Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Time Well Spent


WE HAVE MADE IT TO THE FINISH LINE!!!

Throughout the past 8 weeks I have experienced how to create a wordle, an ideal Community of Practice, and connecting with my classmates.


  • The wordle was a way for me to start thinking about what was more important to me in the early childhood field. It was creating the wordle that has allowed me to really focus on some issues in the early childhood field and then lead to creating an ideal Community of Practice.
  • Creating an ideal Community of Practice allowed me to focus in on an issue that needs to be improved for all children’s developmental growth and education. My focus was improving family involvement that impacts children’s developmental growth and education. It was through creating my ideal Community of Practice that has allowed me to move forward and work with my colleagues and develop what I would call Early Learning Home Visit Model.
  • Connecting with my classmates throughout this course has given me very helpful insight and how I can make my Community of Practice better. Not only giving me the all their insights it was connecting with my classmates that has given me the courage to connect with my colleagues and move forward on my Early Learning Home Visit model.

 
 
A long-term goal for me is develop my Community of Practice and my Early Learning Home Visit model. This is a way for be to advocate for children and families and improve children’s developmental growth.
 
 
 
Dr. Teri I would like to thank you for all the helpful hints that were given in the newsletters and the fast response to answering questions we had throughout this course. I also want to say I have enjoyed this course and that you took my stress away with encouraging words you would response to throughout the course and through personal emails. Your guidance throughout this course has been greatly appreciated and was very helpful in that I can do this!! I also would like to let you know Dr. Teri that I have started talking with my colleagues about creating my CoP to improving family involvement.  I also want to thank my classmates in giving me your feedback that impacted my way of thinking to create my CoP.  I wish everyone the best in your future adventures. I also would like to encourage all of my classmates to continue using your blogs to post insightful information and your future adventures.
 

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally


Exploring international jobs or roles in the Early Childhood Education field I found these three positions very interesting. These positions are way above my skill level but joining an internship would be exciting to do and increase my skill level. I also found that international positions you need more qualification than you do for other jobs in my local area.

v  UNICEF is passionate about our cause and committed to our mission: to promote the equal rights of children, and to support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities. That's our vision. And it's the world we'd like to build with you.

The UNICEF has several different types of employment opportunities as well as intership programs, and volunteer opportunities.  The Education Specialist (Learning) is an employment opportunity that interested me but I don’t qualify. To get involved with the UNICEF I will be looking into the internship program and volunteer opportunities to gain the experience and look into learning a new language.

This is a list of all the qualifications for the Education Specialist (Learning) position:

Purpose of the Position

Under the general guidance of the Senior Education Advisor (Education in Emergencies), the incumbent is responsible for the planning, development, monitoring and evaluation of human resource and system capacity development for education in emergencies and post-crisis transition and for technical support in UNICEF`s on-going policy development and programming in emergencies, information management and coordination in relation to emergencies.

Key Expected Results

1. Education in emergencies technical leadership (capacity building):

Provides technical leadership in the visioning and formulation of capacity building (CB) in education in emergencies (EiE) and post crisis transition human resource and systems-strengthening CB goals and pertinent policies, strategies, norms, standards, coordination and monitoring mechanisms for enhancing effective coordination and delivery of education programming in emergencies, transition (post crisis) and development contexts (including risk informed programming and resilience). Identifies critical capacity gaps and coordinates guidance to develop and deliver training programmes (including facilitation of training), packages, resources and tools to strengthen capacity of UNICEF education staff ensuring consistent and quality capacity to deliver on the education CCCs. Ensures the institutionalization and roll-out of all components of the UNICEF EiE CB strategy.

End Result(s):

UNICEF EiE CB development plan finalized and shared with ROs and KPI timely monitored.

2. UNICEF education surge capacity and on-going technical support in emergencies:

In close collaboration with DHR and EMOPS, enhances UNICEF surge capacity and related mechanisms for EiE to provide a more timely and effective emergency response, by supporting the development of an up-to-date Global Web Roster, facilitating deployment, helping to develop talent pools and to manage standby partner agreements. Provides guidance and support to Regional and Country Offices to develop and roll-out CB strategies (e.g. support to regional training workshops, field missions to monitor and evaluate CB efforts). Identifies capacity gaps and proposes remedial action (linking emergency, transition and development). Deploys on surge missions as needed, in consultation with HQ and COs, particularly for L2 and L3 emergencies. Provides technical support in UNICEF`s on-going policy and programming in emergencies (e.g. review of humanitarian appeal documents, attend emergency meetings), supports implementation of EiE Hub work plan (including budget monitoring), information management and coordination in relation to emergencies.

