1 UNESCO OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC AND GENERATIONAL BOUNDARIES Paul.Nieuwenhuysen @ vub.ac.be Vrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1050

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UNESCO OFFERS UNESCO OFFERS PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS DEVELOPMENT ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC AND GEOGRAPHIC AND GENERATIONAL BOUNDARIESGENERATIONAL BOUNDARIES• Paul.Nieuwenhuysen @ vub.ac.bePaul.Nieuwenhuysen @ vub.ac.be

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1050 BrusselVrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1050 Brussel• p.pissierssens @ unesco.org p.pissierssens @ unesco.org

Head, UNESCO-IOC project office for IODE, OostendeHead, UNESCO-IOC project office for IODE, OostendeBELGIUMBELGIUM

Presented at the IFLA Satellite Meeting in Bologna, Presented at the IFLA Satellite Meeting in Bologna, Italia=Italy, August 2009Italia=Italy, August 2009STRATEGIES FOR REGENERATING THE LIBRARY AND STRATEGIES FOR REGENERATING THE LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSIONINFORMATION PROFESSION

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• Full text paper is published in the Full text paper is published in the Proceedings of the conference.Proceedings of the conference.

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1.1. BACKGROUND:BACKGROUND:About UNESCO-IOC-About UNESCO-IOC-IODEIODE& & Information Information management in IODEmanagement in IODE

2.2. Providing quality Providing quality continuing educationcontinuing education

3.3. IODE and IODE and “STRATEGIES FOR “STRATEGIES FOR REGENERATING THE REGENERATING THE LIBRARY AND LIBRARY AND INFORMATION INFORMATION PROFESSION” PROFESSION”

- contents - summary - structure- overview

of this contribution

BackgroundBackground

About UNESCO-IOC-IODEAbout UNESCO-IOC-IODE

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About About UNESCO-IOC-IODEUNESCO-IOC-IODE

UNESCOUNESCO

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UNESCOUNESCO

UNESCO-IOCUNESCO-IOC

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UNESCOUNESCO


UNESCO-IOC-IODEUNESCO-IOC-IODE

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UNESCOUNESCO


UNESCO-IOC-IODEUNESCO-IOC-IODE•Program for International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange

•Established in 1961•To enhance marine research by facilitating the exchange of oceanographic data and information between participating member states.

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UNESCOUNESCO


UNESCO-IOC-IODEUNESCO-IOC-IODE•Focused initially Focused initially only on oceanographic dataonly on oceanographic data•Since 1987, marine information management Since 1987, marine information management included in terms of reference.included in terms of reference.

•IOC member states have established IOC member states have established 80 oceanographic data centers. 80 oceanographic data centers.

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UNESCOUNESCO


UNESCO-IOC-IODEUNESCO-IOC-IODE•Network has been created Network has been created of national coordinators of national coordinators for marine information management.for marine information management. •Since 2005, the IOC Project Office for IODE Since 2005, the IOC Project Office for IODE is based in Oostende, Belgium.is based in Oostende, Belgium.

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UNESCOUNESCO


UNESCO-IOC-IODEUNESCO-IOC-IODE•Aims:Aims:

•Develop Develop data and information management data and information management training programs & toolstraining programs & tools•……

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UNESCOUNESCO



•Provide a ‘think tank’Provide a ‘think tank’where data and information experts can where data and information experts can work, meet and discusswork, meet and discuss•......

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UNESCOUNESCO



•Develop, information systems Develop, information systems and public awareness toolsand public awareness tools•……

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UNESCOUNESCO



•Provide a laboratory environment Provide a laboratory environment for the development of technology for the development of technology for data and information managementfor data and information management

•More information is available from More information is available from http://www.iode.org/

http://www.iode.org/




Information management Information management in in UNESCO-IOC-IODEUNESCO-IOC-IODE

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• Marine science libraries have a role in providing Marine science libraries have a role in providing information about the marine environment:information about the marine environment:

»to policy makersto policy makers

»to scientiststo scientists

»to educatorsto educators

»to studentsto students

»to the general publicto the general public

• They help in generating a public that They help in generating a public that understands the value of the ocean and can understands the value of the ocean and can make appropriate decisions to protect it. make appropriate decisions to protect it.

