO and the Syrian government have signed an agreement to create a Regional Early Childhood Centre for Arab States. It aims to raise awareness of early childhood among policy-makers and develop curricula and pre-primary teacher training.
http://www.unesco.org/en/beirut/single-view/news/establishing_a_regional_
early_childhood_care_and_education_training_centre/back/9437/cHash/29878e4386/

Universities and the Millennium Development Goals Declaration
University Chancellors and Vice-chancellors ratified a declaration on the role of universities as being an essential driver to achieving MDGs, calling on the need for all future development goals to explicitly recognise higher education contribution and to better share expertise among universities in MDG-related fields. http://www.acu.ac.uk/

Calls for Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Literacy Prize
Open to Member States, academics are invited to submit innovative initiatives that reinforce to reinforce literacy programme participation and links between academic research and literacy.
Deadline 30 November 2010 
Email: education@isesco.org.ma

World Education Blog Launched
The Global Monitoring Report has launched a new blog to raise awareness on EFA and to follow developments worldwide.
http://efareport.wordpress.com/

Launch of Spanish Portal on Higher Education Cooperation
The Portal of the Latin American and Caribbean Higher Education Area (Espacio de Encuentro Latinamericano and Caribeno de Educación Superior, ENLACES), to foster regional integration and academic cooperation was launched. 
http://www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve/

Launch of 2010 EFA Global Monitoring Report
UNESCO launched the 2010 GMR, consecrated to the theme, Reaching the Marginalised, which warned that in the aftershock of the global financial crisis an “entire generation could be lost” if concerted efforts in financing Education For All are not maintained and reinforced. http://www.unesco.org/en/efareport/

RECOUP launches blog
RECOUP (Research Programme Consortium on Educational Outcomes and Poverty), an international partnership to investigate how education in poor communities in the South affects livelihoods, launched a blog to disseminate the Consortia’s news and research findings and to foster dialogue.
http://recoup09.wordpress.com/

Ratification of Belem Framework of Action on Adult learning
University rectors and other higher education representatives assisted in producing and ratifying the Framework of Action on Adult Learning at the Sixth International Conference on Adult Learning. Conceived along the same lines as the Dakar Framework of Action on EFA, it will better ensure increased mobilisation by all.
http://www.unesco.org/en/confinteavi/

Call for proposals for Research on Service-learning and Community Engagement Annual Conference
The International Association for Research on Service-learning and Community Engagement invites proposals for its Annual Conference, slated for Fall 2010, to share experiences and findings on how outreach is similar or different in varied contexts world wide.
Deadline 22nd March 2010
http://www.researchslce.org/

2009 Kuala Lumpur Higher Education Declaration
Vice-Chancellors present at the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministries published the 2009 Kuala Lumpur Higher Education Declaration (PDF) as a stand-alone document addressed to the Commonwealth Education Ministries.

Calls for studies: The Global Alliance on Community-Engaged Research (GACER)
invite academics to submit their experiences of community-university research partnerships to feed a study which aims to encourage the need to strengthen such partnerships. Please contact: bhall@uvic.ca with the subject line: GACER

EFAInfo Database launched for Asia and Pacific policy-makers
UNICEF and UNESCO launched EFAInfo to assist policy-makers, practitioners and other stakeholders in Asia and Pacific to better identify populations who don’t have access to education and why. It provides data on these groups to allow for better analysis, policy design and planning.
http://www.devinfo.info/efainfo/

Launch of UNICEF website on Education in Emergencies and Post-Crisis Transition
To keep abreast of the latest news and information on the work being down to ensure quality education in emergency and post-crisis regions, UNICEF has developed a website, Back on Track, to raise awareness and promote work being conducted. It includes stories, photo essays and podcasts from participating countries and an interactive blog. For free registration, send your name, position and e-mail address to Elizabeth Njinga at enjinga@unicef.org

