TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS

• Title of Consultancy: International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) Expert
• Type of engagement: Consultant
• Duty Station: Prishtina

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The education system in Kosovo is organized within a national framework for lifelong learning by International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 97 levels that include pre-primary education, nine years of compulsory education (primary and lower secondary); three years of non-compulsory education (upper secondary); and tertiary education. The Law on Pre-University Education regulates education and training of children and adults in Kosovo, while the Strategic Plan for Education in Kosovo 2017-2021 sets the main development direction of the education system.

Despite MES’s continues efforts to strengthen administrative data collection and reporting, the quality of data remains a critical bottleneck hindering adequate planning and progress monitoring. Lack of international comparable data hinders monitoring and progress made in Kosovo compared to other countries. The Education Management Information System (EMIS) managed by MES provides key information on available education data for Kosovo.

However, the data collected are limited and do not provide information at student level which does not allow for detailed analysis and adequate monitoring of key educational indicators.
UNICEF Kosovo Office is supporting MES to align the national education system with the ISCED 2011. This consultancy aims to provide technical assistance to MES on undertaking a mapping exercise that will inform the transition process to ISCED 2011 and additionally contribute on streamlining the data collection and reporting in line with international standards. This exercise will additionally include a mapping of existing upper secondary educational programmes with ISCED Fields of Education and Training (ISCED-F) 2013.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Child Rights Monitoring Specialist and in close coordination with the Education Specialist, the scope of the individual consultancy will include:

• Desk review of existing documents and consultation with relevant stakeholders to assess the current situation of existing qualification in pre-university education;
• Conduct mapping of existing education qualification for Kosovo based on ISCED 97 and alignment with the ISCED 11;
• Conduct a mapping of existing upper secondary professional/technical profiles and align with the ISCED-F 13 (including units, scope and structure of the classification);
• Provide recommendation adjustments needed for transitioning from ISCED 97 to ISCED 11, and to ISCED-F13 for the upper-secondary education (professional/technical profiles), with specific focus to administrative processes.

Reasons why consultancy cannot be done by staff:

This support requires specific technical expertise and familiarity with ISCED classification standards which cannot be provided by internal UNICEF staff.

Start Date: 15.09.2020
End Date: 24.12.2020
Number of Days(working): 17 working days

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Desk review of documents and consultation with relevant stakeholders

Deliverable/Outputs:

Mapping of education system qualifications with ISCED 11, and upper-secondary professional/technical profiles with ISCED-F 13

Timeline: 4 days

Tasks/Milestone:

Mapping and alignment of Kosovo education system and development of the framework for transitioning from ISCED 97 to ISCED 11

Deliverable/Outputs:

Mapping of education system qualifications with ISCED 11, and upper-secondary professional/technical profiles with ISCED-F 13

Timeline: 5 days

Tasks/Milestone:

Mapping and alignment of Kosovo upper secondary education system and alignment of professional/technical profiles with ISCED-F 13

Deliverable/Outputs:

Mapping of education system qualifications with ISCED 11, and upper-secondary professional/technical profiles with ISCED-F 13

Timeline: 5 days

Tasks/Milestone:

Develop recommendations for adjustments of education reporting classification, including for administrative and other processes in line with ISCED 2011 and ISCED-F 13 for upper secondary education.

Deliverable/Outputs:

Mapping of education system qualifications with ISCED 11, and upper-secondary professional/technical profiles with ISCED-F 13

Timeline: 2 days

Tasks/Milestone:

Presentation of mapping exercise with proposed adjustments for education reporting classification in line with ISCED 11 and alignment of professional/technical profiles for upper secondary education in line with ISCED-F 13

Deliverable/Outputs:

Mapping of education system qualifications with ISCED 11, and upper-secondary professional/technical profiles with ISCED-F 13 presentation

Timeline: 2 days

Minimum Qualifications required:

Masters

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Advanced degree in education, international development, social science, or a related field; or an advanced degree in statistics, mathematics, or a related area.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in education statistics and advanced knowledge of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED);
• Strong communication and writing skills in English.
• Ability to work effectively with a team through remote communication means.
• Previous work experience with UNICEF and UNESCO is preferred.

Opening Date Fri Aug 21 2020 09:00:00 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time) Central Europe Daylight Time

Closing Date Mon Aug 31 2020 23:55:00 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

⇒ Apply online.