The Centre for Shared education, led by Professor Joanne Hughes at Queen’s University, advocates shared education as a model for promoting inter-relations through education.
Our Education
We implement UNESCO’s Education programme through four pillars:
Legal framework Step n°1
Policy advice Step n°2
Expert Advice Step n°3
Sites & initiatives Step n°4
We monitor legal instruments the UK has ratified as a member of UNESCO, work with leading experts to advise the UK and devolved governments on UNESCO programmes and support UNESCO designations in the UK.
Education Spotlight
Browse our In Focus Education Programmes
“As an empowerment right, education is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalised adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty, and obtain the means to participate fully in their communities.”
Koïchiro Matsuura, UNESCO Director-General (1999-2009)
Introduction
UNESCO believes access to quality education throughout our life is a fundamental human right, regardless of our background and is an essential bedrock to building peace and delivering development.
Discover UNESCO’s education programme in the UK. Find out more about UNESCO’s role in setting global standards, its influence on the ground and meet some of the UK’s world-leading experts.
The seeds of UNESCO’s work were formed in the minds of ministers of education during the Second World War and UNESCO has galvanised international collaboration on education through its standard setting frameworks and monitoring, the Education for All programme and its global action plan on Education for Sustainable Development.
Now, as the only United Nations body with a mandate that covers all aspects of education, UNESCO has been entrusted with leading and monitoring worldwide action to deliver the targets in the Sustainable Development Goal on quality education for all.
The UK and devolved Governments are committed to fulfilling UNESCO’s action on education globally by providing equal and quality education, ensuring that everyone has the chance to reach their potential and live a more fulfilled life.
Discover our education role and browse our educational programmes below
UNESCO establishes an international normative framework through its Conventions, Recommendations and other agreements
Legal Framework step n°1
The UK National Commission for UNESCO informs and advises on international and domestic education policy to UNESCO and UK Government
Policy Advice step n°2
EDUCATION POLICY
The education programme cuts across the work of the departments for education in the 4 nations of the UK and the Department for International Development.
Since 1946, the UK National Commission for UNESCO has been ensuring the UK’s leading specialists, intellectuals and academics are contributing to and shaping UNESCO’s education mandate. We also advise the UK and devolved governments on policy relating to UNESCO’s education activities.
ALL OUR POLICY WORK
Are you interesting in becoming a UNESCO Chair? Find out more below
Discover our #Policy
The UK National Commission has produced and published several long form policy briefs that cover education. These inform UK Government about the international opportunities in UNESCO’s programmatic sphere, opportunities and guidance on the implementation of more of UNESCO’s Education conventions and recommendations, and evaluating UNESCO’s global role in education.
Discover our #EducationPolicy
EDUCATION POLICY BRIEFS
Implications for UNESCO of the proposed Education Goals post 2015
MAY 2014
Policy Brief Series n°12
This paper outlines some of the implications, challenges and opportunities for UNESCO of the likely education goals in the post-2015 development agenda.
Education for Sustainable Development in the UK
MAR 2013
Policy Brief Series n°09
This policy brief provides an account of the current status of ESD across the UK. It draws on evidence from independent experts from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and sets out some of the characteristics of best practice and an analysis of future opportunities for enhancing the core role of education and learning in the pursuit of a more sustainable future.
The UK National Commission for UNESCO has a wider portfolio of policy work which spans UNESCO’s four programmatic areas. They advise and inform our stakeholders about issues and opportunities both internationally and within the UK.
Discover more #EducationPolicy documents
EDUCATION POLICY DOCUMENTS
Professor Alan Smith
JUNE 2020
Policy Document
This case study from the National Value report describes how UNESCO status helped the UNESCO Chair in Education for Pluralism, Human Rights and Democracy attract funding.
UNESCO Chair in Education for Pluralism, Human Rights & Democracy
JUNE 2020
Policy Document
This case study from the National Value report describes how Alan’s 20 year experience and role as a UNESCO chair has clearly played a significant part in helping him to conduct life-changing research and influence a variety of highly impactful programmes to build peace through education.
UNESCO Chair on Globalising a Shared Education Model for Improving Relations in Divided Societies
JUNE 2020
Policy Document
This case study from the National Value report describes how the UNESCO chair is now working with Education Ministry officials and educational stakeholders in Northern Ireland, the Balkan Countries and Israel to further the development of shared education.