WCHED+10 Declaration recognizes higher education’s role in reaching EFA/MDGs
In the final communiqué of the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education+10, it was expressed that higher education and research indeed does contribute to achieving sustainable development in all sectors of society and called upon the necessity to continue supporting higher education despite the global financial crisis.
http://www.unesco.org/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ED/ED/pdf/WCHE_2009/FINAL%20COMMUNIQUE%20WCHE%202009.pdf

G8 supports International Task Force on Teachers for EFA
In the G8 final report, participants welcome the recent creation of this International Task Force to address the chronic teacher gap which puts at risk achieving EFA and related MDGs. The Secretariat will be housed at UNESCO, yet retaining an independent status.
http://www.unesco.org/en/efa-international-coordination/international-cooperation/task-force-on-teachers/

New and Expanded EFA-Fast Track Initiative Board of Directors
To be more inclusive and representative of developing partner countries, donor countries, intergovernmental organisations and civil society organisations, the EFA-FTI has expanded its Board of Directors which now include seats from Burkina Faso, Moldova, Guyana and Mozambique.

New regional coalition: Arab Campaign for Education For All
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) has announced that they will be setting up a new regional coalition to target initiatives in Arab countries. The new secretariat will for the Arab Campaign for Education For All (ACEA) be located in Yemen and aims to support national coalitions as well raising awareness of Arab concerns at the international level.

17CCEM Outcomes: Calls to look beyond EFA
During the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministries, progress in EFA and related MDGs was reviewed, noting many smaller countries had already achieved universal primary education and gender parity while one-third of Commonwealth countries have yet reached either goal. Ministries went on to emphasise the need to look beyond these goals and approved further studies to set up a new higher education agency to promote university development.

Calls to join CGE committee on Inclusive education
In response to growing concerns that education is not reaching disadvantaged children and who are increasingly being marginalised, the Global Campaign for Education has created a thematic group to foster and support inclusive education. Interested parties who would like to participate, send an email to: kjersti@campaignforeducation.org

Global Monitoring Report Editorial Board transformed into Advisory Board
To better reflect the importance of its work which has been instrumental in shaping UNESCO policies and strategies in its EFA agenda, the Editorial Board of the Global Monitoring Report has been transformed into an Advisory Board.

New UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement inaugurated at the Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland
Under the UNESCO Higher Education cooperation programme, University Twinning and Networking, (UNITWIN), this Chair aims to promote civic engagement and leadership skills among young people through research, training and dissemination activities. It will also establish a programme for research and doctoral fellows, and for youth interns from the partner countries. It will encourage the sharing of community-based teaching materials and practice tools among international university partners and non-governmental organizations for children and youth working on civic engagement programmes in developing countries and states in transition. Initial partners include Bulgaria, Lithuania and Zambia.
http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=41557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Clearinghouse for best practices in literacy and numeracy launched
An online platform, Effective Practices Database, will store selected programmes in adult literacy and numeracy worldwide and provide a forum for sharing innovative programmes. The site is administered by the UNESCO Institute on Lifelong Learning. In English and French.
http://www.unesco.org/uil/litbase/?menu=1

Right to Education issues calls for academic papers
Under its revamped website, the Right to Education organisation has issued a call for published and unpublished papers to develop its new section, Students and Academics. Submissions should also include 10-15 keywords and a 100-200 abstract.
Contact Maria Ron Balsera at Maria.RonBalsera@actionaid.org
Or send papers directly to info@right-to-education.org

Publications
Improving Child Literacy in Africa: Experiments with an Automated Reading Tutor
G. Ayorkor Korsah et.al.
Information Technologies & International Development, Vol. 6, No. 2, Summer 2010, pp 1–19
This paper describes Project Kané, a research endeavor aimed at exploring the role that technology can play in improving child literacy in developing communities. An initial pilot study and a subsequent four-month-long controlled field study in Ghana investigated the viability and effectiveness of an automated reading tutor in helping urban children enhance their reading skills in English. In addition to quantitative data suggesting that automated tutoring can be useful for some children in this setting, these studies and an additional preliminary pilot study in Zambia yielded useful qualitative observations regarding the feasibility of applying technology solutions to the challenge of enhancing child literacy in developing communities. This paper presents the findings, observations, and lessons learned from the field studies.
http://itidjournal.org/itid/article/view/517/225

