Algeria Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad 1980 Djmila 1982 M'Zab Valley 1982 Tassili n'Ajjer 1982

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UNESCOs contribution to the implementation of
the AU/CPA for science and technology Shamila
Nair-Bedouelle Head of Unit, AU/CPA
Implementation Division for Science Policies and
Sustainable Development, Natural sciences Sector,
s.nair-bedouelle_at_unesco.org
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• Addis Declaration on ST and Scientific Research
  for Development

• called upon UNESCO to assist Member States and
  the AU to implement the Summit decision on ST
• UNESCO adopted 3 flagship projects, GA 2007
• - Capacity building in STI
• - Enhancing ST education
• - The African Virtual Campus

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UN Regional Development Efforts 1999

• UN Secretary-Generals reform agenda
• Coherence of activities of UN agencies
• Regional consultation meetings (5 regions)
• 5th Regional Consultation, May 2003 established
•  UN Science and Technology Cluster 
• UNESCO as Convener and UNECA as Vice Convener

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UN ST Cluster
Established 2003 Members 13 UN Agencies
Activities Work closely with AU/NEPADs Plan of
Action in Science Assist in preparation of First
AMCOST 2003, Second and Third Contribution and
support to the CPA Align Agency activities in
support of the CPA
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African Science Technology and Innovation Policy
Initiative ASTIPI

• Objectives
• Review / formulate national STI policies for
  those African countries lacking STI policies
• STI Policy Specialists trained
• ASTIPI post graduate course designed and
  implemented

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Current status of UNESCO STI policy review in
Africa
STI Policies formulated
STI Policy Reviews 2008-2009
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UNESCO International Review of ST Statistics and
Indicators UIS AU/NEPAD

• Objectives
• review priority science policy information needs
• examine existing ST statistical and indicator
  systems, build institutional capacities
• promote adaptation and adoption of
  internationally compatible policy relevant STI
  indicators and methodologies
• develop an African network for STI indicators.

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Countries that have participated in ST
Statistics workshops 2005-7
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How many researchers are there?Researchers per
million inhabitants, latest available year
Source UIS, September 2007
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African STI Observatoy

• UNESCO-UIS-AUC/NEPAD
• Performance of institutions and RD activities
• Map Africa wide STI capacity
• - Produce basic indicators
• - Human resources
• - Funding
• - Patents
• - Publications
• - Research institutions

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Governance of Science role of Parliament

• The need for closer co-operation among
  policy-makers, parliamentarians, scientists,
  journalists, industry (public and private) and
  civil society
• The setting-up of parliamentary science
  committees in Africa
• A first Parliamentary Science Forum took place in
  Brazzaville on 11-14 March 2008.

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Women in Science

• International Report on S.T. and Gender 2007
• Statistics on Science, Technology and Gender
  (STG) with an Annex on statistical overview.
• Collaboration with European Commission (Research
  Directorate-General) and a group of worldwide
  experts.
• UNESCO will cooperate with AUC in the development
  of the Pan-African Association of African Women
  in Science and Technology (AAWOST)

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UNESCO s University-Industry-Science
Partnership UNISPAR (1993)

• Capacity building in governance of ST parks
• World Technopolis Association (WTA)
• International Association of Science Parks
  (IASP)
• ST Parks
• economic and technological development complexes
• promote STI and commercialization of research

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• UNESCOs activities in promoting
• science and technology through
• the African Virtual Campus
• e learning
• M. Miloudi
• UNESCO, Natural sciences Sector,
• Division for Science Policies and Sustainable
  Development
• m.miloudi_at_unesco.org

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The African Virtual Campus Objectives

• Contribute to building the capacities of the
  African States in ICT, science and technology
• Teachers trained in science, engineering and
  technology through e-learning
• Promoting technical and Vocational Education
  Training

• Training of the human resources (middle / senior
  management)
• Teacher training in the secondary and primary
  levels
• Access to ICT infrastructure
• Adult learning, distance learning

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The Mediterranean Avicenna Virtual Campus (EU -
UNESCO)

• A self-sustaining model which builds capacity in
  ICT infrastructure and e learning in 14 partner
  countries.
• An appropriate solution for the development of
  education at different levels in line with the
  targets to 2015 of the UNESCO EFA programme

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Avicenna - Main achievements

• 981 teachers/ tutors trained
• 1500 blind students used the adapted online
  courses in 2007 (e-learning for blind students)
• Avicenna Virtual Library shared by the partners
• 206 online modules of 20 hours each

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Examples of Avicenna online courses produced
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Production
processand Assurance Quality Control System
(AQUAS)
Quality-label request
Scientific Council
Control Committee (UNESCO)

• Approval production

• Modules proposals
• Agreement of production request
• Quality-label request

• Modules selection
• Agreement of production
• Technical Pedagogical
• module Validation

Modules with Quality -Label

• Avicenna Modules
• Technical Pedagogical
• Assistance

• Modules Proposal
• Modules Production

AVICENNA VIRTUAL LIBRARY
Local Universities
MILOUDI ? UNESCO/SC/PSD 2007
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Avicenna Knowledge Centre (AKC) or E-Learning
Centre
INTERNET
Class Room Self Service
Production Room
Technical Room
Administration Information
Meeting Room Library

• Activities
• Provide training sessions to the teachers on the
  engineering production of the online courses.
• Provide training sessions for tutors and
  technical support and information for students
• Manage and Maintain the Virtual Library
• Develop relationships between the e-Learning
  centres of the regional network and also the
  centre is in charge for the development of the
  national virtual campus network.
• Develop scientific groups through the network
• Organise national seminars and dissemination
  activities
• Provide support for the handicapped students
  (Blind and Deaf students)

• E-Learning Centre Staff
• Director
• Educational Expert
• Technical Expert
• Technician
• Secretary

MILOUDI ? UNESCO/SC/PSD 2007
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Challenges 2008-2013

• AFRICAN VIIRTUAL CAMPUS
• - 54 Avicenna centres (5 regions)
• Network will be used by all the
• African universities
• Project approved by the
• UNESCO Executive Board and
• GENERAL CONFERENCE (193 member states)

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Project initiation development

• Development in 5 African regions Northern,
  Western, Eastern, Central, and Southern
• 1st centre initiated in Benin, July 2008
• AVC training, West Africa Nov 2008
• Funded by Spain and the EU ARAPKE
• Extrabudgetary and regular project funding

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Expected results

• An African platform for the development of the
  African Virtual Campus to all African countries
  Teacher training National Campuses
• Training
• African experts trained in e-learning concept
  education (5 per centre - permanent staff)
• Teachers trained on the engineering production of
  online multimedia courses
• Tutors trained in e-learning education methods
• Large-scale student training

• Network of fully operational e-Learning
  Avicenna Centres one centre per African country
  
• Specific online training in Sciences Policies and
  Science Technology and Innovation
• An online African Virtual Library in ST
  comprising online modules and teaching resource
  material

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Conclusion

• UNESCO instrument of international cooperation
• International peace and development can thrive
  through collaboration and dialogue
• Maximize science as a cultural value
• AVCN infrastructure, technology enhanced
  learning, and science and technology education
  extended to all countries in Africa