PORTAL ON
HIGHER EDUCATION
RESEARCH AND EFA/MDGS
IAU-HEEFA Newsletter No. 4
HEEFA Newsletter, No. 4, 15 April 2010
Linking the HE Community to EFA and related MDGs
I. News on the HEEFA Portal and Project
Countdown begins for the bilingual version of HEEFA
As last minute fine-tuning continues, the countdown commences for the bilingual version of HEEFA going live on 1st May 2010.
From the experts’ perspective, this will enable projects entered in either the English or French version of HEEFA to be seen in the other language version of HEEFA. The key words entered will be automatically translated into the second language whilst free text entered remains in the origin language.
How to use the bilingual version? Select “neutral language” and your entry will appear in both language versions of HEEFA. Select either ‘English’ or ‘French’ if you do not wish your project to be seen in the second language version, or if you wish to enter the details yourself in the other language.
What will be visible in each language version?: As a user, you will be able to see all projects entered in neutral language in addition to projects entered under French if you are in the French version and projects entered under English if you are in the English version.
Main advantage: The main advantage for both users and experts is that they can choose which language they want the interface and keywords to be in, since these are automatically translated.
Feed the Portal and Advertize your University
Be one of the first to enter your name and project(s) in the HEEFA Portal, participate in the promotion of your university’s work for Education For All related topics, and have your entry advertised in the next edition of the Newsletter and on the Portal.
For further information, please send an email: heefa@iau-aiu.net
HEEFA goes to Mexico
The very first IAU HEEFA capacity building session in English will be held from May 25 to 26 in Cuernavaca, Mexico in collaboration with the Universidad autonoma del Estado de Morelos and UNESCO local representation.
Entitled, Thinking a global initiative locally, the session, designed to reinforce higher education local involvement in EFA, convenes invited stakeholders to explore and develop a viable way forward addressing this issue. Designed around three rotating workshops linked to university’s three missions – research; teaching and learning; community service – participants will share insight/initiatives, define local EFA priorities, and discuss how to concretely strengthen links with higher education.
A hands-on workshop is planned to familiarise participants with HEEFA, during which they will feed into the Portal and provide feedback.
II. Entries on the HEEFA Portal
The Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) will host the first IAU HEEFA capacity building session, so let’s learn a little more on what is being done there:
Under the guidance of Dr. Chao Barona, the UAEM established an innovative Dept of Community Development (Dirección de Desarrollo Comunitario (DDC-UAEM), providing both community outreach services and teaching and research. It aims to bridge the gap between indigenous populations and formal education by bringing local populations, higher education students, and research closer:
- traditional knowledge is integrated into higher education and knowledge creation and local leaders teach at the centre;
- life-skills training are offered to marginalised populations and awareness raising training related to marginalised populations are provided for community workers; and
- development of participatory research and student community service.
III. Selected News – EFA and Related MDGs (March–April 2010)
Calls for Participation
Academics and researchers participation is particularly welcomed in the 5-week e-conference, leading up to the International Conference, Engendering Empowerment: Education and Quality, organized by the United Nations Girl’s Education Initiative (UNGEI): from April 12 to May 14.
The USAID cooperation programme, Higher Education for Development, is requesting proposals to develop community service education with the Collège Universitaire Régional de Bambey, Senegal, to strengthen partnerships between student internships and local secondary schools. Deadline: 7 June.
The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization are inviting academics to submit innovative initiatives in the ISESCO Literacy Prize that reinforces literacy programme participation and links between academic research and literacy. Open to Member States. Deadline: 30 November.
Students from Sciences Po Paris who feed articles into Wikigender, an OECD Development Centre initiative, receive credits in return. Other universities can join.
Academics and researchers experiences and insight on Education For All issues are welcome to fuel discussions and raise fundamental questions on the recently launched World Education Blog, hosted by the Global Monitoring Report.
Meetings
The Ninth High-Level Group (HLG) meeting on EFA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 23-25 February, issued a declaration focusing on marginalization and the financial crisis.
UNESCO’s Collective Consultation of NGOs on EFA, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 22-24 March, examined the role of education NGOs in combating marginalization during the financial crisis.
The International Conference on Multi-grade Education, held at the Cape Peninsular University of Technology, Paarl, South Africa, 22-24 March, issued a declaration recommending national governments to take concrete actions to fully embed multi-grade education in education policies.
IV. Selected Upcoming Events – EFA and Related MDGs (May–June 2010)
19-25 April 2010 Global Action Week, Theme: Financing for Education http://www.campaignforeducation.org/
17-20 May 2010 United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative E4 Conference, Dakar, Senegal Theme: Engendering Empowerment: Education and Quality http://www.e4conference.org/
21-22 May 2010 University of British Columbia Childcare Conference, Vancouver, Canada Theme: It takes a university: Child care and post secondary institutions http://childcareconference.wordpress.com/
29 July 2010, University of Philippines 6th International Conference on Teacher Education, Quezon City, Philippines, Theme: Celebrating Diversity and Transformative Innovations in Teacher Education http://www.ictedphilippines.org/
The HEEFA Team
Next issue: 15 June 2010
Contact: heefa@iau-aiu.net
