Proposals of Focal Points

• Background
• Purpose of the IITE Network of Focal Points
• Areas of Activities of Focal Points
• Responsibilities of Focal Points
• Responsibilities of IITE
• Advantages for Participants
• Funding and Support of the Network of Focal Points
• Proposed Stages of the Establishment of the Network

Background

The UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) was established in Moscow in 1998 and operates on a permanent basis within the UNESCO framework being its constituent part, co-operating closely with the relevant unites of the Secretariat at UNESCO Headquarters and in the field. It carries out its activities in accordance with Resolution 6 adopted by the General Conference at its 29th session (October-November 1997) and the Agreement signed between UNESCO and the Government of the Russian Federation (July, 1998).

According to the Statutes of IITE an international Governing Board of the Institute was established to determine the general policy and the nature of the Institute's activities within the framework of the general policy of UNESCO.

The main goal of the Institute which activity includes applied research, training and dissemination of results, is to contribute to the development and implementation of UNESCO programmes in regard to the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education. To reach this goal, the Institute shall perform the following functions:

(a) to promote the collection, analysis, dissemination and exchange of information on the use of ICTs in education;
(b) to provide, at the request of Member States, advisory services and promote studies in Member States on the application of ICTs in education;
(c) to offer technical assistance based on research findings in the design of curricula and courses on the use of ICTs in education;
(d) to organize pre- and in-service training, including open and distance education, for educational personnel on the use of ICTs in education, by giving priority to developing countries and countries in transition; 
(e) to foster the development of UNESCO's regional programmes on the application of ICTs in education in all Member States and in particular in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The first session of IITE Governing Board was convened in July, 1998 by the Director-General of UNESCO in accordance with the approved Statutes of the Institute. Taking into account that the 29th session of UNESCO General Conference established the Institute for Information Technologies in Education as 'an international mechanism to assist Member States in the application of information and communication technologies in education', UNESCO, following the request of Member States to provide the assistance in the exchange and dissemination of information and best practices concerning the use of new technologies in education, including distance education and training of educational personnel, sent a Circular Letter ED/IITE/99/110 from 12 September 1999 to all Member States inviting each of them to nominate a Focal Point for IITE. Such a focal point should be chosen by the Ministries responsible for education among national institutions (e.g. research institutes, government departments or other suitable institutions) in co-operation with the respective National Commissions for UNESCO. In absence of conforming organisation a liaison officer should be nominated for the transition period. 

UNESCO hopes that the network of focal points will become an interactive system to foster the application of ICTs in education by means of an active dialogue with the Institute.

Purpose of the IITE Network of Focal Points

With a view to assist Member States in the development of education through application of ICTs, the purpose of the network of focal points for IITE in the respective country or region will be:

- to bridge the knowledge gap worldwide;
- to provide networking of specialists, decisionmakers and users with global colleagues;
- to collect and disseminate information and the best practices in implementation of ICTs in education;
- to monitor the situation and general tendencies in the development of ICTs in education;
- to harness cost-effective advanced information and communication technologies in education.

Areas of Activities of Focal Points

The focal points in close co-operation with the Ministries responsible for education in Member States and National Commissions shall operate in the following fields:
- exchange of ideas, best practices and studies concerning the use of ICTs in education, including distance education; 
- assistance in national research and development in the field of implementation of ICTs in education in Member States;
· information on training of educational personnel in the field of ICTs in education;
- information on the access to databases and documentation on the application of ICTs in education.

Responsibilities of Focal Points

- to monitor the experience in the introduction and use of ICTs in education in the respective countries and regions;
- to assist in the collection, exchange and dissemination of information and best practices existing in respective countries and regions in the field of application of ICTs in education in general, notably in general secondary and vocational education, including teacher training; 
- to provide the necessary expertise of different kinds of IITE's activities;
- to contribute to IITE publications and databases.

Responsibilities of IITE

- to inform Member States via focal points on IITE activities, training programmes, applied research and project arrangements;
- to provide access for Member States to IITE databases;
-to assist Member States in the search for partners in the field of application of ICTs in education;
- to analyse assembled information, carry out comparative research and disseminate results;
- to manage the IITE/Focal Point Network.

Advantages for Participants

Focal points will:

- be provided with quick access to information on application of ICTs in education all over the world;
- be provided with free access to databases of research findings and best practices in the field of ICTs in education;
- participate in compiling and use of world experience in the field of ICTs implementation in education.

Funding and Support of the Network of Focal Points

The network is a joint undertaking, UNESCO as a world intellectual forum plays the role of a catalyst. All participating institutions are called upon to make intellectual and material contributions to the network. Member States are requested to contribute to the operation of their focal point. 

Proposed Stages of the Establishment of the Network

After identifying of a national focal point or liaison officer in reply to the UNESCO Circular Letter ED/IITE/99/110 of 12 September 1999, the National Commissions for UNESCO should inform the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, and after that IITE will contact the authorised institution/liaison officer with information about the details of the envisaged co-operation.

Bilateral contacts will be established first between IITE and focal points followed by a multilateral network operation.

It is envisaged to have a pilot network launched by the end of 2000 depending on volunteers ready for co-operation in the first phase.