UIL scholars to work on lifelong learning in Belize, Ethiopia, India and Lao PDR

Four scholars from Belize, Ethiopia, India and Lao PDR have joined the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) for one month in an effort to advance policy development, open and distance learning and adult literacy in their countries. During their stay at the Institute, the scholars will work at the UIL Library, which has one of the largest collections of lifelong learning publications in the world.

With the help of the Library’s extensive resources, peer learning activities and guidance from UIL specialists, the scholars will acquire valuable insights, policy proposals and action plans in their fields of research. The current UIL scholars are:

Teshome Gudissa Degu, from Dilla University in Ethiopia, will undertake research for a publication entitled ‘Empowering women through adult literacy: Lessons for and from Ethiopia’.

Lamphoune Luangxay, from the Skill Training Division of the Ministry of Education and Sports in Lao PDR, will consider what kind of lifelong learning policy would be appropriate to the national context of Lao PDR.  

Anita Priyadarshini, from the Indira Gandhi National Open University in India, will undertake a study entitled ‘Increasing participation and inclusion in adult basic education through open and distance learning’.

Joy Ysaguirre, from the Belize National Library and Information Service, will explore ways in which the Belize literacy strategy can be improved using a library and lifelong learning perspective. 

‘Because UIL is a player at global level, we can learn from challenges and approaches from around the world,’ explains Mr Luangxay.

The CONFINTEA Research Scholarship Programme was launched by UIL in 2012 as part of its monitoring and coordination function within the follow-up process of CONFINTEA VI (the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education). The aim is to support researchers from across the globe, in particular from the Global South, to bring about a positive impact on the education sector in their home countries, especially in the areas of lifelong learning, adult and continuing education, literacy and non-formal basic education. So far, 48 scholars from 29 countries have taken part in this programme.