The  UNESCO Chairs Programme was conceived as a way to advance research, training and programme development in all of UNESCO’s fields of competence by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation. Over 812 institutions in 128 countries are involved in the UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Network - a linked UNESCO programme which aims to be forward-thinking and impact socio-economic development. The focus of these initiatives has been placed on, among others:

• The dual function of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks as think tanks and 'bridge builders' between the academic world, civil society, local communities, research and policy-making.
• Readjust geographic imbalance which is now in favour of the North
• Stimulate triangular North-South-South cooperation
• Creation of regional or sub-regional poles of innovation and excellence

UNESCO Chair in OER

ICDE member institutions Athabasca University, Canada, and Open Universiteit, the Netherlands, were recently awarded the UNESCO Chair in OER. The UNESCO Chair in OER is a network which focuses on capacity building on an institutional, national and international level and research that will contribute to the growing investigation of the OER phenomenon, and its potential and impact on education and learning. With this in mind the Open Universiteit has launched a UNESCO Chair in OER website to act as a platform to engage the entire network of UNESCO Chairs and share news items, activity reports, event announcements and other activities related to OER.

 

Information courtesy of the UNESCO UNITWIN website, UNESCO Chair in OER website and Athabasca University Research Centre website.

14 April 2011