Drafting an Operating Concept for the UNESCO Education Technology Innovation Centre (ETIC)
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PROJECT OBJECTIVEThe UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) has a plan to establish a special centre (ETIC) in order to achieve its goals and to expand its operations. The agency will be concerned with the development of technological innovations at all levels and sectors of education. Because the IITE is headquartered in Moscow, headquarters for the centre are to be in the same city, even though the centre's activities and results should cover a far broader territory, covering not just Russia, but also other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the CIS, and priority countries in Africa. Before the centre's operations could be launched successfully and the relevant project could be implemented, an all-encompassing operating strategy for the centre was needed. PROJECT SOLUTIONOur team was entrusted with the job of preparing an all-encompassing concept for the centre's operations. We drafted the basic documents for the centre on the basis of UNESCO and IITE guidelines and standards: Statutes to define and describe the vision, mission and scope of ETIC, the roles and responsibilities of its founders and strategic partners, basic principles for management and operations, the work of the executive organisation, a risk management model, priority areas and territories of operations, strategic priorities and missions, and parties interested in the work of the centre. A framework document for management of the centre to define its functions, as divided up into several structures and dimensions which consist of human resources, their roles, structures and policies, as well as management and decision making principles and processes. This allows ETIC to operate successfully and effectively. |
A model of partnership and co-operation for the centre, describing the primary goals and principles of partnerships, reviewing strategic priorities and the role and obligations of partners, and describing support from partners and other interested parties, as well as the area of responsibility for each of those parties. An effective and mutually advantageous partnership will support the longevity of the centre's operations, also ensuing investments and long-term achievements for ETIC.
A model to ensure quality at the centre, describing a systematic approach to evaluate and supervise operations at ETIC so as to ensure that quality requirements are observed by the centre and its partners, also helping to avoid substantial risks. The quality assurance model for ETIC is based on two principles -- results of operations must be in line with stated goals, and imprecision or a lack of correspondence to those goals must be recognised and adjusted appropriately. A tactical action plan for the centre, precisely defining what to do during each period of time in each of the centre's priority areas of activity, also defining the desired results, as well as ways of measuring operating indicators. PROJECT RESULTAs a result of the project, the UNESCO IITE has presented the concept for the new centre's operations to UNESCO management and board members, as well as to the broader audience -- educational institutions and potential partners. Preparations are underway to open the centre in the autumn of 2012. |
A model of partnership and co-operation for the centre, describing the primary goals and principles of partnerships, reviewing strategic priorities and the role and obligations of partners, and describing support from partners and other interested parties, as well as the area of responsibility for each of those parties. An effective and mutually advantageous partnership will support the longevity of the centre's operations, also ensuing investments and long-term achievements for ETIC.
A model to ensure quality at the centre, describing a systematic approach to evaluate and supervise operations at ETIC so as to ensure that quality requirements are observed by the centre and its partners, also helping to avoid substantial risks. The quality assurance model for ETIC is based on two principles -- results of operations must be in line with stated goals, and imprecision or a lack of correspondence to those goals must be recognised and adjusted appropriately.
A tactical action plan for the centre, precisely defining what to do during each period of time in each of the centre's priority areas of activity, also defining the desired results, as well as ways of measuring operating indicators.
THE RESULTS OF THE PROJECT
As a result of the project, the UNESCO IITE has presented the concept for the new centre's operations to UNESCO management and board members, as well as to the broader audience -- educational institutions and potential partners. Preparations are underway to open the centre in the autumn of 2012.
