Education Counts – Benchmarking Progress in 19 WEI Countries

This report marks the first in a new series of UNESCO publications from the World Education Indicators (WEI) program. It presents data for the school year ending in 2004 on educational attainment, finance, participation, as well as teachers and the learning environment for 63 countries which comprise 72% of the world’s population.

Countries participating in the WEI programme are: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

The report can be downloaded free from this website.

Education Counts – Benchmarking Progress in 19 WEI Countries

This report marks the first in a new series of UNESCO publications from the World Education Indicators (WEI) program. It presents data for the school year ending in 2004 on educational attainment, finance, participation, as well as teachers and the learning environment for 63 countries which comprise 72% of the world’s population.

Countries participating in the WEI programme are: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

The report can be downloaded free from this website.

Plan Now to Apply to UNESCO's University Twinning and Networking Scheme

The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Program was conceived as a way to advance research, training and program. development in higher education by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation through transfer of knowledge across borders. (UNITWIN is the abbreviation for the UNIVERSITY TWINNING and networking scheme) Today some 580 UNESCO Chairs and 65 UNITWIN Networks are included in the Program involving over 700 institutions in 124 countries.

U.S. university departments may accomplish enrich their programs by participating in the program, including obtaining:

* Membership in an international network of peer organizations
* Access to new research opportunities
* Opportunities to recruit foreign students
* Enhanced national and international visibility
* Opportunity to help build the capacity of developing country universities

The number of U.S. University Chairs at this time is not nearly commensurate with the international importance of the U.S. higher educational system, and we strongly encourage applications from interested university departments in education, the natural sciences, the social and human sciences, cultural fields, and communications and information related fields.

The deadline for submission of new projects under UNITWIN is 30 of April of each year. However, applications from U.S. organizations should be submitted via the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, which establishes an earlier deadline. Check the National Commission website for more information. Now would seem to be the time to consider an application, and to begin making contacts with potential partners.

The UNESCO Chairs in the United States are (click here to go to the UNESCO website for descriptions of the programs):

* UNESCO Chair in Education for peace (172), established in 1996 at the University of Puerto Rico (United States of America)

* Mobile UNESCO Chair dedicated to the Problems of Habitability in the Hispanoamerican Cities and to the Integral Revitalization of their Historical Centres (173), established in 1996 at the University of Puerto Rico (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Higher Education (485), established in 1999 at the University of Puerto Rico (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Comparative Human Rights (544), established in 2001 at the University of Connecticut (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Human Rights (595), established in 2002 at Florida Atlantic University (United States of America)

* UNESCO-Cousteau Ecotechnie Chair in Global Coastal Assessment (658), established in 2004 at the University of Rhode Island, Narragansett (United States of America)

* UNESCO-Cousteau Ecotechnie Chair in Coastal Resources (665), established in 2004 at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Jersey (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Communication (673), established in 2000 at the University of Texas, College of Communication, Austin (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Inclusive Education (692), established in 2005 at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (700), established in 2005 at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington D.C.(United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair on Growing up in cities (702), established in 2005 at the Cornell University, New York (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in creating independent, pluralistic media: training and exchange programme for journalists (703), established in 2005 at the Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, at Boulder, School of Journalism and Mass Communication (United States of America)

Plan Now to Apply to UNESCO's University Twinning and Networking Scheme

The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Program was conceived as a way to advance research, training and program. development in higher education by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation through transfer of knowledge across borders. (UNITWIN is the abbreviation for the UNIVERSITY TWINNING and networking scheme) Today some 580 UNESCO Chairs and 65 UNITWIN Networks are included in the Program involving over 700 institutions in 124 countries.

U.S. university departments may accomplish enrich their programs by participating in the program, including obtaining:

* Membership in an international network of peer organizations
* Access to new research opportunities
* Opportunities to recruit foreign students
* Enhanced national and international visibility
* Opportunity to help build the capacity of developing country universities

The number of U.S. University Chairs at this time is not nearly commensurate with the international importance of the U.S. higher educational system, and we strongly encourage applications from interested university departments in education, the natural sciences, the social and human sciences, cultural fields, and communications and information related fields.

The deadline for submission of new projects under UNITWIN is 30 of April of each year. However, applications from U.S. organizations should be submitted via the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, which establishes an earlier deadline. Check the National Commission website for more information. Now would seem to be the time to consider an application, and to begin making contacts with potential partners.

