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Call for Proposals: Teaching and Facilitating Project-Based Learning to Adopt Green Practices in Four Thai Secondary Schools

This Call is for grouping or corporate body, companies, NGOs, public or private education institutions.
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Organizational Unit: UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, Education Section

Type of Contract: Contract for Services (Author) (e.g., grouping or corporate body, companies, NGOs, public or private education institutions)

Contract Duration: 12 months

Closing Date: 30 September 2024

The UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, in partnership with the Ministry of Education-Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) and Huawei, is implementing the project 'Supporting Green Education and Schools in Thailand.' This initiative focuses on integrating sustainable practices into the educational framework of four Thai secondary schools through the 'Green Schools' component of the project.

The project aims to empower these schools by training teachers to facilitate Project-Based Learning (PBL) focused on sustainability. Teachers will guide their students in addressing critical sustainability challenges, enhancing their understanding and commitment to environmental stewardship.

UNESCO seeks organizations or legal entities (e.g. organizations, companies, or institutions) to mentor these schools in critically analyzing their needs, aid the development of PBL ideas, and help them develop and implement PBL projects that support the four pillars of the Green Academies: 1) water security, 2) clean energy, 3) biomass production, and 4) waste management, and sustainably address their needs and tackle climate change.

The primary objectives of this initiative are:

1. Conceptualize and design a PBL framework that promotes sustainability within educational settings or green education.

2. Train teachers to facilitate PBL projects within their schools and communities effectively.

3. Provide teachers with continuous guidance and technical support throughout the selected schools' PBL implementation process.

4. Collaborate with teachers and students to finalize and showcase their PBL projects.

Under the authority of the Regional Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Education Section, the selected Contractor will be responsible for the following assignments:

1. Conceptualize and Design of PBL Framework:

a. Develop a comprehensive PBL framework tailored to promote sustainability in education.

b. Create detailed lesson plans, project guidelines, and assessment criteria on green education themes.

c. Design resource materials and toolkits to support the implementation of PBL.

2. Teacher Training and Capacity Building:

a. Conduct initial training workshops for teachers in the selected secondary schools.

b. Provide hands-on training sessions, including simulations and role-playing activities, to demonstrate PBL facilitation techniques.

c. Develop a training manual and supplementary materials for ongoing teacher development.

3. Ongoing Guidance and Technical Support:

a. Offer regular consultation sessions (both in-person and virtual) to address challenges and provide feedback.

b. Develop a support system for continuous teacher assistance, including online forums or helpdesks.

c. Conduct site visits to monitor progress and provide on-the-ground support.

4. Collaboration on Final PBL Projects:

a. Work closely with teachers and students to refine and finalize their PBL projects.

b. Assist in organizing presentations or exhibitions to showcase the completed projects.

c. Evaluate the outcomes and impact of the PBL projects on students' understanding of sustainability.

5.  Manuals, guidelines and intellectual property rights

a. Ensure the training manual and supplementary materials adhere to all guidelines in the 鈥楿NESCO Style Manual鈥 such as terminology, abbreviations, acronyms and format of footnotes, etc.;

b. Streamline UNESCO鈥檚 gender strategy, ensure the Guidelines on Gender-Neutral Language is applied throughout the training manual and supplementary materials;

c. Compile a list of tables, figures (including diagram, chart, illustration), photos (including images, cartoons, icons) and other graphic elements from the third party-materials by using a template provided by UNESCO and secure the intellectual property rights by using the 鈥減ermission consent form鈥 (provided by UNESCO);

d. Ensure that no plagiarized or self-plagiarized material is published without appropriate acknowledgement of the source;

e. Provide a proper credit or citation to the original work of the third-party materials. For any materials created by author, the 鈥淪ource: author鈥 should be placed underneath aforementioned materials;

f. Avoid including maps (global, regional, country) that could be politically sensitive or that could affect the legal status of any country, territory, city, area, or its authorities, or the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

g. Ensure that works are in full compliance with international copyright policy to prevent any legal infringements;

h. Submit a draft training manual and supplementary materials in MS Word file including those permission form (if any) to UNESCO;

i. Improve and incorporate suggested changes (if required) and finalize the training manual and supplementary materials until they are considered as satisfactory;

j. Strictly meet the committed deadline.

The Contractor will be required to submit the following deliverables and proposed timeframe to the UNESCO for approval:

1. A comprehensive PBL framework and detailed implementation guidelines.

2. Training materials and manuals for teacher training.

3. Reports on training sessions, including participant feedback and performance evaluations.

4. Regular progress reports on the implementation of PBL in the schools.

5. A final report summarizing the project outcomes, including evaluations of the PBL projects and recommendations for future initiatives.

The contractor may be required to travel to carry out the tasks specified in the work assignment. A detailed travel cost should be presented and indicated as to be allocated within the contract fee (as part of a lump sum) to cover the daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and the cost of tickets for any authorized travel. No additional travel expenses beyond the agreed lump sum will be reimbursed. The DSA is only applicable to individuals undertaking assignments outside their usual place of residence or work. The contractor is responsible for arranging their own travel.

The project is scheduled to be completed within 12 months of its start date. The timeline includes phases for design, training, ongoing support, and final PBL project completion.

