Education

The Education Sector of the National Commission for UNESCO in Iran focuses on achieving the overarching goal of “ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all,” in line with the Organization’s mandate. With the aim of reducing educational inequities and promoting learning and creative societies in the digital age, this sector seeks to facilitate the effective use of UNESCO’s capacities within the country’s education system, while aligning its activities with relevant policy documents and national priorities.

In this regard, the Education Sector’s areas of activity cover a diverse range of fields, including literacy, education for sustainable development, higher education, technical and vocational education and training, and adult education and lifelong learning. Other areas of focus include improving the quality of education, developing entrepreneurship education, training and empowering educators, providing education for underserved groups (such as people in disadvantaged areas, women and girls, and persons with special needs and persons with disabilities), and addressing education in crisis situations. The Group’s program of work also includes the use of new technologies, environmental education, culture and arts education, health education, and the promotion of global citizenship education and early childhood education.

To achieve its objectives, the Education Sector also draws on UNESCO’s specialized networks. In this regard, the UNESCO Chairs in education in the country include the UNESCO Chair in “Management, Planning and Quality Assurance in Higher Education” (Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education), the UNESCO Chair in “Entrepreneurship” (Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran), the UNESCO Chair in “Teachers as Lifelong Learners” (Farhangian University), and the UNESCO Chair in “E-Learning” (Mehr Alborz University), each of which contributes to the development of knowledge and scientific cooperation. Two additional Chairs, namely the “UNESCO Chair in Environmental Education” (Payame Noor University) and the “UNESCO Chair in Disaster Risk Reduction Education and Resilience” (Kharazmi University), operate as joint Chairs in the fields of education and natural sciences.

The UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNEVOC) Network also provides a platform for the exchange of experience and the enhancement of cooperation in technical and vocational education and training. Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University and the Karaj Teacher Training Centre of the Technical and Vocational Training Organization are members of this Network.

With regard to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, the cities of Isfahan, Bandar Khamir, Tehran, Shiraz, Hashtgerd New Town (Mahestan), Kashan, Kermanshah, Hamadan, Mashhad and Maragheh have joined the Network, creating valuable opportunities for the development of a lifelong learning approach at the city level.

In the field of higher education, attention is also given to relevant international conventions on the recognition of qualifications, as one of the instruments for facilitating scientific and educational cooperation.

The Education Sector’s activities are strengthened through specialized committees, namely the National Education Committee and the National Higher Education Committee, which serve as the scientific arms of the National Commission for UNESCO in Iran in the field of education.

Overall, the Education Sector works through a coordinated and collaborative approach to improve the state of education and respond to the evolving needs of the sector in the country.