The UNESCO Chairs in the United States are (click here to go to the UNESCO website for descriptions of the programs):

* UNESCO Chair in Education for peace (172), established in 1996 at the University of Puerto Rico (United States of America)

* Mobile UNESCO Chair dedicated to the Problems of Habitability in the Hispanoamerican Cities and to the Integral Revitalization of their Historical Centres (173), established in 1996 at the University of Puerto Rico (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Higher Education (485), established in 1999 at the University of Puerto Rico (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Comparative Human Rights (544), established in 2001 at the University of Connecticut (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Human Rights (595), established in 2002 at Florida Atlantic University (United States of America)

* UNESCO-Cousteau Ecotechnie Chair in Global Coastal Assessment (658), established in 2004 at the University of Rhode Island, Narragansett (United States of America)

* UNESCO-Cousteau Ecotechnie Chair in Coastal Resources (665), established in 2004 at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Jersey (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Communication (673), established in 2000 at the University of Texas, College of Communication, Austin (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Inclusive Education (692), established in 2005 at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (700), established in 2005 at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington D.C.(United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair on Growing up in cities (702), established in 2005 at the Cornell University, New York (United States of America)

* UNESCO Chair in creating independent, pluralistic media: training and exchange programme for journalists (703), established in 2005 at the Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, at Boulder, School of Journalism and Mass Communication (United States of America)

UNESCO welcomes Japan's contribution to the rehabilitation of war victims in Burundi

On August 31st, 2006, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, welcomed the donation by Japan of US$2.18 million for the "Inter Agency Programme on the Sustainable Rehabilitation of War Victims in Burundi," which will be channeled through the Trust Fund For Human Security and involve a number of United Nations agencies, including UNESCO.

The programme will focus on providing drinking water, primary health care, education to children, vocational and literacy training; improving food safety; supporting income generating activities; training trainers in peace education, and workshops on peace and reconciliation.

UNESCO already has a wide range of activities in Burundi where some 300,000 lives have been lost in over ten years of conflict. Fighting in the country has also led to the internal displacement of some 140,000 people and to the departure of some 300,000 Burundians who have become refugees.

UNESCO has two vocational education centres (UNEVOC) in Burundi: one provides secondary professional education, the second provides public works training. Furthermore, the UNESCO Chair in Education for Peace and Conflict Resolution at the National University of Burundi promotes research, training, information and education in peaceful conflict resolution.

Education is a priority for Burundi where only 33 percent of children complete a full course of primary education.
© UNESCO/Michel Ravassard

UNESCO welcomes Japan's contribution to the rehabilitation of war victims in Burundi

On August 31st, 2006, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, welcomed the donation by Japan of US$2.18 million for the "Inter Agency Programme on the Sustainable Rehabilitation of War Victims in Burundi," which will be channeled through the Trust Fund For Human Security and involve a number of United Nations agencies, including UNESCO.

The programme will focus on providing drinking water, primary health care, education to children, vocational and literacy training; improving food safety; supporting income generating activities; training trainers in peace education, and workshops on peace and reconciliation.

UNESCO already has a wide range of activities in Burundi where some 300,000 lives have been lost in over ten years of conflict. Fighting in the country has also led to the internal displacement of some 140,000 people and to the departure of some 300,000 Burundians who have become refugees.

UNESCO has two vocational education centres (UNEVOC) in Burundi: one provides secondary professional education, the second provides public works training. Furthermore, the UNESCO Chair in Education for Peace and Conflict Resolution at the National University of Burundi promotes research, training, information and education in peaceful conflict resolution.

Education is a priority for Burundi where only 33 percent of children complete a full course of primary education.
© UNESCO/Michel Ravassard

Iraqi students heal through music

Eighteen students and two teachers from Baghdad’s Music and Ballet School studied instrument lessons, solfege theory, music appreciation and ballet at a summer music programme in Jordan over the summer 2006. The programme was sponsored by UNESCO, the Arab Alliance of Women in Music and several other partners.

In an interview, Mohamed Djelid, Director of UNESCO’s Iraq Office (currently in Amman Jordan), explains how music can help Iraqi youth heal from the traumas of war.

Question: Why is UNESCO supporting such an activity?
Djelid: Because this is precisely UNESCO’s mandate. Culture and Education are core issues for us. Culture brings out the resourcefulness of young people. It is the one fixed point to which a community in distress turns as it tries to rebuild itself. Many of the Iraqi students refrain from attending classes in Baghdad due to the insecurity. They are traumatized and detached from an intellectual and creative environment. To regain this essential momentum is one of the objectives of the Summer School.

Question: Can you heal the trauma of daily violence through music? Djelid: Yes, because time off from war is a break in peace. This is a value in itself. A young student shared with us the advice his father gives him: “If you cannot bear the noise of bombs, just think of music”. This is healing through music.

Question: Is a one-time event sufficient?
Djelid: We will support the organizers - the Arab Alliance of Women in Music (AAWM) – to continue this very successful debut and maybe even organize a Winter School in the beginning of 2007.

Question: How will you support them?
Djelid: By organizing support. For instance, a leading Arab Communication Company with Iraqi seniors and experts has prepared a documentary on Baghdad’s Music and Ballet School and the students’ work during the Summer School in Jordan. As artistic as the documentary is, it conveys a strong message to the international community to support this specific project as well as other UNESCO activities in the field of education and particularly culture.

Please contact the UNESCO Iraq Office for a free copy of the documentary.
© UNESCO