Learning Passport Digital Platform Technical Service Consultant, Prishtina, Kosovo, Education, 6 months

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, learning

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the context and parameters for education overnight, making all schools must adapt to digital solutions initially overnight. In this context, UNICEF has supported the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) in rethinking e-education and education overall, with an ambitious vision for blended and distance learning through the adaptation of the Learning Passport to the Kosovo context.

How can you make a difference?

The Learning Passport was initially developed by UNICEF in partnership with Microsoft and the University of Cambridge to provide learning, quality, and portability for children whose education has been disrupted by emergencies. It provides continued access to formal and non-formal education curriculums, online. In addition, supplementary content can be populated and offered alongside the curriculum, including digital materials created by Ministries of Education and partners (i.e. content that relates to the curriculum, or alternative content like COVID-19 messaging, digital skills content, etc.)

UNICEF, through this consultancy, is actively supporting the development of capacities of MESTI for the process of creating the establishment of a new digital education division. A Technical 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 and inclusive pedagogy, assigned to MESTI and the Municipality of Prishtina, to synergistically advance the educational initiatives.

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 Learning Passport Global Team (UNICEF HQ), the Technical service consultant is required to provide assistance and support to MEST in 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 assist MESTI in the process of the creation of a new digital division within MESTI.

Key expected outputs include:

• Support MESTI in defining a clear vision around technical advancement, proper utilization, and maintenance of the digital education platform.
• 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.
• Support MESTI in developing a comprehensive Learning Management System and School Management System to enhance administrative efficiency and effectiveness.
• Regular finetuning and maintenance of the Learning Passport online education system in coordination with MESTI officials
• Provide reports on the use of the platform for MESTI officials, school directors municipal officials, and UNICEF (bi- bi-bi-weekly basis)
• Documentation of the entire process of implementation, with all the support and assistance provided including challenges and issues faced.
• 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 Assignments 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: Regularly maintain the Learning Passport, M365E, and shkollat.org education platform. Deliverables/Outputs: 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: Serve as focal point and troubleshot managers for all users in Kosovo, mainly by creating new users, cleaning multiple users, creating schools, groups (classes), and all related tasks on School Data Sync Deliverables/Outputs: Monthly status report documenting progress, bottlenecks, challenges, and actions taken in relation to MESTI support Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (14 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Provide technical assistance and support all requests regarding Learning Passport, M365E, and shkollat.org received via email at [email protected] or via phone calls Deliverables/Outputs: Monthly status report documenting progress, bottlenecks, challenges, and actions taken in relation to MESTI support Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (14 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Capacity building of the relevant MESTI officials, and MED 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 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 (5 days)

Work Assignments 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 (5 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Assist MESTI in defining a way forward for the establishment of a comprehensive Learning Management System and School Management System to enhance administrative efficiency and effectiveness from the learning Passport perspective. Deliverables/Outputs: A clear way forward defined for the establishment of a comprehensive Learning Management System and School Management System Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (2 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Assist MESTI in downloading the data received from schools respectively from the 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 and forms on digital equipment requests are revised based on the needs and requirements Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (3 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Support MESTI and the National Committee for evaluation and processing of digital forms and requests Deliverables/Outputs: National committee supported during the evaluation process (templates, equipment's) Delivery deadline: 31 April 2024 (2 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 ability 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 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.