Consultant – Technical Support for Developing ICT Modules for Teacher Educators in Lao PDR

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Bangkok

 

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) : 19-05-2024

 

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

 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

 

Background and Rationale: 

 

In recent years, the landscape of ICT in education has undergone significant transformation in Lao PDR, largely spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. This, coupled with advocacy and support from UNESCO and other development partners, catalyzed governmental efforts to reform teacher training, focusing on enhancing digital resilience and prioritizing ICT and digital skills. A 2021 survey conducted by UNESCO found that, during the peak of the pandemic, 78% of teachers in Lao PDR had never received ICT training. While acknowledging the significant role of ICT in education, most teachers had not been encouraged to integrate ICT into their classroom practices. 

 

In response, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok), through the “Capacity Development for Education (CapED) in Lao PDR: Capacity Building Support in Teacher Education Programme”, has been collaborating with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) in Lao PDR to integrate ICT into teacher teaching programmes across all 16 teacher education institutions (TEIs).

 

In line with the ICT Competency Standards for Teachers (ICT-CST) in Lao PDR, developed with the support of UNESCO Bangkok and endorsed in January 2022, three new ICT courses have been designed for all pre-service teacher education programmes, encompassing both diploma and degree-level studies. These courses are: Basic ICT, ICT in Teaching and Learning, and ICT for Teacher Professional Development. The syllabi and teaching modules for the Basic ICT and ICT in Teaching and Learning courses have been developed and introduced into pre-service teacher training from early childhood to secondary education in the 16 TEIs since the academic year 2023-2024, in a phased manner.

Purpose of the Assignment

 

As the next step, UNESCO Bangkok is seeking a skilled individual specialist to provide technical guidance to the country task force in revising the course syllabus and developing teaching modules for the ICT for Teacher Professional Development course. In addition, the specialist will facilitate two national workshops for the country task force and co-facilitate two training workshops for key ICT teacher educators to ensure effective delivery of this new course.

 

Objectives:

The objectives of this consultancy assignment are to: 

 

1. Provide technical support and advice for refining and finalizing the course syllabus and teaching modules for the ICT for Teacher Professional Development course.
2. Strengthen the capacity of the country task force in designing and developing ICT-related course syllabi and teaching modules.
3. Enhance the capacity of ICT teacher educators from the 16 TEIs in effectively delivering the new ICT for Teacher Professional Development course.

 

Expected Outcomes:

The main expected outcomes are as follows:

 

• Presentations, reference documents, and tools to support the development of teaching modules for the ICT for Teacher Professional Development Course.
• Strengthened capacity of the country task force in developing course syllabi and teaching modules for ICT-related subjects.
• Enhanced capacity of ICT teacher educators from 16 TEIs on the effective delivery of the ICT for Teacher Professional Development Course.
• An activity report and a consultancy close-out report.
  

MAIN TASKS AND TIMELINES

 

Supervisory Arrangement:

 

Within the framework of the Capacity Development for Education (CapED) in Lao PDR: Capacity Building Support in Teacher Education in Lao PDR Programme, under the overall authority of the Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, and the direct supervision of the Chief of Education Section, and in consultation with the Programme Coordinator, the Individual Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

 

1.    Technical support and facilitation of two National Workshops to develop and finalize the course syllabus and teaching modules for the ICT for Teacher Professional Development Course:

(i)    Familiarize with the endorsed ICT Competency Standards for Teachers in Lao PDR, as well as the draft course syllabus for the ICT for Teacher Professional Development Course (to be provided by UNESCO Bangkok).
(ii)    Consult with UNESCO Bangkok and the Department of Teacher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, to agree on overall workshop design and timelines. The workshops are tentatively scheduled between July and August 2024. The target participants for the National Workshops will comprise 20 members of the country task force.
(iii)    Facilitate and provide technical support for two 5-day National Workshops to develop and finalize the course syllabus and teaching modules for the ICT in Teaching and Leaning Couse. The specific tasks will include:

a.    Providing suggestions for the design, agenda, and content of the workshops.
b.    Enhancing and developing workshop materials, including presentations, worksheets, relevant international cases, etc.;
c.    Facilitating National Workshops #1 and 2, including delivering presentations, providing feedback, and evaluating the usefulness of the training sessions on a daily basis, as agreed with UNESCO Bangkok.
d.    Providing feedback and suggestions on the key outputs, particularly the revised course syllabus and the draft teaching modules for the ICT for Teacher Professional Development.

 

2.    Technical support for the finalization of the ICT for Teacher Professional Development course modules:

(i)    After the workshops, review and provide comments on the enhanced version of the course syllabus and the newly developed version of the ICT for Teacher Professional Development course modules.

3.    Technical support and co-facilitation of two Training Workshops for ICT teacher educators in all 16 teacher education institutions:

(i)    Collaborate with UNESCO Bangkok, the Department of Teacher Education, and the country task force, who will serve as key trainers, to agree on overall workshop design and timelines of two 5-day Training Workshops on the Implementation of the ICT for Teacher Professional Development Course Modules. The workshops are tentatively scheduled for September 2024. The target participants for each Training Workshops will consist of 40 ICT teacher educators selected from eight out of the 16 TEIs. Each workshop will be primarily facilitated by ten members of the country task force.

(ii)    Co-facilitate and provide technical support for two 5-day Training Workshops on the ICT for Teacher Professional Development Course Module, intended for ICT teacher educators in all 16 TEIs. Specific tasks will include:

a.    Providing suggestions for the design, agenda and content of the workshops.
b.    Enhancing and developing workshop materials, including presentations, worksheets, relevant international case studies, etc.
c.    Co-facilitating Training Workshops #1 and #2, and providing technical support throughout the training sessions, including delivering presentations and guiding activities in alignment with UNESCO Bangkok’s guidance.
d.    Contributing inputs and suggestions concerning participants’ key outputs, such as their lesson plans.

