The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), formerly UNESCO Institute for Education, is one of six educational institutes of
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
. It is a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
international research, training, information, documentation and publishing centre on
literacy
Literacy is the ability to read and write, while illiteracy refers to an inability to read and write. Some researchers suggest that the study of "literacy" as a concept can be divided into two periods: the period before 1950, when literacy was ...
,
non-formal education
Non-formal learning includes various structured learning situations which do not either have the level of curriculum, institutionalization, Educational accreditation, accreditation or certification associated with 'formal learning', but have mor ...
, adult and
lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is the "ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated" pursuit of learning for either personal or professional reasons.
Lifelong learning is important for an individual's competitiveness and employability, but also enhances social in ...
. It provides services to UNESCO's Member States,
NGOs, and grassroots and community organizations, as well as to partners in civil society and the private sector. The Institute works in close collaboration with its Paris headquarters, with UNESCO field offices in different countries, with sister institutes and with national and international partners.
UIL is based in
Hamburg
Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...
, Germany. The
Senate (government) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg provides the Institute with premises close to the
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg (, also referred to as UHH) is a public university, public research university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by combining the previous General Lecture System ('':de:Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen, ...
in a historic villa built for the shipping magnate
Albert Ballin.
Mission
UIL's mission is to see to it that all forms of education and learning – formal, non-formal and informal – are recognized, valued and available for meeting the demands of individuals and communities throughout the world. UIL responds to these demands and helps meet the challenges facing humanity (peace and democracy,
sustainable development
Sustainable development is an approach to growth and Human development (economics), human development that aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.United Nations General ...
and poverty eradication, nurturing diversity, defeating HIV/AIDS, protecting the environment) with policy-driven research,
capacity-building
Capacity building (or capacity development, capacity strengthening) is the improvement in an individual's or organization's facility (or capability) "to produce, perform or deploy". The terms capacity building and capacity development have often ...
, networking, publications and technical services for Member States and non-governmental and civil society organisations, as well as private providers at their request.
Projects
* Publication of the International Review of Education, the longest-running international journal on comparative education
* Coordination of the 6th International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI)
* ALADIN network
* Coordination of the Adult Learners Week
* Cooperation with the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)
Research
UIL’s research covers appropriate concepts, good practice, favourable conditions and innovative approaches in the areas of
literacy
Literacy is the ability to read and write, while illiteracy refers to an inability to read and write. Some researchers suggest that the study of "literacy" as a concept can be divided into two periods: the period before 1950, when literacy was ...
, non-formal education, adult and lifelong learning in different cultural contexts, including all modes of learning (formal, non-formal and informal), with a view to the creation of lifelong learning environments, the making of literate societies and the building of learning societies. All research activities aim at promoting adult and lifelong learning and at highlighting the contribution of learning to poverty alleviation, sustainable human development, democracy and critical citizenship.
Research work is mainly policy-driven and action-oriented. The research carried out by the Institute may take the form of individual case and country studies, comparative analyses, regional and cross-regional syntheses, international surveys, conceptual and position papers, co-operative and joint investigations with academics, partner institutions, governmental organizations,
NGOs and CSOs, etc.
Specific research questions and themes relate to the following:
*Theories and practices of literacy
*Foundations of lifelong learning
*The making of literate societies
*The creation of supportive policy and legislative environments/conditions for lifelong learning;
*The creation of literate environments, especially in multicultural and multilingual settings;
*Integration of formal, non-formal and informal education: recognition, accreditation and validation of non-formal, informal and experiential learning; qualification frameworks, equivalencies and bridges;
*Adult learning for sustainable development with a focus on
HIV/AIDS
The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
,
environmental protection
Environmental protection, or environment protection, refers to the taking of measures to protecting the natural environment, prevent pollution and maintain ecological balance. Action may be taken by individuals, advocacy groups and governments. ...
, democratic participation, conflict prevention, critical citizenship and good governance;
*Gender mainstreaming in literacy, non-formal education, adult and lifelong learning with a focus on budgeting, monitoring and evaluation;
*Development of gender-just and
culturally sensitive
Cultural sensitivity, also referred to as cross-cultural sensitivity or cultural awareness, is the knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of other cultures and others' cultural identities. It is related to cultural competence (the skills needed fo ...
indicators;
*Impact of literacy, non-formal education and adult learning;
Sources
*Elfert, Maren (Ed.): ''Towards an Open Learning World: 50 Years UNESCO Institute for Education''. Hamburg: UNESCO Institute for Education, 2002
External links
*
{{Authority control
International educational organizations
Organisations based in Hamburg
Education in Hamburg
UNESCO
Adult education organizations
Organizations promoting literacy
Organizations established in 1952