The successful Contractor will possess the following qualifications:

Experience:

鈥 A minimum of five years of experience in designing, developing, and implementing PBL frameworks in educational settings, with a proven track record of success.

鈥 Demonstrated experience in integrating sustainability practices within educational frameworks, particularly in secondary schools.

鈥 Extensive experience in conducting teacher training programs, particularly in the context of PBL and sustainability education.

鈥 Prior experience working in the Thai education system or similar educational contexts in Southeast Asia is highly desirable.

Skills:

鈥 Strong project management skills, including managing timelines, coordinating with multiple stakeholders, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality outputs.

鈥 Expertise in developing educational curricula, lesson plans, and resource materials tailored to sustainability and PBL.

鈥 Proficiency in designing and delivering engaging and practical training workshops, with the ability to adapt training methods to diverse learning needs.

鈥 Competence in setting up monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks to assess the effectiveness of educational interventions, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.

鈥 Proficiency in using digital platforms and tools to support PBL, facilitate online collaboration, and deliver virtual training sessions.

Expertise:

鈥 Deep understanding of sustainability practices, particularly in water security, clean energy, biomass production, and waste management.

鈥 Expertise in applying innovative educational strategies, particularly PBL, to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students.

鈥 Ability to effectively engage with various stakeholders, including educational authorities, school leaders, teachers, and students, to ensure buy-in and successful implementation.

Language Requirements:

鈥 Interested candidates must be highly proficient in written and spoken English to ensure clear communication and the production of high-quality reports and materials.

鈥 Proficiency in Thai or the ability to provide translation services for training materials and workshops is highly desirable to facilitate effective communication with local stakeholders.

Project Lead/Manager Qualifications:

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master鈥檚 or equivalent) in Education, Environmental Science, Sustainable Development, or a related field.

Experience:

鈥 At least five years of experience designing and implementing PBL in educational settings.

鈥 Strong background in sustainability education and green education concepts.

鈥 Demonstrated ability to train and support teachers effectively.

鈥 Experience working in the Thai education system or similar contexts is an advantage.

Skills and Competencies:

鈥 Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

鈥 Strong project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder projects.

鈥 Proficiency in digital tools and platforms that support PBL and facilitate online training and collaboration.

Languages:

鈥 Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English. Knowledge of Thai or another regional language is an advantage.

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following:

1. A detailed proposal (in English) outlining their approach to the project, including approach and methodologies (maximum of five pages), a work plan with timelines, and comments on the Terms of Reference, in brief, if any.

2. A budget proposal (in English) should be quoted in USD. A travel cost breakdown should be drawn up separately. (Note: The schools will receive a separate budget to implement the actual PBL activities with the students.)

3. Updated CV(s) of the individual(s) involved.

4. Examples of previous work related to PBL and sustainability education.

UNESCO emphasizes ensuring that the work assignment's objectives, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will first focus on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization the best value for money.

Only applications providing the information requested in the application procedure will be considered.

Complete applications must be submitted by 30 September 2024.

Draft Team Structure

1. Project Lead/Manager (1 position)

- Role: Overall project management, coordination with UNESCO, and meeting timelines and deliverables.

- Qualifications: Advanced degree in Education, Environmental Science, or related field.

- Experience: At least five years of experience in project management, particularly in educational projects related to sustainability and PBL.

- Skills: Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills; experience in managing multi-stakeholder projects.

- Language: Fluent in English; knowledge of Thai is an advantage.

2. PBL and Sustainability Expert (2 positions)

- Role: Development of the PBL framework, training materials, and guidelines; lead training sessions and provide ongoing support.

- Qualifications: Advanced degree in Education, Sustainability, or a related field.

- Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in PBL, sustainability education, and teacher training.

- Skills: Expertise in curriculum development, facilitation of workshops, and technical support.

- Language: Fluent in English; knowledge of Thai or another regional language is advantageous.

3. Training and Capacity Building Specialist (1 position)

- Role: Conduct training workshops, provide hands-on training, and develop supplementary materials for teacher development.

- Qualifications: Degree in Education or Training and Development.

- Experience: At least two years of experience conducting teacher training and capacity-building initiatives, preferably in sustainability or green education.

- Skills: Strong facilitation and instructional design skills; ability to engage and support teachers.

- Language: Fluent in English.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (1 position)

- Role: Monitoring progress, evaluating the outcomes of PBL projects, and compiling progress reports.

- Qualifications: Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Education, or related field.

- Experience: Minimum of 3 years in monitoring and evaluating educational programs.

- Skills: Analytical skills, experience with data collection and analysis, report writing.

- Language: Fluent in English.

5. Local Liaison Officer (1 position)

- Role: Facilitate communication between the project team and local schools; assist with on-the-ground support.

- Qualifications: Degree in Education, Community Development, or related field.

- Experience: Experience in working with local schools or educational authorities in Thailand.

- Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal skills; familiarity with the Thai education system.

- Language: Fluent in Thai and English.

 

Applications must be received by email at ed.bgk(at)unesco.org no later than 17:00 hrs (Bangkok time) on 30 September 2024. Only complete applications submitted before the deadline will be considered. 

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