 

4.    Preparation of an activity report and a consultancy close-out report:

(i)    Following National Workshop #2, prepare an activity report that documents the processes of both National Workshops and their key outputs. This report should also include feedback and suggestions for enhancing the outputs of National Workshop #2, as part of the activity record.
(ii)    Upon completion of Training Workshop #2, prepare a consultancy close-out report. The Individual Specialist will consolidate the training feedback provided by workshop participants during the final workshop evaluation, and summarize this feedback, along with reflections and insights gained from the entire capacity development process. The report should also provide recommendations for replicating, scaling up, or further developing activities within the country, with future support.

5.    Undertaking four work trips to the workshop venues in Lao PDR:

(i)    Trip #1 to facilitate and provide technical support during the National Workshop #1 on the Development of Teaching Modules for the ICT for Teacher Professional Development Course, tentatively scheduled between July and August 2024 in Vientiane Province;
(ii)    Trip #2 to facilitate and provide technical support during the National Workshop #2 on the Finalization of Teaching Modules for the ICT for Teacher Professional Development Course, tentatively scheduled between July and August 2024 in Vientiane Province;
(iii)    Trip #3 to co-facilitate and provide technical support during the Training Workshop #1 on the Implementation of the ICT for Teacher Professional Development Course Modules, for Group 1 participants, tentatively scheduled for September 2024 in Vientiane Province; and
(iv)    Trip #4 to co-facilitate and provide technical support during the Training Workshop #2 on the Implementation of the ICT for Teacher Professional Development Course Modules, for Group 2 participants, tentatively scheduled for September 2024 in Vientiane Province.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES

 

The Individual Specialist is required to submit the following documents in English to UNESCO Bangkok:

(i)    Workshop design/agenda, content, and materials for National Workshop #1, by 15 June 2024.
(ii)    Workshop design/agenda, content, and materials for National Workshop #2, by 15 July 2024.
(iii)    An activity report documenting the workshop processes and key outputs, including feedback and suggestions for improving the outputs of National Workshops #2, as well as workshop agenda, content, and materials for Training Workshops #1 and #2, by 15 August 2024.
(iv)    A consultancy close-out report synthesizing the main learnings from the entire capacity development process, with recommendations to UNESCO for replication, scaling up, or further development of activities in-country with future support, by 30 September 2024.

 

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

 

The work shall be completed by 31 October 2024 at the latest.
 

Travel

 

The individual consultant will be required to travel on mission directly related to programme/projects and implementation during the assignment. The individual consultant should travel economy class and receive DSA at the standard rate (and which should be reduced, as necessary, when the number of days of DSA exceeds the limits stipulated in the table of rates published by ICSC). However, lower rates may be paid where negotiated by the staff member responsible for the contract. DSA is only payable to individuals carrying out assignments away from their usual place of residence or work.  Individual consultant is expected to make her/his own travel arrangements and should be provided with a lump sum to cover travel-related expenses in accordance with UNESCO rules and regulations. Travel-related expenses (e.g. the cost of tickets, terminal fares and DSA) must be fixed and agreed between the parties. Travel documents, e.g. e-ticket, boarding passes, and hotel receipt, and UNDSS security clearance, are required to be submitted to UNESCO for reimbursement.

 

Supervision and reporting

The Individual Specialist will be directly supervised by, and report to the Programme Coordinator responsible for the CapED in Lao PDR Programme, UNESCO Bangkok. In addition to submission of contract deliverables, the Individual Specialist will routinely engage with the UNESCO Bangkok’s CapED team through emails and virtual meetings. Upon commencing the consultancy, the Individual Specialist will participate in an initial online meeting with UNESCO Bangkok to reconfirm the parameters of the consultancy and to update, as needed, the consultancy approach to work and timeline, to define required sub-tasks and interim outputs to be carried out by the Individual Specialist and the supportive inputs required from UNESCO Bangkok and collaborating partners on the respective country-level activities.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Teamwork (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
–
For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

 

Education

 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in fields such as: education, ICT in education, teacher education, or other related fields.

 

Work Experience

 

• A minimum of five (5) years of extensive professional expertise, practical involvement and field experience in ICT in education or related fields.
• Experience in the development of course syllabi and teacher training modules for teacher education institutions.
  

Skills/Competencies

 

• Strong analytical and research skills
• Good command in Lao or Thai language, and excellent command in spoken and written English language
• Strong facilitation skills to guide participants in workshops and training sessions
• ICT infrastructure, software and devices to support remote meetings, communication and online/digital data collection, as appropriate
  

APPLICATION PROCESS

 

Interested individuals are invited to submit the application and requirements to the UNESCO Careers website at https://careers.unesco.org/careersection/2/joblist.ftl.

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now” and download and complete the Employment History form (Word document) in ‘Employment History Form / My Documents’. Before uploading the document, at the end of the Word document, please insert the extra pages with the following required information:

 

• An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing educational qualifications, work experience, including prior experience relevant to this assignment.
• A concise technical proposal (1-2 pages) outlining the approach/methodology for completing the assignment.
• The proposed consultancy fee in US dollars, presented as a lump sum with a breakdown according to level of effort/time-on-task or per output. Travel-related costs will be suggested by UNESCO Bangkok based on UN standard rates.
  

 

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.
  

Assessment:

 

Evaluation of qualified applicants will include the review of the curriculum vitae, technical proposal and proposed consultancy fee.

 

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.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member  States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

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