children_students in a library

Institutes

As part of UNESCO's efforts and commitment to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 4, which calls on countries to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, UNESCO has brought to life different institutes around the world to address various areas of education. Discover UNESCO Institutes and together let's transform education for our humanity.

UIS - UNESCO Institute for Statistics

Data for the Sustainable Development Goals

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the official and trusted source of internationally-comparable data on education, science, culture and communication. As the official statistical agency of UNESCO, the UIS produces a wide range of indicators in UNESCO’s fields of action by working with national statistical offices, line ministries and other statistical organizations. The UIS Director serves as the Organization’s chief statistician.

IIEP - International Institute for Educational Planning

As the only specialized organization with the mandate to support educational policy, planning and management, IIEP plays a unique role within the United Nations system. 

It was established in 1963 as an integral part of UNESCO. The Institute is fully aligned with the objectives of the organization and contributes to its education planning. It develops the capacities of education actors to plan and manage their systems through its programmes of training, technical cooperation, policy research and knowledge sharing.

ICTP - International Centre for Theoretical Physics

For more than 50 years, the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) has been a driving force behind global efforts to advance scientific expertise in the developing world.

Founded in 1964 by the late Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam, ICTP seeks to accomplish its mandate by providing scientists from developing countries with the continuing education and skills that they need to enjoy long and productive careers. ICTP has been a major force in stemming the scientific brain drain from the developing world.

UIL - UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) is located in Hamburg, Germany, and is one of UNESCO’s seven education Institutes. UIL supports Member States in the field of lifelong learning with a focus on adult and continuing education, literacy and non-formal basic education. It pays special attention to UNESCO’s Global Priority Africa and Global Priority Gender Equality. It has one of the largest libraries in the world within its specialized field and hosts the world’s longest-running journal of comparative education and lifelong learning.

IBE - International Bureau of Education

IBE provides practical technical support addressing critical areas that impact provision and delivery of equitable quality education for all within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

University students

IICBA - International Institute for Capacity-Building in Africa

The UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) is a Category I Institute established by the UNESCO General Conference in 1999, mandated to strengthen teacher policy and development in Africa.

Africa Population Continent

IITE - Institute for Information Technologies in Education

In line with the new Education 2030 Agenda, IITE has developed its strategic priority areas to meet new demands and tasks ahead. The mission of IITE in the new era is promoting the innovative use of ICT and serving as facilitator and enabler for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) through ICT-enabled solutions and best practices.

ITTEE journey4life

IESALC - International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean

The UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) was created by the UNESCO General Conference in 1997, replacing the Regional Center for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (CRESALC for its Spanish abbreviation) established in 1974. It is the sole specialized institute of the United Nations system with the mission to contribute to the improvement of higher education in member States. 

latinamerica

MGIEP - Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), in New Delhi, India was established with the support of the Government of India and is an integral part of UNESCO. It is the first and only category 1 Research Institute in Asia Pacific and focuses on achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7 towards education to foster peaceful and sustainable societies.

MGIEP annual report 2020