Mainstreaming Higher Education in National and Regional Development in Southern Africa
Y. Sayed et al.
Study Series SARUA p. 76
The focus of the study has been to establish a situational analysis of higher education, national governments, and international aid agencies, in relation to the socio-economic development so sorely needed in the SADC region. If higher education and development efforts are now seen as inextricably interdependent, what is happening to effect the necessary linkages on the ground?
http://www.sarua.org/files/publications/MRCIReport/MRCI_Report.pdf

Curriculum-in-the-making: being a teacher in the context of HIV and AIDS. Teacher education pilot project
Higher Education HIV and AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) 2010
ISBN 978-0-620-46711-7, 113 pages
Curriculum-in-the-making is about the everyday practices of teachers and teacher educators in constructing curriculum – in this case in the context of HIV and AIDS – and reflecting an emerging community of practice amongst South African teacher educators who are teaching and conducting research in the context of HIV and AIDS.
o    Chapter 1 Why Curriculum-in-the-Making?
o    Chapter 2 Beginning at the beginning: Engaging participants in reflective practice in the context of HIV/AIDS
o    Chapter 3 On Addressing Sexuality
o    Chapter 4 Addressing issues of sensitivity and ethical issues in the teacher education classroom in the age of AIDS
o    Chapter 5 Participatory approaches to teaching
o    Chapter 6 Curriculum integration in the context of HIV/AIDS
o    Chapter 7 Assessment ‘of and for learning’ in the context of addressing
o    HIV/AIDS in teacher education
o    Chapter 8 Evaluation, self-study and making our teaching our research
http://hivaidsclearinghouse.unesco.org/search/resources/iiep_being_a_teacher_in_the_context_of_the_hiv_and_aids_pandemic.pdf

Recognising Non-Formal and Informal Learning: Outcomes, Policies and Practices
OECD, 2010
I
SBN: 9789264063846, 92 pages
This book provides policy recommendations on how best to structure and organise systems for recognition of non-formal and informal learning and is based on an OECD review of 22 countries.
o    Chapter 1. Context and Main Concepts
o    Chapter 2. Reasons for Recognising Non-formal and Informal Learning Outcomes
o    Chapter 3. Public Policy Options
http://www.oecd.org/document/29/0,3343,en_2649_39263294_44870941_1_1_1_1,00.html#2

2010 Education for All Global Monitoring Report, Reaching the Marginalized
UNESCO (2010 – 510 pages - ISBN 9789231041297)
The Global Monitoring Report provides data on annual progress, maps identifies best practices, and assesses the state of education in the world. This year’s report focused on the theme, Reaching the Marginalised, to examine and identify which populations are being left out and why. It also warned that in the aftershock of the global financial crisis an “entire generation could be lost” if concerted efforts in financing EFA are not maintained and reinforced. Full report is currently available in English with summaries in Arab, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. It is subdivided into five Chapters supported with a comprehensive Annex:
-    Education at risk: the impact of the financial crisis
-    Progress towards EFA Goals
-    Reaching the marginalized
-    The aid compact: falling short of commitments
-    Rising to the EFA challenge
http://www.unesco.org/en/efareport/

Girls’ Education in the 21st Century: Gender, Equality, Empowerment, and Economic Growth
Eds. Tembon, M. Fort, L.
World Bank (2009 – 313 pages – ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-7474-0, eISBN-13: 978-0-8213-7475-7)
This report indicates that, although the overall primary school enrollments for girls in poor countries increased from 87% in 1990 to 94% in 2004, challenges for education in conflict-torn countries continues. It notes that about half of all primary school-age children who are not in school live in conflict-affected or fragile states and thousands more live in areas affected by natural disasters. The situation is particularly serious for refugees and internally displaced peoples. The report is divided into under three umbrella themes:
-    Educational quality, skills development and economic growth
-    Equity in education: what is holding countries back?
-    Experiences from the field: how was it done?
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EDUCATION/Resources/278200-1099079877269/547664-1099080014368/DID_Girls_edu.pdf

