UNESCO

From Researching Virtual Initiatives in Education

UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on 16 November 1945. Its stated purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science, and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the UN Charter.

UNESCO has 193 Member States and six Associate Members. The organization is based in Paris, with over 50 field offices and many specialized institutes and centres throughout the world. Most of the field offices are "cluster" offices covering three or more countries; there are also national and regional offices.

UNESCO pursues its activities via five main programmes:

• education
• natural sciences
• social and human sciences
• culture
• communication and information

The UNESCO web site is at http://www.unesco.org

UNESCO Education Programme

This is divided into a number of themes:

• Early Childhood
• Primary Education
• Secondary Education
• Higher Education
• Literacy
• HIV & AIDS Education
• Teacher Education

Higher Education

UNESCO is the only UN body with a mandate in higher education. The Organization supports governments and institutions worldwide in building capacity and formulating policies and strategies, so that higher education fully contributes to sustainable national development.

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