End Result(s):
Surge capacity system in place and surge missions completed with timely and effective EiE responses; policies and programming in emergencies disseminated at all levels and linked to transition and development education programming (including preparedness).

3. Guidance and support to IASC education activities and CB initiatives:

Provides guidance and support to inter-agency initiatives related to IASC Education Cluster and general cluster approach/humanitarian efforts, working closely with Education Cluster (EC) Coordinator. Represents and leads for UNICEF in areas such as: surge capacity and related mechanisms, technical areas, EiE supplies, and relevant policy and advocacy work streams. Leads and provides guidance and support to inter-agency training, inter-agency strategies and activities (cluster coordinators, technical staff, and others) working closely with EC Coordinator. Provides guidance for education on general cluster training and other humanitarian capacity development programmes. Ensures synergies and complementarity with wider UNICEF education CB and programming efforts.

End Result(s):
Education related IASC initiatives supported and strong links established between EiE through transition into development education programming.

4. Support to the Education in Emergency Hub:

Supports implementation of the EiE work plan. Leads coordination of assessments, evaluations, other research, and periodic reviews and reports, in order to contribute to the development, monitoring and evaluation of EiE strategies and effectiveness, particularly those related to CB. Identifies partners, research institutions, training institutions, individual consultants to assist UNICEF efforts to build evidence and enhance capacity for education in emergencies and transition contexts. Coordinates with others, within UNICEF and with partners and education sector organizations, to support advocacy and fund raising efforts, across both humanitarian and development constituencies, for Education in Emergencies.

End Result(s):

Contribute to the realization of the EiE strategy and implementation of the EiE work plan, in alignment with the CCCs and global strategic plan key result areas.

5. Support to the Education Section:

Support the overall work of the education section through the provision of high quality briefing; representing UNICEF at relevant internal and external meetings; providing inputs into the work of others, and ensuring priority messages on education are effectively and consistently communicated. Support the effective running of the section and its teams, through regular attendance and contributions to internal management meetings and education professional development events.

End Result(s): Coherence achieved in the emergency-development continuum, through support to strategy, policy, planning, communications, capacity building and programming responses.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

- Advanced university degree in Education, Social Sciences or a related technical field with some experience/background in logistics in emergency settings (education).*

- Minimum of eight years of relevant work experience at the national and international levels developing, implementing and supporting education in crisis programmes and policies, strategic planning and management, with emphasis on strategic planning with substantial experience in emergency and crisis situations. Experience in coordinating and delivering training as well as experience in conducting and coordinating education assessments and programmes. Proven experience in emergency operations and management, including inter-institutional coordination, and experience with HR recruitment and deployment processes.

- Fluency in English and another UN language.

*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

- Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.

- Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

- Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.

- Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.

- Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.

- Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.

- Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.

- Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities.

- Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization.

 
v  Association for Childhood Education International

ACEI had two internships available during the summer of 2013 but I found it very interesting and a possible position to look into for the future. I enjoy reading about organizations that offer intern positions and how that someday I may have the opportunity to join an internship program.

Interns are given the opportunity to gain work experience consisting primarily of online research and data gathering that will contribute to the development of briefing papers and other types of resources. In addition to their day-to-day assignments, interns will have the opportunity to attend various meetings related to childhood education.

Interns should be enrolled in a graduate degree program that focuses on global education issues with a particular interest in children's education. A focus on one specific aspect of childhood education, such as basic education or early childhood development, is also acceptable. Interns who have had some international experience(s) working or living outside the U.S., are preferred.

Internships typically range from 8 -12 weeks. All interns must reside in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area during their assignment and are responsible for arranging their own housing and transportation. Interns are based at the ACEI Headquarters located at 1101 16th Street NW, Washington DC, 20036, a few blocks north of the White House.

