The Global Agreement: UNESCO and Microsoft use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to promote education
In November 2004, UNESCO and Microsoft started their cooperation through an agreement to accelerate social and economic development around the world.
Areas of Cooperation
The following areas are fields in which the UNESCO/ Microsoft cooperation benefits society and communities everywhere, especially in developing countries:
Education and LearningCommunity access and developmentCultural and linguistic diversity and preservationDigital inclusion and capacity buildingExchange and promotion for best practices on the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for socio-economic development programsFostering web-based communities of practice, including content development, knowledge sharing and empowerment through participationFacilitating exchange and strategies
The Next Generation of Teachers Project
As the first operational initiatives undertaken by the cooperation the Next Generation of Teachers (NET) is a project administered by UNESCO’s Bangkok office. Launched in June 2005 the project prepares the next generation of Asian Pacific teachers to judiciously use technologies for teaching and learning.
More specifically the main objectives of the program are to:
Assess and meet the needs of the Teaching Education Institutes (TEIs) in terms of technology integration.Create a network of TEIs.Receive, adapt and/or develop the materials needed: an assessment tool, curriculum framework, start-up kit, and training modules meeting the diverse needs of future teachers in the ASP region.Document and consolidate lessons learned to be used as feedback for policymaking and recommendations for institutional change in TEIs.
