UNESCO ICT Competency Standards for Teachers (CST) - Questions and Answers

Who will use the standards? 
The standards are designed for use by all education policy makers and education sector training providers as a guide to implement ICT within their institutions/schools. They can be used worldwide, regardless of where the classroom is located.

Are they biased towards technology from the vendors who helped create them? 
Cisco, Intel and Microsoft participated in the project with the aim of contributing their expertise in IT and teacher training to help teachers and providers of curriculum enhance education for the benefit of students. The project combined the best knowledge on education from UNESCO and academic institutions with effective use of ICT. The standards provide guidance on a set of skills for incorporating ICT into the classroom. But governmental, non-governmental and private providers will deliver the training for these competencies using the technology that they choose.

Is commercial technology favoured? 
The standards provide guidelines for teachers and specify the competencies needed to improve teaching and learning through the effective use of technology. It remains up to approved governmental, non-governmental and private providers to deliver the curriculum for these competencies through the means and technologies most appropriate for their needs. Providers who are interested in participation in the ICT-CST framework are allowed a considerable amount of flexibility in their implementation. To ensure their trainings meet with CST guidelines, they will be asked to submit an application, subject to the approval by the ICT-CST Endorsement Board.

How much did each vendor contribute financially to the project? 
The collaboration model underlying this project is of strategic nature and is not based on the volume of financial contributions. It is based on common goals and sharing of knowledge and resources. Characterisation of this effort in terms of financial inputs is not particularly appropriate.

What will be UNESCO's future role in the project? 
UNESCO’s future role will be to update the standards and to execute the endorsement mechanism certifying that a given training option is compliant with the standards. However, UNESCO will not develop its own training content or deliver any UNESCO certifications or degrees.

Is the certification free of charge? 
UNESCO’s endorsement is still in the planning phase at this point of time. It is likely to distinguish requests for endorsement coming from commercial versus non-profit training providers. More information will be available during the first half of 2008.

Will the standards continue to evolve? 
UNESCO will continue to drive a process to solicit inputs on the standards from global experts in the effective use of technology in education.