About UNITWIN Networks and UNESCO Chairs Programme

UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs projects deal with training and research activities and cover all major fields of knowledge within UNESCO’s competence such as Education, Human Rights, Cultural Development, Environment, Basic and Engineering Sciences, Communication, etc. The principal beneficiaries of this programme are institutions of higher learning in developing countries and countries in transition.

 
The UNITWIN Programme was launched in 1992, in accordance with a resolution adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 26th session (1991).

UNITWIN is the abbreviation for the university education twinning and networking scheme. The Programme operates through the establishment of UNESCO chairs, and UNESCO networks which are also designated as UNITWIN projects.

This UNESCO Programme serves as a prime means of capacity building through the exchange of knowledge and sharing in a spirit of solidarity. Thus it promotes north-south and south-south cooperation as a strategy to enrich institutions.

The main participants are universities and research institutions, in partnership with many important higher education NGOs, foundations, and public and private sector organizations. UNITWIN opens avenues for the higher education community to join forces with UNESCO to achieve the objectives of the global agenda.

The UNITWIN Programme covers training, research and exchange of academics and offers a platform for information sharing in all major fields within the competence of UNESCO.

Its principal beneficiaries are institutions of higher learning in developing countries and countries in transition. Majority of the projects are interdisciplinary and intersectoral and involve all programme sectors at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and its Field offices, Institutes and Centres. National Commissions play an important role in helping to facilitate the programme to promote quality and assess impact.

Relevance and effectiveness, at national, regional and global levels are among the prime goals of the Programme. So far UNITWIN projects have proven useful in establishing new teaching programmes, generate new ideas through research and reflection and have facilitated enrichment of existing university programmes through integration of cultural diversity.

Because of the flexibility of UNITWIN Programme, universities can respond more readily and with greater autonomy to the demands for new learning.

The UNESCO Guidelines and Procedures for joining the UNITWIN Programme were established in 1992 and revised in 2005. They constitute a set of basic rules to be followed in order to maximize the benefits of the Programme.

The guidelines aim at clarifying and defining the criteria and procedures governing the establishment and functioning of a UNESCO Chair or Network.

Accordingly, this document supersedes earlier guidelines and will assist all interested parties to take the necessary steps to become involved with the UNITWIN Programme and to optimize the benefits.

To download a copy in PDF format of the Guidelines and Procedures for UNESCO UNITWIN Programme
click here

Documents

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Guidelines and procedures for the UNESCO UNITWIN Programme, February 2006 The deadline for submission of new projects under UNITWIN is 30 of April of each year. - More...