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education
Indiana State University has launched this latest Journal dedicated to raise awareness and communicate issues, case studies, research in community engagement undertaken by the higher education community. It divided into two sections: best practices and research.
http://discovery.indstate.edu/ojs/index.php/joce/issue/view/5

Guidelines for Capacity Development in the Education Sector within the Education For All - Fast Track Framework
Ed. Caprio, Temby
February 2009 - Pages 39
Drawing heavily from work carried out by the OECD Development Assistance Committee and other international donor and cooperation agencies, these guidelines aims to support education policy-makers to develop capacity by applying a participatory approach with other regional, national and local EFA stakeholders:
Five steps have been identified and defined:
Step 1: set the stage for participatory dialogue around a capacity development strategy
Step 2: understand and build on the country context for an effective education strategy
Step 3: capacity gap analysis
Step 4: strategy designing
Step 5: define a monitoring/evaluation mechanism
http://www2.gtz.de/dokumente/bib/gtz2008-0355en-cd-education-guideline.pdf

The Millennium Development Goals Report 2009
United Nations (2009 – 56 pages - ISBN: 978-92-1-101196-8)
In light of the results from the latest MDGs Report which reveal that the MDGs will not be achieved, UN Secretary-General warns of the slowdown in moving forward. The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the impact that the global financial crisis is having, and could continue impact progress made, unless greater effort is exerted. Nonetheless, the Report revealed that considerable steps have been in the goal of providing universal primary education and the target of access to safe drinking water.
English version:
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG%20Report%202009%20ENG.pdf
French version: http://www.un.org/french/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG%20Report%202009%20FR.pdf
Also available in Arab, Chinese, Russian and Spanish

EFA Politics, Policies, and Progress Research Monograph 13
Angela W. Little / Create Pathways to Access (CREATE)
(2008 – 95 pages)
Development agencies regularly appeal to political will as a key requirement for progress on EFA. But what is political will? This research paper provides a literature review on policy formulation and implementation to inform the conceptual framework and methods of cases studies conducted under the larger research project, entitled Create Pathways to Access. The monograph covers:
- educational policy, educational innovation and educational implementation in developed and developing countries over the past half century;
- political science on public policy and development;
- EFA policy and progress, capturing political dimension; and
- the history of compulsory education in the West, for possible lessons learned, the conceptual frameworks and methods that have been employed.
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/about/documents/PTA13.pdf

Universal Primary Education in Africa: The Teacher Challenge
UNESCO-BREDA (2009 – 198 pages - ISBN 978-92-9091-099-2)
Prepared by the Pôle de Dakar, Education Sector Analysis, this study aims to clarify several aspects touching the current and urgent debate on teachers in Africa which will facilitate national teacher policies to address the challenge of providing universal primary education. Based on sector diagnosis, rather than systemic data collection, the study deals with five themes:
Chapter 1: Educational demand and teacher needs
Chapter 2: Teacher salaries and the expansion of education: a fundamental link
Chapter 3: New teachers and progress in enrolments
Chapter 4: Which teachers for what kind of learning?
Chapter 5: Towards an overall vision of teacher matters
Download full document
http://www.poledakar.org/IMG/pdf/POL-%20Brochure%20ENBD.pdf

SciDev.Net examines the role of higher education in development

In an editorial, the role of higher education in achieving MDGs is explored as donor agencies are beginning to reinvest more in higher education after a decade-long absence.
http://www.scidev.net/en/science-and-innovation-policy/aid-for-higher-education/
editorials/what-role-for-higher-education-in-development-.html#

