In the context of the era of globalization and informatization the collaboration between UNESCO IITE and Central China Normal University (CCNU) focuses on exploration how AI and ICT can foster inclusive, sustainable, and equitable learning environments.
This project aims to comprehensively analyze the current status of the application of digital technology in student development and explore its challenges and solutions through international cooperation and interdisciplinary research. The ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of education for students, ensuring they have equitable access to learning opportunities. This will be achieved by empowering educators with the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to integrate ICT and AI effectively into their teaching practices. To reach this goal UNESCO IITE is looking for an individual consultant, being able in close cooperation with UNESCO IITE and CCNU teams, carry out the collection of best practices and its analyses on the application of AI and ICT tools to support students’ development.
In particular, the Consultant shall carry out the following tasks:
- Develop a timeframe and interview questions as well as strategic map for the consultations. Submit all these draft materials to UNESCO IITE for approval by April 2, 2025. If make changes in the draft version based on the feedback provided by UNESCO IITE and CCNU, submit the finalized timeframe and Interview questions as well as strategic map for the consultation to UNESCO IITE by April 9, 2025.
- Select and gather background and contact information on participants of focus group discussions, interviews, and publications authors on the best experiences. The list should consist of minimum 20 experts from at least 10 countries of different regions of the world, specialized in empowering student learning and development by ICT and AI and ready to communicate on the project. Prepare and submit the list of informants’ contacts, including positions, places of work and rationale for informant/participant selection, to UNESCO IITE by April 2, 2025. If make changes in the draft version based on the feedback provided by UNESCO IITE and CCNU, submit the finalized list mentioned above to UNESCO IITE by April 9, 2025.
- Conduct online consultations and interviews with the educational stakeholders from the list, indicated in Point 2, regarding the state-of-the-art and perspectives of ICT and AI tools integration into educational process to foster students’ learning and development. Submit the recordings and transcribing/interpretation of the consultations and interviews to UNESCO IITE by April 20, 2025.
- Carry out the Collection of best practices (at least 15 cases, including both K-12 (kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school) and higher education, as well as continuous lifelong learning and professional development programs, from at least 10 countries) and produce the Analytical report based on the Collection of best practices (30 pages minimum) on the application of AI and ICT tools to support students’ development. Deliver both drafts of the future publications to UNESCO IITE by June 16, 2025. The list of informants’ contacts, including positions, places of work and rationale for informant/participant selection should be used in the description paragraph of the Collection as well as sections with the found key success factors and challenges, detailed each case background, implementation process details, outcome and learning situation. The advanced examples materials should be illustrated with photos/videos (all multimedia materials must be officially authorized for educational use by UNESCO IITE). If make changes in the draft version based on the feedback provided by UNESCO IITE and CCNU, submit the finalized Collection of best practices and Analytical report to UNESCO IITE by July 16, 2025.
- Promote the results, organizing webinars on the research findings and share best practices. In September – November 2025, on the dates agreed with UNESCO IITE and CCNU, design and arrange two online interactive webinars for educators on AI in education and students’ development with the special focus on inclusion, global partnership, sustainable, and equitable learning environments. Prepare and submit for approval by UNESCO IITE the draft schedule and concept note of the webinars by August 12, 2025. Invite at least 100 participants to attend each webinar. Arrange video recording during the webinars. Provide copies of invitation letters, webinar video records, PPT presentations and other materials used during the webinars to UNESCO IITE by November 21, 2025.
- During the contract period, participate in the online working meetings with the UNESCO IITE – CCNU project teams and provide consultative support as written responses to their questions through the whole contract period. Prepare a final narrative report on the implemented activities and submit it to UNESCO IITE by December 5, 2025.
Submission requirements for deliverables:
The language of all deliverables is English
The format of images: JPEG, PNG, SVG. Image resolution should be not less than 4000×3000 pixels. The format of videos: MPEG-4/H.264. Video recording should be carried out with a maximum level of quality, in full HD 1080p (minimum) or UHD 4K (desired).
The entire materials for the publication and webinar content, including its outline, video recordings, presentation slides, audio feedback, related resources, speaker notes, caption files, etc. shall be openly disseminated under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Candidate specification:
The prospective candidate should have the following qualifications:
– Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent or above) in Education, Information Technology, or related fields and minimum 5 years of relevant work experience;
– Proven experience in developing of the research educational content, particularly in students’ learning and development
– Familiarity with instructional design principles and theories in learning and development;
– Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English (additional languages are a plus);
– Ability to convey complex ideas in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner;
– Experience in managing projects from conception to execution, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met;
Submission of proposals
Interested individuals are invited to submit their proposals in English to UNESCO IITE by email o.akimov@unesco.org no later than March 19, 2025 (inclusive). The proposal should include:
The official application shall include:
- Candidate’s latest Curriculum Vitae.
- A statement indicating how the candidate’s qualifications and experience make him/her suitable for the assignment.
- An indication of the approach and intended activities the candidate would adopt to carry out the assignment, including any inputs that may be required from UNESCO IITE.
- Proposed budget (in USD).
Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.