ACEI offers a monthly stipend.

How To Apply: Please send to ACEI via fax or email:• A cover letter that indicates why you are interested in the internship, briefly describes your qualifications, and indicates the timeframe during which you would be available. You should also indicate whether you are seeking a full time or part time internship.

 
v  The United Nations Educational, Scientic and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have several different position available and I saw one that interested me and it was a Director, Education for all (EFA) and Global Agenda Coordination Team. Even though I do not qualify to apply for this position I found it interesting to learn that this position is located in Paris. I have listed an overview and qualification needed to apply for this position.

                       OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

As the global coordinating agency of the Education For All (EFA) movement, UNESCO has played a lead role, since Dakar 2000, in facilitating consultations with Member States, civil society and other key stakeholders, both to promote EFA and coordinate action on the ground to reach the EFA goals. At a time when the new development agenda is being set, UNESCO will continue to seek to raise the profile of education among competing developing priorities, and lead the debate on EFA and the education-related Millennium Development Goals after 2015.

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Director-General of Education (ADG/ED), the incumbent will lead the EFA and Global Agenda Coordination Team (ED/EFA), as well as ensure the effective performance of UNESCO’s international coordination role for the EFA movement and the global education agenda beyond 2015, mainly by:


(i) assuming major responsibility, both internally and externally, in United Nations-wide efforts on Education for All, paying particular attention to helping Member States speed up progress towards the 2015 deadline, as well as by preparing the 2015 conference and the post-2015 development agenda. This includes planning and design, coordination and partnership-building, as well as strengthening of linkages with other international, private sector and civil society EFA stakeholders.

(ii) contributing to the global EFA policy agenda and the debate on the post-2015 global education agenda through the promotion of new ideas, the linking of research with policy development and the strengthening of advocacy for innovative approaches. In this respect, the incumbent will contribute to UNESCO’s efforts to stimulate resource mobilization in support of EFA at the country-level, including by leading UNESCO’s efforts in the Global Partnership for Education and the EFA convening agencies network.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Advanced university degree in education, the social sciences or related area.

Work Experience

At least 15 years of high-level relevant experience in the field of education, both at the national and the international level.

Experience in strategic planning and management in the field of education.

Excellent knowledge of education policies at the global level and international cooperation, including thorough understanding of the EFA agenda.

Skills/Competencies

Commitment to the Organization’s mandate, vision and strategic direction, as well as to its priorities.

Proven leadership and managerial skills, a broad general culture and sound analytical capacities, high sense of objectivity, professional integrity and political astuteness.

Ability to direct change processes at the management level, and familiarity with the administration of an institution accountable to governing bodies.

Capacity to grasp global trends and developments, as well as to adapt and re-orient strategies accordingly, in an innovative and creative manner.

Ability to define clear strategy and manage an ambitious programme.

Confirmed ability to identify emerging educational trends and needs enabling her/him to help explore new forms of actions and to mobilize resources from funding agencies in an entrepreneurial spirit, and in support of institutional development.

Ability for strategic planning and management, and demonstrated ability to translate strategy into priorities and action, as well as effectively plan, mobilize and manage resources to deliver results.

Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to provide intellectual leadership and motivate teams in a multicultural environment, as well as ensure training and development of staff.

Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively, orally and in writing, with strong representational abilities.

Languages

Excellent knowledge and drafting skills in one of the working languages of the Organization (English or French) and working knowledge of the second one. Training will be mandatory in order to acquire the required level of the second working language in a reasonable time frame.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Other degrees or short to medium-term training in disciplines relevant to the post would be an advantage.

Work Experience

Experience in donor relations.

Experience within national education authorities.

A proven record of senior management and professional experience at the international and intergovernmental levels.

Skills/Competencies

Strong global professional network.

Sound judgement and decision-making skills.

Ability to identify key strategic issues, objectives, opportunities and risks.

Ability to interact with a wide range of high-level partners, as well as demonstrated partnership development and fundraising experience.

Languages

A working knowledge of another official United Nations language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) would be an asset.

References:

Association for Childhood Education International: http://www.acei.org/about-us/internships-at-acei.html

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2014, from http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/

United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2011). Retrieved from https://careers.unesco.org/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl