Terms of Reference (ToR)
Development of a Short Online Course:
“Empowering learners through Meaningful Youth Engagement in schools”
Project Location: Global / Remote
Application Deadline: 2026
Duration of Assignment: May 1, 2026 – August 24, 2026
Contract Type: Individual Consultant
Background
In alignment with the UN’s call for meaningful youth engagement, the Transforming Education Summit and related Youth Declaration for the Transformation of Education, and the Pact for the Future, UNESCO has released the Meaningful youth engagement handbook: Empowering schools to foster active participation and leadership. This 48-page resource (including Annexes with practical recommendations), co-developed by the SDG 4 Youth & Student Network and the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet), provides teachers and school leaders with evidence-based strategies, reflection tools, and case studies to embed youth voice into school governance and pedagogy.
To scale the impact of this handbook and train educators globally, UNESCO is seeking to develop a short, self-paced online course (4 hours/240 minutes). This course will translate the handbook’s philosophy – that student engagement is not an “add-on” but a core element of quality education – into actionable learning.
A dedicated module on Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be included to address the changes in education systems driven by GenAI and emerging technologies, ensuring that youth engagement strategies remain relevant in the digital age.
Objective of the Assignment
The primary objective is to design and develop an interactive, multimedia online course that:
- Empowers and youth leaders to implement the strategies outlined in the UNESCO handbook.
- Facilitates a “mindset shift” regarding the role of youth as genuine partners in decision-making.
- Provides practical guidance on utilizing low-tech and high-tech tools (including AI) to amplify youth voices.
Target Audience of the Online Course
Teachers, school principals, and educators (K-12) as well as teacher trainers, ministry officials, and youth leaders.
Course Structure and Duration
Total Learning Time: about 240 minutes (4 hours), excluding intermediate and final assessment (graded quizzes).
Modality: Fully online, self-paced (LMS agnostic).
Language: English
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Articulate the rationale for meaningful youth engagement as a right, not a privilege.
- Apply at least three strategies from the UNESCO handbook to foster learner agency in classrooms and school governance.
- Utilize the 14 ready-to-use tools and templates provided in the handbook to design participatory projects.
- Analyze real-world case studies to adapt engagement models to their local context.
- Integrate appropriate technologies and AI tools to facilitate student-led decision-making and feedback loops.
Proposed Content Areas and Modules
The course should be divided into 4 core modules (approx. 40-60 minutes each), plus a 5th module on Technology/AI (40-60 minutes) to meet the total duration OR integrate the technology component across all modules. For Each module, a quiz and test should be designed.
The proposed structure is as follows:
Module 1: The “Why” – From Voice to Impact
- The global mandate (Youth Declaration for the Transformation of Education, UNESCO 2023 Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development).
- Distinction between “tokenism” and “meaningful” engagement;
- The mindset shift: Students as solution-providers, not just beneficiaries.
Module 2: The “How” – Strategies and Tools
- Deep dive into the handbook’s 14 tools (e.g., problem-solving language, participatory budgeting, student representation in parents’ committees);
- Building inclusive cultures: Engaging marginalized youth.
Module 3: Governance and Leadership
- Moving beyond the classroom: Students in school decision-making bodies.
Module 4: Implementation and Sustainability
- Context-specific considerations;
- Time barriers;
- Creating a “living community of practice” among schools;
- Creating “living heritage” as a principle of continuity and foundation of youth engagement in schools;
- Monitoring and evaluating student participation.
Module 5: Youth Engagement in the Digital Age (Technology and AI Focus)
- Using low-tech solutions in resource-constrained settings.
- Generative AI as a co-pilot for student projects (e.g., drafting proposals, analyzing survey data).
- Digital safety, ethics, and inclusive access.
Deliverables and Specific Tasks
The consultant shall carry out the following tasks:
Design and develop a series of self-paced micro courses (4-5 modules in total, with each module being 40-60 minutes long excluding assessment tasks) in English. Each module of the training course series shall include tutorials (in textual and video formats), learning support materials, and appropriate formative and summative assessment. More specifically, there should be practice-oriented examples for each module, as well as practice-oriented and performance-driven assessments to allow awarding certification.
In terms of specific tasks and the timeline, the Consultant shall:
- Submit the detailed course outline, learning objectives per module, instructional design approach, and interactive element plan corresponding to the outlined above to UNESCO IITE by May 10, 2026.
- Upon the approval of the course’s structure, develop learning support materials: full script/text for all modules, including case studies, reflection prompts, and knowledge checks by June 8, 2026.
- After that, by July 20, 2026
- source or create multimedia learning resources (infographics, videos, animations, presentations with audio). Each module must contain at least two videos (approx. 5-7 minutes), textual materials and at least one interactive task (game, quiz and such like);
- design interim tests to be carried out after each module and contain tasks which allow for the identification of the content comprehension level among the course takers, and the final test, which must identify the overall comprehension level;
- and submit the learning resources, assessment materials and certificate templates to UNESCO IITE and the Unit for ASPnet at UNESCO HQs for consideration and further approval
All deliverables (materials and resources) must be presented in compatible formats with the most popular and widely utilized learning platforms to ensure the upload and display of the course content.
- Provide full package or fully functional course links, including final assessment (quiz) and course evaluation form to UNESCO IITE by July 30, 2026.
- Incorporate feedback from UNESCO and 5 pilot testers by August 17, 2026.
- Prepare a summary report on the conducted activities (at least 3 pages). Submit the signed report to UNESCO IITE by August 24, 2026.
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 course content, including its outline, video recordings, presentation slides, feedback, related resources, caption notes, assessment materials, etc. shall be openly disseminated under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Education: Advanced degree (Master’s preferred) in Education, Instructional Design, International Development, or related field.
- Experience:
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in instructional design/e-learning development for educators or education professionals;
- Experience in designing self-paced online learning for global and culturally diverse audiences;
- Deep familiarity with youth participation frameworks and student-centered pedagogy;
- Experience in managing projects from conception to execution, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met
- Technical Skills:
- Ability to utilize various multimedia tools for course content creation;
- Knowledge of accessibility and inclusive design principles (e.g. universal design for learning, low-bandwidth considerations) will be an advantage for the candidate;
- AI Literacy: Demonstrated ability to translate complex AI/technology topics into accessible content for non-tech educators;
- Language: Excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.
Application Submission
Interested candidates/organizations must submit the following no later than 27 March, 2026:
- Technical Proposal (max 5 pages):
- Understanding of the handbook and the ToR;
- Proposed methodology and creative approach;
- Draft module outline/flow.
- Financial Proposal:
- Lump sum in USD including all taxes outlining breakdown of costs.
- Latest CV
- Links to/Portfolio of 2-3 relevant previous courses.
Applications should be sent to: t.shutova@unesco.org with subject line: “ToR: Meaningful Youth Engagement Course”
Please note that successful candidates will be contacted after April 10 with the intended start of the assignment around May 1, 2026.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be assessed on:
- Quality of Proposal (40%): Relevance, creativity, and alignment with UNESCO values.
- Experience and Qualifications (30%): Proven ability to deliver similar scale projects.
- Financial Proposal (30%): Cost-effectiveness.
UNESCO reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and to annul the selection process at any time.