Individual National Consultancy to Support Development of Education Robotics in Turkmenistan

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, education

Turkmenistan’s ongoing education sector reform, aimed at continuity and enhanced quality of education in line with international standards and SDG 4 commitments, is a key state priority. The revised Law of Turkmenistan on Education (2021) defines learning as the process of purposeful mastery of knowledge, skills, and competencies, development of abilities, acquisition of experience in applying knowledge in everyday life and the formation of a person's deep motivation to receive education and improve professional qualifications throughout life. It also states that general education programs are aimed at acquiring knowledge, abilities, skills, and competencies that contribute to the formation of a general culture of the individual, her/his adaptation to life in society, continuing education at the subsequent level of education, creating conditions for a conscious choice of professional educational programs. Furthermore, UNICEF Education Strategy 2019-2030 defines improved learning and skills development as a strategic goal. The strategic intersection of national and UNICEF goals provides a unique opportunity to improve learning inputs for children of Turkmenistan.

Educational robotics (ER) is an interdisciplinary pedagogic approach that integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), based on active student learning. Robotics presents students with technologies of the 21st century, contributes to the development of their communication skills, develops teamwork skills, and independence in decision-making, and reveals their creative potential. Educational robotics can be introduced to an education system for children of preschool and school age. In the context of Turkmenistan, educational robotics will help create an integrated learning experience for subjects such as “Mathematics”, “Physics”, “Biology”, “Chemistry”, “Foundations of modern technologies”, “Informatics”, “Art of illustration”, “Foundations”, “Work”, “Foundations of constructing” in the national curriculum.

Considering the positive impact of integrated learning through educational robotics on the competencies of schoolchildren, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education cooperate in the framework of the Joint Annual Work Plan 2023 “Activity 4.2.3. Technical support to the development of teaching-methodological materials based on a competency-based education approach using virtual reality/augmented reality technology and educational robotics for STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics” to support the development of educational robotics in Turkmenistan.

For more information about UNICEF Turkmenistan please click here

To learn about all new UNICEF vacancies, please visit: https://www.unicef.org/turkmenistan/vacancies

Objective of the AssignmentThe objective of this assignment is to provide research, development, production, organizational, and training support for the integration of educational robotics into the education system of Turkmenistan. Workplan and deliverables It is expected that, in the given timeframe, the national consultant will perform the following tasks and deliverables to achieve the objectives of the assignment:

1. Video lessons on educational robotics for teaching at secondary schools

Video lessons aligned to the Educational Robotics curriculum in encodings for devices, with subtitles in Turkmen and Russian, credits, copyright information and guidelines on using them

2. Elective course package on Educational Robotics for pre-service teacher training programs

Course package for a 17-week course – course syllabus, lecture materials, presentations, slides, lab exercises, handouts, readings, recommendations on how to integrate the elective course into pre-service teacher training programs

3. Provide educational support to the development of the Educational Robotics club

Detailed annual activity plan of the Educational Robotics Club, Training materials (presentations, reading materials, handouts) for each activity of the annual plan, Sample training activities conducted in accordance with the annual plan; Adapted versions of the annual activity plan, training materials and adapted training for the special education institutions, supervision sessions conducted

4. Support the development of “Girls in STEM” initiative in Turkmenistan

Roundtable conducted with the participation of stakeholders, a Training program developed and delivered, Mentorship network established, and 4 meetings conducted ToR_National Consultant Educational Robotics_TMS.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

  • University degree in Education, Pedagogy, Physics, Informatics, Mathematics, Curriculum Development, Computer Studies, Mechatronics, Engineering, or other relevant disciplines. Coursework on curriculum development, teacher training, professional development and mentoring systems will be an advantage. (20 pts)
  • At least 2 years of work experience in the education system of Turkmenistan, in teaching children and conducting educational robotics activities. (25 pts)
  • Strong knowledge of educational robotics and the education system in Turkmenistan. Strong knowledge in the development of teaching materials. Skills in drafting quality documents in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint format. Capacity to produce video lessons with subtitles. Skills in participating in and facilitating in-person and online meetings. (20 pts)
  • Knowledge of English is required; Knowledge of Turkmen or Russian languages is required (10 pts)

  The technical proposal should include

  • A cover letter, including
  • Assessment of suitability vis-à-vis the requirements of this ToR;
  • A summary of experience in similar assignments;
  • Links to/attachments of examples of similar work;
  • CV of the candidate (including qualifications and experience)

  References

Financial Proposal

Candidates are expected to submit a lump sum financial proposal to complete the entire assignment based on the terms of reference. The lump sum should be broken down to show the detail for the following

Number of working days-190 days

Unit cost/Total amount

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.