International Consultant for TVET Quality Assurance (Prolonged)

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Tashkent

Classification of duty station: [[filter12]]

Standard Duration of Assignement : [[filter13]]

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 31-AUG-2023

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Background:
The Government of Uzbekistan and UNESCO have been implementing the “Skills Development in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan” project, funded by EU for the period of 2020-2024.  This project aims to support the development of relevant skills of women and men for sustainable, diversified and modernised agriculture in Uzbekistan. This project will contribute to improving the quality, relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the skills development system in the agriculture and irrigation sectors, initiated by the Government of Uzbekistan, with a particular focus on the rural regions selected by the national stakeholders (Karakalpakstan, Khorazm, Bukhara, Surkhondaryo). 

The 1st Component of the project aims to support the modernization of TVET governance through building the quality assured structure for skills development in the agriculture and irrigation sectors. Further in the 2nd Component, the project aims to build capacity for the improved quality assurance process for the relevant actors in the TVET. The project has, so far, developed the draft Quality Assurance Framework for Uzbekistan and draft Quality Criteria for Training Providers, Assessment Centers, and Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). 

To this end UNESCO is seeking an international consultant on Quality Assurance to support the project activities of designing a methodology for building quality assured sectoral qualifications in a modern skill production system for Uzbekistan with particular focus on agriculture and irrigation sectors.

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Main Duties and Responsibilities:

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The consultant shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Take stock of the existing Quality Criteria for Awarding Bodies, and update/ develop and validate it in consultation with the relevant stakeholders;
• Validate the already developed draft Quality Assurance Framework, Quality Criteria for Training Providers, Assessment Centers, and SSCs with the relevant counterparts through consultation and necessary amendment;
• Develop and deliver on site capacity development programmes for: 
• Quality Assurance Authority
• Awarding Bodies
• Training Providers
• Assessment Centers
• SSCs
• Quality expert groups from the regions;
• Develop capacity development programmes including handouts for the following two topics, and deliver the programmes with the project pilot colleges and the Institute of Pedagogical Innovation under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations, with the Institute co-facilitating the training to the colleges:
• Developing a Quality Culture
• Implementing a Quality Management System (QMS) and internal self-evaluation;
• Deliver an intensive workshop of Train the Trainer for the Institute for Pedagogical Innovation on QA topics to enable continuous upscaling of the capacity development of training providers on the QA; and
• Develop monitoring and evaluation mechanism to assess the effectiveness of training programmes, including feedback loops

The consultant is expected to stay and work in Uzbekistan at least 50% of the total working days and visit the four project regions and TVET schools for consultation and delivery of the trainings. The work of the consultant will commence from August 2023 for the duration of 11 months. All deliverables should be submitted within 11 months of the commencement.

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Deliverables:

• Developed and validated Quality Criteria for Awarding Bodies;
• Validated Quality Assurance Framework, Quality Criteria for Training Providers, Assessment Centers, and SSCs;
• Capacity development programmes/ delivery plan and materials, as well as a training evaluation, feedback report and a follow-up support plan for the following stakeholders:
• Quality Assurance Authority
• Awarding Bodies
• Training Providers
• Assessment Centers
• SSCs
• Quality expert groups from the regions;
• Capacity development programmes/ delivery plan and materials, as well as a training evaluation, feedback report and a follow-up support plan targeting the colleges and Institute of Pedagogical Innovations for the following topics:
• Developing a Quality Culture
• Implementation of QMS and internal self-evaluation;
• Capacity development programmes/ delivery plan and materials, as well as a training evaluation, feedback report and a follow-up support plan for the ToT at Institute of Pedagogical Innovations on QA topics; and
• A monitoring and evaluation framework or system to assess the effectiveness of training programmes, including indicators, data sources, data collection methods, data analysis methods, reporting formats, etc.; a monitoring and evaluation plan or schedule to assess the effectiveness of training programmes at different stages (before, during, after); monitoring and evaluation reports on the effectiveness of training programmes at different stages (before, during, after); feedback loops or mechanisms to use monitoring and evaluation results to improve training programmes

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COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Accountability (C)

Communication (C)

Innovation (C)

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)

Planning and organizing (C)

Results focus (C)

Teamwork (C)

Professionalism (C)

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For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Education or other relevant field

Work Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of work experience in the skills development
• A minimum of five years of work experience in working as an expert to implement quality assurance related topics in several countries 
• Experience in providing technical support to the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) in several countries
• Experience in delivering hands-on capacity development trainings in several countries  
• Experience in implementing project/ programme by international organizations 

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DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience:

• Knowledge/ experience in Uzbekistan and/or Central Asian countries is an asset
• Experience in TVET agriculture and water resources management is an asset

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APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now”. At the end of the word document, please insert the extra pages with the following required information:

• An up-to-date CV
• A brief technical proposal (maximum 3 pages) discussing the approach/methodology to undertake the assignment and timeline.
• The proposed fee (excluding travel cost) in US dollars to undertake the assignment. Travel cost will be covered by the project.

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SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

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