“Cooperation with the private sector is indispensable if we are to bridge the digital divide. We particularly welcome the opportunity to share know-how and experience with Intel, a leader in IT training for teachers in so many countries,” the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura said. “This work is at the core of our mission in the fields of education and communication; it was also endorsed by the international community at last year’s World Summit on the Information Society which also recognized the role of the private sector in the intergovernmental drive to develop inclusive knowledge societies all over the world.”

The Memorandum of Understanding stipulates that UNESCO and Intel will work together on a multi-stakeholder initiative to set standards to improve the quality of ICT teacher training programs. To this end UNESCO, in cooperation with Intel, will develop a syllabus, which sets the standards of ICT knowledge and skills in this area. The syllabus could then be used to design training content that would be delivered to teachers in a multitude of ways, by different providers. Both organizations will also collaborate on the development of a mechanism by which course providers, educational policy-makers and teachers can refer to the syllabus to ascertain that course content and training programs meet the requisite standard.

UNESCO chose to work with Intel, because of Intel’s extensive experience in training teachers on the use of technology and on helping them to integrate the technology into lesson plans. Through the Intel® Teach to the Future program, Intel has trained 2 million teachers around the world.

“The challenge is to find the best use of technology for improving the quality of teaching and learning, while introducing a high degree of flexibility to respond to the regional needs,” said Wendy Hawkins, Intel director of education. “Intel will work with UNESCO to meet this challenge and develop a syllabus that is suitable for use by countries and organizations worldwide. This syllabus will allow for more teachers to receive training and ultimately will provide more students with the skills and desire to harness technology to solve complex problems.”

Intel’s work with UNESCO is part of the Intel® Innovation in Education initiative, a sustained commitment – in collaboration with educators and government leaders worldwide – to help today’s students prepare for the demands of tomorrow.

Intel is focused on helping to integrate technology effectively into the education process and to helping improve science, mathematics, engineering and technology education. For more information visit www.intel.com/education.

(UNESCO Press Release No.2004-103)