Learning Passport Digital Platform Education Content Consultant, Prishtina, Kosovo, Education, 6 months

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

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly altered the educational landscape, necessitating the swift adoption of digital solutions by all schools. In response to this, UNICEF has been working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) to reimagine the landscape of e-education and education in general. This effort includes an ambitious vision for blended and distance learning, achieved through the adaptation of the Learning Passport to the specific needs and context of Kosovo.

How can you make a difference?

Originally developed by UNICEF in partnership with Microsoft and the University of Cambridge, the Learning Passport was designed to provide a means of learning continuity, quality, and flexibility for children whose education had been disrupted by emergencies. It facilitates ongoing access to both formal and non-formal education curricula online. Furthermore, it allows for the integration of supplementary content alongside the standard curriculum, encompassing digital materials created by Ministries of Education and various partners. This supplementary content can encompass topics related to the curriculum, as well as alternative subjects such as COVID-19 awareness messaging and digital skills development.

UNICEF, through this consultancy, is actively supporting the development of capacities of MESTI for the process of establishment of a new digital education division. A digital content Service Consultant will be stationed in MESTI premises, adhering to all relevant MESTI regulations. This consultant will work closely with a local Learning Passport consultant specialized in digital technology and maintenance, assigned to MESTI and the Municipality of Prishtina, to synergistically advance the digital education initiative.

Scope of Work:

Under the overall supervision of the Education Specialist (UNICEF) and the Director of Pre-University Education within MESTI, as well as through regular consultations with the Learning Passport Global Team (UNICEF HQ), the Content consultant is required to provide assistance and support to advancing the digital education agenda through enabling and supporting the scaling up and full utilization of the Learning Passport Digital platform and shkollat.org, Kosovo wide, serving as a tool for blended learning approach. In addition, the consultant will support the development of capacities of MESTI for the process of the establishment of the new digital division within MESTI and piloting the shkollat.org platform within selected schools in the Municipality of Prishtina.

Key expected outputs include:

• Support MESTI in defining a clear vision for advancing digital education.
• Support the development of capacities of MESTI in establishing a dedicated digital learning division, by designing its structure and functions, in close collaboration with the education content local consultant.
• Develop frameworks for digital education and learning that curate and provide high-quality digital content and resources.
• Promote digital teaching methods.
• Compile and complete learning content for the Learning Passport in collaboration and coordination with relevant divisions and departments in the MESTI
• Prepare and develop further inclusive pedagogical video tutorials/instructions for teachers, and students on usage of the LP and shkollat.org education platform based on the request and needs in collaboration with MESTI curriculum division and ensure that schools and teachers have access to and are using it for teaching purposes.
• Ensure interaction modeling and principles of interactive learning for students are applied within the roll-out of the Learning Passport and shkollat.org platform
• Integrate within the Learning Passport inclusive learning and teaching methodology and usage of technologies into e-learning by supporting MESTI to develop content aligned with curricula that integrate the new Innovative technologies and multimedia
• Capacity building of the relevant MESTI officials, and Municipal Education Directorate officials on the usage of the Learning Passport, M365E, and shkollat.org education platform on a regular basis and based on the demand and needs
• Capacity building of the pre-identified school principals, and teachers in coordination with MESTI, MEDs, and IPs on the utilization of the LP and shkollat.org at the school level
• Proper handover and smooth transition of the Learning Passport platform and shkollat.org including on-the-job facilitation for new focal points and maintenance to the MESTI to be carried towards the end of the engagement.

Work Assignment Overview: Support collaboration and coordination between MESTI and the Prime Minister’s Office to align digitalization plans with government strategies through close collaboration with the Prime Minister's Office. Deliverables/Outputs: MESTI digitalization plans aligned with government strategies. Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (3 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Compile and complete learning content for the Learning Passport in collaboration with the UNICEF Global Digital Content Specialist and upload in the LP with support from the technical consultant Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Material compiled and LP updated with new content materials. 2. Monthly status report documenting progress, bottlenecks, challenges, and actions taken in relation to MESTI support. Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (15 days) Work Assignments Overview: Provide technical assistance in localized technology for quality assurance of the deliverables from a digital perspective Deliverables/Outputs: Monthly status report documenting progress, bottlenecks, challenges, and actions taken in relation to MESTI support. Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (5 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Continuous advancement of inclusive pedagogical instructional design for teachers, and students on usage of the LP, M365E, and shkollat.org education platform based on the request and needs in collaboration with curriculum division and ensuring that schools and teachers have access to and are using for teaching purposes. Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Pedagogical video tutorials/Instructions, and materials prepared, and delivered as per the MESTI needs. 2. Monthly status report documenting progress, bottlenecks, challenges, and actions taken in relation to MESTI support. Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (10 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Ensure interaction modeling and principles of interactive learning for students are applied within the Learning Passport, M365E, and shkollat.org platform Deliverables/Outputs: Interactive models and principles for learning are applied at the school level for teachers and students. Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (10 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Capacity building of the relevant MESTI officials, MED officials on the usage of the LP, M365E, and shkollat.org education platform on a regular basis Deliverables/Outputs: Relevant MESTI officials and MED officials are able to independently use the Learning Passport, M365E, and shkollat.org education platform Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (1 days) Work Assignment Overview: Capacity building of the pre-identified school principals, and teachers in coordination with MESTI, MEDs and IPs on the utilization of the Learning Passport and shkollat.org at the school level Deliverables/Outputs: Pre-identified school principals and teachers able to independently use the Learning Passport, M365E, and shkollat.org education platform Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (2 days) Work Assignments Overview: Assist MESTI in developing frameworks for digital education and learning that curate and provide high-quality digital content and resources Deliverables/Outputs: Frameworks for digital education and learning that curate and provide high-quality digital content and resources developed Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (3 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Assist MESTI in downloading the data on equipment received from schools from director of education at the municipality level Deliverables/Outputs: Data received by schools downloaded and monitored by MESTI and MED’s Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (3 days) Work Assignments Overview: Revision of necessary forms and methodology for digital equipment requests Deliverables/Outputs: Different templates, forms on digital equipment request revised based on the needs and requirements Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (3 days) Work Assignments Overview: Support the National Committee for evaluation and processing of digital forms and requests Deliverables/Outputs: National committee supported during the evaluation process (templates, equipments) Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (2 days) Work Assignments Overview: Support MESTI in collecting, cleaning, and filtering databases in regard to digital equipment request forms Deliverables/Outputs: Database collection cleaned and filtered Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (3 days)

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer engineering, or management from an accredited academic institution is required
• At least eight (8) years of professional work experience in Technology related projects – proven with CV and projects with contact details in CV
• A certificate as a specialist for implementation and maintenance of SQL databases or MCSE: Data or proven experience working with the above databases. Management and Analytics or other related SQL certification from the vendor (a copy of the certificate to be attached with the application pack),
• A certificate regarding web application such as a certificate in NET Framework or MCSE Web Applications by Microsoft (a copy of the certificate to be attached with the application pack), or proven experience working with .NET and/or MCSE Web.
• Excellent technical understanding and familiarity with information management systems (to be proven with CV and project that are managed)
• Demonstrated ability and experience in coordination, and able to work under pressure is required.
• Fluency in English and Albanian is a minimum requirement.

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 a reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterward 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.