CONFINTEA research scholarships 2015

Four education professionals were granted one-month CONFINTEA research scholarships by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) in September 2015. These scholarships offer researchers and education professionals from UNESCO Member States an opportunity to conduct in-depth research in the field of lifelong learning, focusing on various aspects of adult and continuing education, literacy and non-formal basic education. The scholars spend a month at UIL, where they have access to the UIL Library and can consult and share knowledge with UIL staff working in various fields. The research conducted by the scholars helps their countries improve the quality of adult education based on a lifelong learning perspective.

CONFINTEA research scholarships support knowledge exchange for educational change

Dr Ali Ziyaeemehr (Director of the Strategic Research Department, Supreme Council of Education, Ministry of Education, Islamic Republic of Iran) began work on a research project entitled ‘A Framework for Expansion of the Vision for Literacy and Basic Education in the Islamic Republic of Iran from a Lifelong Learning Perspective’. Now back in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Ziyaeemehr is continuing to work on the project. He has already given two presentations on the topic to policymakers and will continue to discuss global and national literacy and basic education challenges with his colleagues at the Ministry of Education and with the UNESCO National Commission in Tehran.

Ms Thi Bao Ngoc Nguyen (Specialist, Ministry of Education and Training, Viet Nam) worked on a handbook entitled The Sustainability of Community Learning Centres (CLCs) in Viet Nam. During her time at UIL, Ms Nguyen had access to global research on CLCs and lifelong learning which will help her to complete the handbook. The handbook will be used from 2016 onwards to train managers and education staff working in community learning centres in Viet Nam. It is hoped that other countries will also benefit from the outcomes of this training.

Mr Timothy Ireland (Associate Professor and the UNESCO Chair of Youth and Adult Education at the Federal University of Paraíba, Brazil) conducted research on ‘The Post-2015 Agenda on Education and Development: What Does it Mean for the Future of Adult Education?’ Upon his return to Brazil, Mr Ireland will write a journal article on this timely global topic. In addition, he will share his insights in a special issue of the International Review of Education – Journal of Lifelong Learning on the post-2015 process. Mr Ireland’s work fills an important gap in academic research, as the existing material in this field is minimal. His contribution will be an important advocacy tool for adult education worldwide.

Ms Olena Vasylenko (Senior Scientific Researcher, Andragogy Department, Institute of Pedagogical and Adult Education, National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, Ukraine) carried out her research on ‘Non-formal Adult Education Development in the Ukraine Based on Global Experiences’. Ms Vasylenko will continue to conduct research in this field and to share her results in Ukraine and other parts of the world. She has already shared the insights she developed at UIL with her colleagues and started to strengthen cooperation with UIL by adding her institute to the global ALADIN (Adult Learning Documentation and Information) network.

The call for applications for the 2016 CONFINTEA research scholarships will be posted in March next year. Launched in 2012, CONFINTEA scholarships are offered to education professionals from UNESCO Member States to help initiate and build on research that benefits adult education and lifelong learning in their countries.

The scholarships are mainly based on private donations from the British educationalist Peter Jarvis and his publisher Taylor & Francis and the Nomura Centre for Lifelong Integrated Education in Japan.