DISCOVER
Education for Sustainable Development in the UK
#Policy #BriefN°09
Explore #PolicyBrief n°09
Each and every accredited expert within our network is tasked with a specific committee or programme within UNESCO’s framework
? #ExpertAdvice step n°3
EDUCATION EXPERTS
We work with a network of experts across the UK who support UNESCO’s global mission to build peace in the minds of men and women.
Our Expert Network is made up of pro-bono specialists who help to advise the UK and Devolved Governments on policy relating to UNESCO’s programmes.
KEY EDUCATION EXPERTS
Led by Professor Alison Phipps, the Chair’s team of six is pioneering a series of research projects, residencies and events which place language and the arts at the heart of refugee integration.
Storytelling shapes the way we experience the world and advances human knowledge, but that’s only if everyone listens.
Access to an inclusive good quality education for all is crucial for realising sustainable livelihoods in prosperous, peaceful, diverse and democratic societies.
Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly, is our non-executive director who has shared responsibility of the #EducationPortfolio
Meet Joseph
The relevant UK government department approves Accredited Experts. They have an official role, representing the UK in UNESCO Committees, Commissions and Programmes. They also work with us and the UK Permanent Delegation to UNESCO based with the Department for International Development in London and Paris, to advise the UK and/or devolved governments on UNESCO related matters..
🎓 Explore our #AccreditedExpert network
The UNESCO Chair/UNITWIN programme seeks to foster international cooperation and knowledge sharing between higher education institutions. UNESCO Chairs are based within an Institute for Higher Education, and their work identifies with a current UNESCO priority.
🪑 Explore our #Chairs network
KEY EDUCATION CHAIRS
Professor Joanne Hughes
CHAIR – SINCE 2016
? #UNESCOChair
Based on her experience in Northern Ireland, the UNESCO Chair has developed a model of shared education that can be used as a template around the world. The team continue to advise education authorities in divided societies including Cyprus, Israel, Palestine and Macedonia on how to best educate children from different backgrounds together.
Professor Anna Robinson-Pant
CHAIR – SINCE 2016
? #UNESCOChair
Through investigating how or why adult literacy might facilitate or respond to processes of social transformation, including women’s empowerment, the UNESCO Chair sets out to strengthen the interaction between formal, non-formal and informal learning in research, policy and programmes.
Professor Leon Tikly
CHAIR – SINCE 2019
? #UNESCOChair
Leon’s work is focussed on the relationships between education, inequality and social justice. Specialising in education in post-colonial settings, low income countries and the achievement of Black and Minority Ethnic learners in the UK and Europe, the Chair’s work is researching practical solutions to the challenges of 21st century education.
Professor Alan Smith
CHAIR – SINCE 1999
? #UNESCOChair
Following the ceasefire and peace agreement in Northern Ireland, this UNESCO Chair has played a crucial role in addressing some of the country’s most pressing and divisive issues, by setting up integrated schools and rolling out citizenship across the country.
FROM OUR EDUCATION CHAIRS
UNESCO’s global presence in education is represented by several Sites and Initiatives here in the UK
? #Sites&Initiatives step n°4
EDUCATION SITES, ACTIONS & INITIATIVES
All UNESCO sites within the UK have a focus on education, for their local communities and further afield. UNESCO also has some sites and initiatives dedicated to Education present in the UK.
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities consists of around 200 cities in 40 countries which are united in their determination to promote lifelong learning and, through it, sustainable development in their cities.
The UNESCO Associated Schools Programme (ASPnet) links educational institutions across the world around a common goal: to build the defences of peace in the minds of children and young people. The over 11,500 ASPnet member schools in 182 countries work in support of international understanding, peace, intercultural dialogue, sustainable development and quality education in practice.
LATEST EDUCATION NEWS
Launched in 2012, the UK government Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) is an ambitious twelve-year initiative aiming to provide the world’s most marginalised girls with quality education.
This short survey is for the use of the UK National Commission for UNESCO only. We will use your responses to better understand your fields of work, capacity and international links so that we can inform the government reliably of the UK UNESCO Chairs network's expertise across UNESCO's fields of competency. 1. About your UNESCO…
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Launched in 2012, the UK government Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) is an ambitious twelve-year initiative aiming to provide the world’s most marginalised girls with quality education.
