Individual Consultant - Preparation of regional assessment guideline for multilingual learners

Consultant

Overview

Develop a regional guideline for assessment of multilingual learners

You have:

• A doctorate degree in the social sciences, international studies, education, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in research and/or capacity development in the field of education, particularly in multilingual education, assessment or other relevant areas.
• Experience in working in the relevant fields in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Knowledge and practical experiences in monitoring and evaluating multilingual education projects/programmes.
• Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken).
• Proven conceptual and analytical skills especially in multilingual education.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and maintain effective team cooperation.
• Capacity to work independently and in a timely manner.

Contract

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**OVERVIEW** ------------ Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED) Duty Station: Bangkok Job Family: Education Type of contract : Non Staff Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months Recruitment open to : External candidates Application Deadline (Midnight Bangkok Time) : 03-MAR-2023 (EXTENDED) UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism **OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST** ----------------------------------------- **BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE** *Under the commitment to ensure ‘inclusive and equitable quality education’ and promote ‘lifelong learning for all’ as part of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), the Asia-Pacific region has made significant progress in terms of both access and quality of education, especially Target 4.5 on vulnerable learners such as ethnolinguistic minority children. Such children face compounding exclusionary factors to learning such as remoteness, poverty and language. Global evidence has shown that children who learn in their first or home languages develop strong foundational learning in literacy and numeracy skills, which leads to stronger learning outcomes in all subjects.* *While much regional progress has been made for including learners’ languages in education in terms of teaching and learning materials and language of instruction, it can be difficult for teachers and educators to know the learning progress, needs and outcomes of multilingual learners and learners in multilingual contexts. In multilingual education or multilingual communities, there may be several languages spoken in the classroom, but assessment may only take place in one language. At the same time, learners’ strongest languages may be in different languages from those used for instruction.* Long Description ---------------- *Appropriate multilingual approaches to formative and summative assessment are needed to help teachers and educators diagnose teaching and learning issues, design appropriate teaching and learning activities, ensure their learners are on track with their learning goals and understand the effectiveness of multilingual education (MLE) programmes. Assessment results that do not accurately reflect the learning outcomes of multilingual learners may have a negative impact on language-in-education policies, programmes and practices. Without attention to language backgrounds and proficiencies in assessment, multilingual learners and learners in multilingual contexts are at risk of falling even further behind their peers.* **PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT** The main purpose of this assignment is to develop a regional assessment guideline to help teachers, school administrators and policy-makers to understand the needs and learning development of multilingual learners and to capture their learning outcomes effectively. The guideline will be published as a handbook and disseminated to participants at the 7th International Conference on Language and Education and other regional events. To enhance Member States’ understanding of assessment issues for multilingual learners and their knowledge of multilingual approaches to assessment for ensuring quality and inclusive education for all, the regional guideline aims to: • Synthesize and discuss global and regional trends for determining languages and assessing learning in bilingual and multilingual education settings; • Highlight the issues, gaps, challenges and opportunities in conducting formative and summative assessments for multilingual learners; • Include case studies of promising practices in classroom- and school-based assessment and strategies for teachers of multilingual learners; and • Provide recommendations for classroom-, school-, and national-level assessment for transforming education systems in the Asia-Pacific region. **DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES** Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education and the direct supervision and overall guidance of the Chief Section for Inclusive Quality Education (IQE), and daily guidance of the Team Leader of Equity and Inclusion in Education, the individual specialist is expected to develop a regional assessment guideline to help teachers, school administrators and policy-makers to understand the needs and learning development of multilingual learners and to capture their learning outcomes effectively. The guideline will be published as a handbook and disseminated to participants at the 7th International Conference on Language and Education and other regional events. To enhance Member States’ understanding of assessment issues for multilingual learners and their knowledge of multilingual approaches to assessment for ensuring quality and inclusive education for all, the regional guideline aims to: - Synthesize and discuss global and regional trends for determining languages and assessing learning in bilingual and multilingual education settings; - Highlight the issues, gaps, challenges and opportunities in conducting formative and summative assessments for multilingual learners; - Include case studies of promising practices in classroom- and school-based assessment and strategies for teachers of multilingual learners; and - Provide recommendations for classroom-, school-, and national-level assessment for transforming education systems in the Asia-Pacific region. Specifically, the individual specialist is expected to perform the following tasks: 1\. Prepare the annotated outline of the guideline to be agreed by UNESCO; 2\. Compile and collate the relevant information and documents to be used for the preparation of the guideline; 3\. Prepare the draft guideline (no more than 50 pages) based on the agreed outline and share it with UNESCO for further consultation and feedback; 4\. Revise the draft guideline based on the feedback and inputs received from UNESCO; 5\. Based on the draft guideline, prepare the draft executive summary (no more than 6 pages); 6\. Finalize the guideline and the executive summary by incorporating the feedback and inputs received from UNESCO; 7\. Submit the finalized guideline along with relevant references, further readings and annexes; 8\. Based on the finalized guideline, prepare a PowerPoint presentation (no more than 20 slides) synthesizing the key highlights of the guideline, to be presented at a webinar launch. 