Education Today: The OECD Perspective
(2009 – 96 pages - ISBN: 9789264059955)
The OECD published its perspective on the state on education today, to provide an international overview on the trends touching different education sectors, from early childhood to higher education to adult education and lifelong learning, including to pressing issues on academic achievement, equity and innovation. This study covers the period since the Directorate of Education was created within OECD, from 2002 to today. French version to follow.
A free-for read only version is available online:
http://browse.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/pdfs/browseit/9609021E.PDF

Accelerating MDGs with EFA
In the second issue of MDG Insights Nicolas Burnett, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, discusses the importance and interdependence of achieving Education For All goals and MDGs.
http://www.mdg-gateway.org/MDG-Insights/Feb/Issue02.pdf

EFA FTI Annual Report 2008: The Road to 2015: Reaching the education goals
(2008 – 90 pages)
This report demonstrates considerable progress has been achieved in universal primary education with 15 million more children in Africa being enrolled over the past five years. It goes on to examine how to provide quality education for the most disadvantaged. The launching of the report coincided with the announcement that new funding will be granted to Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, The Gambia, Timor Leste and Zambia to support their programs to reach universal primary education.
Download full report
http://www.education-fast-track.org/library/Annual_Report_2008_EFA_FTI.pdf

The Right to Education: Monitoring standard-setting instruments of UNESCO is a follow up document that details UNESCO’s Executive Board decisions and strategies to monitor countries in seven priority recommendations in education, including EFA. Prepared by the UNESCO Section for the Promotion of Rights and Values in Education, Division for the Promotion of Basic Education, this 32-page document highlights the recommendations in:
•   Discrimination in Education (1960)
•   Status of Teachers (1966)
•   Education for International Understanding, Cooperation and Peace, and Education relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1974)
•   Development of Adult Education (1976)
•   Recognition of Studies and Qualifications in Higher Education (1993
•   Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel (1997)
•   Technical and Vocational Education (2001)
Download publication: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0016/001611/161161e.pdf
A 4-page brochure is also available: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0016/001612/161200E.pdf

Beatriz Pont, Deborah Nusche and Hunter Moorman, Improving School Leadership, Volume 1: Policy and Practice (2008 – 195 pages - ISBN: 9789264044678)
Beatriz Pont, Deborah Nusche and David Hopkins, Eds. Improving School Leadership, Volume 2: Case Studies on System Leadership (2008 – 275 pages - ISBN: 9789264033085 1)
In light of the inherent linkage between good teachers and improved learning outcomes, global initiatives have focused on initiatives to improve teacher professional training and teachers’ qualifications. However governments must equally tackle issues and challenges surrounding effective school governance which have often been overshadowed. Based on a worldwide OECD study, this two-volume publication identifies four policy options for governments to develop and train current and future school leaders (Volume 1) and illustrates innovative policies implemented in Australia, Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Finland and the United Kingdom (England) (Volume 2).
Executive summaries are available in English, French, Spanish and German: http://www.oecd.org/document/18/0,3343,en_2649_39263231_41165970_1_1_1_1,00.html

Eds. Bennall, P., Akyeampong, P., “Teacher Motivation in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia”, Series: Reaching the Issues N° 57(2007 – 114 pages), DFID: London
Despite considerable challenges that many African and South Asian countries were facing in providing education for all, several countries have overcome them. Yet, another crisis is poised to strike regarding teachers and their poor professional conditions that have left so many disenchanted and disaffected, thus jeopardising the quality of education and the progress made. An international research project, co-led by the Institute of Education at the University of London, examined potential strategic means to motivate teachers. Study is downloadable at:
http://www.oecd.org/document/58/0,3343,en_2649_35845581_41208186_1_1_1_1,00.html

Working Paper to advocate a Global Education Fund
The Centre for Universal Education, housed within the American think tank, Council on Foreign Relations, is calling for the creation of a Global Education Fund, directly addressing the pursuit of EFA Goals, and which should be built on the strengths of the existing Fast Track Initiative and to overcome its weaknesses. This initiative has already received the support from the U.S.A. Secretary of State.
Download the working document
http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/CUE_WorkingPaper_1.pdf

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