Sign the open letter to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee On 24 February 2022, Russia launched an armed offensive against Ukraine. One month later, intense fighting continues with hundreds of lives lost, and buildings and sometimes entire cities devastated. According to the figures recently released by the UNESCO Secretariat, 53 cultural buildings (historical monuments, places…
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All UNESCO sites have an educational focus, but the UK’s 6 Learning Cities in particular recognise the transformative power of education for their residents of all ages, and strive to create and promote learning opportunities for everyone; by addressing barriers to participation, narrowing the gap between rich and poor, enhancing social cohesion and helping to fulfill their citizens aspirations.
🏺 Explore our #Sites of education
OUR EDUCATION SITES
Belfast
SINCE 2018
? #Learning City
Belfast believes that Lifelong Learning plays a powerful role in creating a more equal, just and inclusive society. Belfast Learning City is working to raise the aspirations of its citizens, and in particular, those of its citizens that face multiple barriers in accessing learning.
NEWS FROM OUR EDUCATION SITES
The UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) links educational institutions across the world around a common goal: to build the defences of peace in the minds of children and young people.
More about the ASPnet programme
UNESCO Prizes in natural and social science are prestigious awards addressing global issues and themes, which are conferred on individuals or organisations by the Director-General for UNESCO upon recommendation by an independent and international jury. They each carry a high symbolic value, and are awarded with a substantial monetary award.
🏆 Apply to our #EducationPrizes
OUR EDUCATION PRIZES
UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education
PRIZE – SINCE 2015
? #Prize
The UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education is the first of its kind. Recognising the continued inequalities in access to education worldwide, the Prize was launched in 2015 to help contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and honour outstanding and innovative contributions to advance girls’ and women’s education.
The Jan Amos Comenius Medal
PRIZE – SINCE 1992
? #Prize
Created jointly by the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic and the Director-General of UNESCO, in 1992, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the birth of Jan Amos Comenius, is intended to reward outstanding achievements carried out in the fields of educational research and innovation.
UNESCO-King Sejong Literacy Prize
PRIZE – SINCE 1989
? #Prize
Established in 1989 the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize awards programmes that focus on the development and use of mother-tongue literacy education and training. Funded by the government of the Republic of Korea, the Prize commemorates King Sejong who fought against illiteracy and invented the Korean alphabet.
BLOGS FROM OUR EDUCATION PRIZES
Engaging individual citizens and communities, UNESCO’s ambitious education agenda aims to fulfil society’s curiosity and desire for learning, whilst arming them with knowledge that they can carry with them for the entirety of their lives.
UNESCO leads on Sustainable Development Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning for all. All the initiatives that are carried out in the UK in the field of Education contribute to the attainment of this goal.
💪 Find education #Initiatives
EDUCATION INITIATIVES
ASPNet Schools
? #Initiative
The over 11,500 ASPnet member schools in 182 countries work in support of international understanding, peace, intercultural dialogue, sustainable development and quality education in practice. The ASPnet programme in the UK is co-ordinated by the Steve Sinnott Foundation.
? #Initiative
The over 11,500 ASPnet member schools in 182 countries work in support of international understanding, peace, intercultural dialogue, sustainable development and quality education in practice. The ASPnet programme in the UK is co-ordinated by the Steve Sinnott Foundation.
Global Benchmarking Education Statistics
? #Initiative
The UK Government’s Department for International Development provides funding for the critical work of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The UIS is the go-to-source for data on the Sustainable Development Goal on education, with time series for indicators covering access, completion, learning, equity, teachers and financing.
Leading on SDG4: Education
? #Initiative
UNESCO is the lead UN agency on Sustainable Development Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Entrusted with the leadership through the Incheon Declaration (2015), the UK works with UNESCO to make sure the world remains on track for its ambitious fulfillment by 2030.
NEWS FROM OUR EDUCATION INITIATIVES
At their root, UN International Days contribute to the achievement of the purposes of the UN Charter and promote awareness of and action on important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human rights issues. International days are at the heart of the United Nations Charter.
🌞 Find education #IntlDays
EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL DAYS
World Teacher’s Day
05 OCT- SINCE 1994
? #Intl’Day
World Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. This Recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.
International Literacy Day
08 SEP- SINCE 1967
? #Intl’Day
Since 1967, International Literacy Day (ILD) celebrations have taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.
NEWS FROM OUR EDUCATIONAL INTL’ DAYS
Take #Education Further
“As an empowerment right, education is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalised adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty, and obtain the means to participate fully in their communities.”
Koïchiro Matsuura, UNESCO Director-General(1999-2009)
DISCOVER
Discover our Communication & Information Programmes
#Communication #Information
Explore our #CommunicationProgrammes