International Consultants on STEM competency framework, short term 15 days, Education Section, UNICEF, Beijing, China

Contract

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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

UNICEF in China promotes policies and laws that better deliver on children's rights. We have about 100 staff members working with the Government of China and other partners to ensure that the benefits of the country's development reach the most impoverished children. And we share what we learn with others.

The Education Section works with the Government of China and our partners, communities and parents, to provide the country’s most disadvantaged children with learning opportunities that will change their lives. We help to strengthen China’s education system, so that it addresses the needs of the most excluded and vulnerable children, including those with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and rural and urban poor, while ensuring that girls and boys have the same opportunities. We also promote nurturing environments that ensure that children develop into well-rounded individuals, by meeting their physical, cognitive, creative and social and emotional needs.

The 2015-2025 education program also embraces key strategic shifts and will have a renewed focus on upstream engagement and policy work. It will strategically focus on evidence generation and research, policy analysis, advocacy for children’s rights and adaptation of international evidence to China’s context. There will also be a shift from child-friendly schools to child-friendly education systems, scaling-up of adolescent programs, particularly integrating life skills into the secondary technical and vocation education & training (TVET) reform process and expanding alternative learning pathways for out-of-school adolescents.

To learn more about what we do, please visit http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzU5ODg1NDcxMg==.html

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF China is looking for two international consultants to provide expert support to the development of STEM Competency Framework and Assessment Tools for Chinese adolescents. The two consultants will work closely with UNICEF and the expert team of the National Institute of Education Sciences (NIES) to provide expert reviews of the draft competency framework, participate in expert consultations and conduct a comparative analysis to align the framework with established international standards and best practices. The tasks will take up to 15 days, starting from July 2022 to June 2023.

The consultant will carry out the task with a combination of:

• Desk research and document reviews
• Virtual technical briefings and discussions with UNICEF, CAST and NIES expert team

Due to Covid-19 restriction, no international travel is required.

It is expected that by the end of the contract, the following outputs will be delivered:

• Technical comments on intended methodology and reference link to international best practice
• Up to two written technical comments on drafts of STEM competency framework
• One written comparative analysis of the framework against international standards
• Up to one written technical comment on STEM assessment tools

Consultancy Requirements:

• Minimum Academic Qualifications required and disciplines:

Master’s degree in education, social research, social science and/or other relevant disciplines, specialized STEM education background will be a plus.

• Knowledge/Experience/Expertise/Skills required:
  • Minimum ten years of experience in STEM education related field
  • Hands-on experience on developing STEM competency frameworks, STEM education research, STEM teaching and learning strategy and/or competency-based education assessment.
  • Proven experience of international consultancy experience working with overseas countries and/or international organizations.
  • Excellent writing and speaking skills in English.
  • A good team player, able to work within deadlines.
  • Understanding of China education context.

The following are considered strong assets:

• • Previous technical roles with established national and international educational research projects (i. e. PISA etc.) is an asset.
  • Previous international consultancy experiences with UN agencies and/or China related projects.
  • Strong connection and existing engagement with China in the STEM education field.

  For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).