International Conference ICTs in Teacher Education: Policy, Open Educational Resources and

Partnership November 15–16, 2010 St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

UNESCO (2009) Communiqué of the World Conference on Higher Education: The New Dynamics of Higher Education and Research for Societal Change and Development. http://www.unesco.org/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ED/ED/pdf/WCHE_2009/FINAL%20COMMUNIQUE%20WCHE%202009.pdf

Uvalić-Trumbić, Stamenka (2010a) New Dynamics of Higher Education; New Dynamics of Distance Education, presented at the 50th Anniversary Conference at Shanghai TV University, 21 Mayhttp://www.col.org/resources/speeches/2010presentation/Pages/2010-05-21b.aspx

Uvalić-Trumbić, Stamenka (2010b) Internationalizing Quality Assurance: a New Dynamic for Higher Education in the 21st century, presented at the CHEA International Commission, Washington, DC, 28 January

http://www.chea.org/pdf/2010_IS_Internationalizing_Quality_Assurance_UvalicTrumbic.pdf

UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme plays a role of strategic importance.

It opens avenues for the higher education and research community to join forces with UNESCO to contribute to its strategic programme objectives and to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

This program, launched in 1992, was initially conceived as an international plan of action to promote research, training, and the development of higher education programs by creating networks and encouraging inter-University collaboration by cross border knowledge transfers.

Today 675 UNESCO Chairs and 68 UNITWIN Networks are established within the Programme, involving over 795 institutions in 127 countries, in all UNESCO’s fields of competence: Science, Education, Communication, and Culture.

The UNITWIN portal contains full information on UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks covering over 70 disciplines and identifies the contact persons, partners, events and publications for each one.

Since the adoption of new strategic orientations for the UNITWIN Programme by the Ex Board at its 176th session in April 2007, emphasis has been laid on:

the dual function of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks as “think tanks” and “bridge builders” between the academic world, civil society, local communities, research and policy-making;

aligning the new UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks with UNESCO’s priorities as defined in its Medium-Term Strategy for 2008-2013;

strengthening North-South, South-South and North-South-South cooperation;

creating poles of excellence and innovation at the regional or subregional level;

reinforcing the dynamism of networks and partnerships.

Crucial challenges: equity and quality of higher education barriers to harnessing ICT in education under-development of research diminishing government financial support to

higher education brain drain language barriers preventing access to

information on Internet

Canada International Network of UNESCO Chairs

in Communications (ORBICOM) (330) -University of Quebec, Montreal -established in 1994.

Ethiopia UNESCO Chair in Information

Communication Technology (ICT) Development (766) - University of Addis Ababa - established in 2006.

Lithuania UNESCO Chair in Informatics for the

Humanities (133) - Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, within the framework of ORBICOM - established in 1994.

Mexico UNESCO Chair in New Information

Technologies (547) - University of Colima -established in 2001.

Nigeria UNESCO Chair in Information Technology

(644) - Federal University of Technology, Yola - established in 2004.

Republic de Korea UNESCO Chair in Communication

Technology for Women (536) -Sookmyung Women's University, within the framework of ORBICOM Network -established in 1998.

Romania UNESCO Chair in Information

Technologies (480) - University of Oradea

- established in 2000. Russian Federation UNESCO Chair in High Technology for

Education and Science (188) - Moscow State Institute of Electronic Engineering -established in 1997.

Togo UNESCO Chair in Information

Communication Technologies (ICTs)and Higher Education Development for West Africa (856)-University of Kara -established in 2009.

Ukraine Chaire UNESCO en technologies de

l’information et de la communication(269) - Université Internationale des Sciences et Technologies, Kiev - établieen 1995.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

UNESCO Chair in Information and Communication Technology for Development (784), Royal Holloway, University of London-established in 2007.

Vénezuela UNESCO Chair in Computer Network

(691),University of the Andes, Mérida -established in 2004.<//font><//font><//font>

One remarkable example is the ORBICOM Communication Network which includes 25 UNESCO Chairs and over 200 associate members in the discipline and focuses on “monitoring the digital divide”.

Global Network for Innovation in Higher Education (GUNI), which fosters cooperation and exchange between the different UNESCO Chairs in Higher Education in different regions of the world.

Be A Leader

Be An Inventor

Be An Innovator

-Think outside of the box

-Discover new ways for old ideas

-Imagine you can make it happen

-Think efficiency

-Dare to dream big

-Build it like no other can

-Make your design come alive

-“WOW” those with an interest

-Follow it through to completion

-Make your dreams a reality

-Make an impression

-Progress in your field

-Stand out in the crowd

-Inspire others

-Take your career to new levels