9\. Intellectual Property 9.1 UNESCO shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks with regard to all material which bears a direct relation to, or is made in consequence of, the services provided to the Organization by the Individual Specialist. 9.2 a. In preparing the Work, the Individual Specialist shall bear in mind the provisions contained in the “Guide for the preparation of manuscripts” annexed to this contract. b. The Individual Specialist shall also bear in mind that, in accordance with UNESCO publishing policy, all UNESCO publications are to be made available in Open Access, under the IGO-Creative Commons or any other open licensing system. 9.3 The completed Work shall be deemed acceptable to UNESCO unless it gives the Individual Specialist written notice to the contrary or indicates changes that it may consider desirable. In the latter case, such notice will set a time limit for the delivery of the requested changes; if acceptable changes are not delivered to UNESCO within the prescribed time limit, UNESCO may terminate this contract by written notice to the Author. 9\. 4 The Individual Specialist hereby grants to UNESCO: a) The worldwide copyright in the Work, which shall, during the whole term of the copyright, have the exclusive right to translate, adapt, reproduce, perform, broadcast, communicate to the public, print and publish in any language and in any form the whole or any part of the Work, and to authorize others to exercise any or all of its rights hereunder. b) It is understood that the manuscript and the accompanying data is complete in all respects and all property rights in such manuscript or other materials delivered to UNESCO pursuant to Article I shall become the sole property of UNESCO. c) The worldwide irrevocable right to deposit the whole or any part of the Work in its multilingual Open Access Repository in electronic form. This entails the right of access to copy, usage, distribution, adaptation, for lawful purposes, within specified constraints. d) The worldwide right to further assign licenses to allow anyone to use the content in the publication for any lawful activity, without any prior permission but with due credit to the Author and UNESCO for the original creation. Any transmission, reproduction, use or transformation of any content beyond permissible limit and for commercial gains will however require an express written permission of the copyright owner. 9.5 The Individual Specialist shall submit to UNESCO the Completed Work together with, all illustrations, tables, charts or other materials essential to the Work. It is understood that such materials are considered a part of the work and that all rights granted by the author to UNESCO hereunder apply to the use of such materials. In line with UNESCO’s overall gender mainstreaming strategy, the incumbent is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible. **TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES** From 3 March 2023 To: 30 June 2023 No. Deliverable(s) Timeline 1. - Annotated outline 10 March 2023 2. - Draft guideline (no more than 50 pages without annex) 28 April 2023 3. - Revised guideline - Draft executive summary (no more than 6 pages) 31 May 2023 4. - Final guideline - Final executive summary - PowerPoint presentation synthesizing the key highlights of the guideline 30 June 2023 **COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)** ------------------------------------ Accountability (C) Communication (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) **-** ----- For detailed information, please consult the [UNESCO Competency Framework](https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/competency_framework_e.pdf). **REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS** --------------------------- **Education** - A doctorate degree in the social sciences, international studies, education, or a related field. **Work Experience** - At least 10 years of professional experience in research and/or capacity development in the field of education, with particular focus on multilingual education, assessment or other relevant areas. - Experience in working in the relevant fields in the Asia-Pacific region. - Knowledge and practical experiences in monitoring and evaluating multilingual education projects/programmes Long Description ---------------- **Skills/Competencies** - Proven conceptual and analytical skills especially in multilingual education - Good research skills - Ability to work in a multicultural environment and maintain effective team cooperation - Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and other software - Capacity to work independently and in a timely manner **Languages** - Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken) **DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS** - Previous experience working with United Nations, international organizations or government agencies is an advantage **APPLICATION PROCESS** ----------------------- Interested individuals are invited to submit to UNESCO Bangkok office the specific requirements through[ careers.unesco.org](http://careers.unesco.org). Interested candidates should click on “**Apply Now**” and upload the following documents as a single PDF document in place of the Employment History Form. - An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a cover letter describing how your qualifications and experiences make you suitable for the assignment. - A list of past works such as reports or publications you have authored or co-authored with hyperlinks to access such works if they are available online or a copy of samples of such works if they are only available offline. - A brief motivation letter. - Written technical and financial proposals (in English): - Approach and methodology for carrying out the assignment (maximum 2, A4 pages), a workplan and comments on the Terms of Reference, in brief, if any, and - The proposed daily or monthly rates or the amount/budget to be charged for the assignment, which should be quoted in USD. **The complete application shall be submitted on or before 24 February 2023 17:00 Bangkok time.** Note: - Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidate(s) about the outcome or status of the selection process. - Please submit your application through SuccessFactors. Only if you are unable to attach requirements in system, please inform us at . **Assessment:** - Only applications providing the information requested in the application procedure will be considered. - Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview. UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization best value for money. **Footer** ---------- UNESCO applies a zero tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States [(last update here)](https://en.unesco.org/careers/geographicaldistribution) are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts. UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.unesco.org