UNESCO IESALC Advises Peruvian Universities on Projects to Improve Technology, Educational Innovation and Academic Management

On February 4, the Program’s first stage to strengthen university improvement plans ended with more than 14 virtual visits to 10 exemplary higher education institutions in Ibero-America

The ability to respond to the abrupt interruption of face-to-face activities now depends on a digital environment. Many have had to become acquainted in a short period to guarantee pedagogical continuity. In this context, it is necessary to strengthen models of improvement plans that allow higher education institutions (HEIs) to establish a roadmap to develop the mechanisms required to ensure the quality and relevance of a face-to-face, non-face-to-face, and hybrid system.

In this context, the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) responded to a Call 6 from the Peruvian Ministry of Education to improve public universities’ academic and pedagogical management. 

The Institute developed the Program for the Strengthening of Improvement Plan Projects (PFPPM), with guidelines for building teachers’ academic and pedagogical competencies, following the experience of the most advanced universities.

“The Institute has undertaken relentless work to ensure that the processes of strengthening the academic and pedagogical skills of teachers become essential pieces in quality assurance and improvement plans.

Francesc Pedró, director of IESALC, on the pedagogical assistance program launched in November 2021.

During 12 weeks and 192 hours of training and technical assistance, the 42 managers of the 14 Peruvian public universities that are part of the Program will have personalized accompaniment from international quality advisors.

“The program not only seeks to support participants in the process of transforming university improvement plans but also to consolidate a leading team within the university that can design and implement continuous improvement projects.”

Yuma Inzolia, academic coordinator of UNESCO IESALC and project leader.

PROJECT PHASES

On February 4, 2022, the university managers participating in the Program for Strengthening Improvement Plan Projects (PFPPM) completed the phase of virtual visits to higher education institutions in Ibero-America, as part of the main activities of the virtual training and technical assistance program.  

The axes of agility, quality, and the intelligent route, form the Program’s pillars. Distributed in five training modules, it combines synchronous training sessions, technical assistance and quality consulting to reform projects based on agile work methodologies and innovative conceptual and methodological frameworks.

It is the second time that UNESCO IESALC has developed technical assistance projects for educational continuity in Peru, within the Program’s framework for the Improvement of the Quality and Relevance of University and Technological Higher Education Services at the National Level (PMESUT). The joint project was entitled Program to support the design and implementation of strategies for the continuity of the higher educational services in the public universities of Peru, which trained 2,170 university teachers and technicians and 3,500 students.

PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES

UNIVERSITIES AND INSTITUTIONS VIRTUALLY VISITED