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• On an international On an international scale, networks of scale, networks of libraries and libraries and information centers information centers have provided have provided access to ever wider access to ever wider collections of collections of information information including the so-including the so-called “grey” called “grey” literature. literature.

• Marine information Marine information management centers management centers interact with marine interact with marine data managers to data managers to deliver information deliver information products, e.g. data products, e.g. data that has been that has been processed and processed and interpreted. interpreted.


Capacity building inCapacity building in


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UNESCOUNESCO



UNESCO-IOC-IODE UNESCO-IOC-IODE capacity buildingcapacity building

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Capacity building Capacity building in in UNESCO-IOC-IODEUNESCO-IOC-IODE

• During the late During the late 1990s, 1990s, IODE designed a new IODE designed a new way to assist with way to assist with the development of the development of capacity.capacity.

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• This new "strategy" This new "strategy" is based upon: is based upon:

»providing equipmentproviding equipment

»providing trainingproviding training

»providing seed funding providing seed funding for operational activities for operational activities of new centresof new centres

»work in a regional work in a regional context, addressing not context, addressing not only individual (national) only individual (national) goals, but also common goals, but also common (regional) goals(regional) goals

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• This new strategy has been implemented This new strategy has been implemented as as "Ocean Data and Information Networks" "Ocean Data and Information Networks" or “ODINs”. or “ODINs”.

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• The first region where the new strategy The first region where the new strategy was implemented was Africa was implemented was Africa (see (see http://http://www.odinafrica.orgwww.odinafrica.org))

http://www.odinafrica.org/

http://www.odinafrica.org/

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• Later, similar Later, similar networks have been networks have been created in created in

»the Caribbean / the Caribbean / Latin AmericaLatin America

»……

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• Later, similar Later, similar networks were networks were created in thecreated in the

»European countries European countries in economic in economic transitiontransition

»……

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• In terms of marine information management, In terms of marine information management, the ODINs the ODINs

»provide access to international research literatureprovide access to international research literature

»created the Open Science Directory created the Open Science Directory (to make access to open access journals easier)(to make access to open access journals easier)

»develop and share holdings databases of develop and share holdings databases of participating librariesparticipating libraries

»share resources between participating librariesshare resources between participating libraries(interlibrary lending / document delivery)(interlibrary lending / document delivery)

……

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• In terms of marine information In terms of marine information management, management, the ODINs the ODINs

»share professional expertise through email share professional expertise through email listslists

»sponsor memberships to professional sponsor memberships to professional associations associations (mainly the International Association of (mainly the International Association of Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Centers Information Centers http://www.iamslic.org/http://www.iamslic.org/ ) )

……

http://www.iamslic.org/

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»participate in developing the Global Directory participate in developing the Global Directory of Marine (and Freshwater) Professionals of Marine (and Freshwater) Professionals http://http://www.oceanexpert.netwww.oceanexpert.net//

»contribute open access documents related to contribute open access documents related to marine science to a global common marine science to a global common document repository, managed by IODE in document repository, managed by IODE in OostendeOostendehttp://http://www.oceandocs.netwww.oceandocs.net//

http://www.oceanexpert.net/



http://www.oceandocs.net/



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»support their professional staff members with support their professional staff members with continuous professional education eventscontinuous professional education events

Providing Providing quality continuing quality continuing

educationeducation

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Quality continuing educationQuality continuing educationby UNESCO-IOC-IODEby UNESCO-IOC-IODE

• The following description of the IODE training The following description of the IODE training program program is presented in the light of is presented in the light of “Continuing Professional Development: “Continuing Professional Development: Principles and Best Practices” Principles and Best Practices” by J. Varlejs, IFLA Continuing Professional by J. Varlejs, IFLA Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Development and Workplace Learning Section Section http://www.ifla.org/VII/s43/pub/cpdwl-qual-guhttp://www.ifla.org/VII/s43/pub/cpdwl-qual-guide.pdfide.pdf

http://www.ifla.org/VII/s43/pub/cpdwl-qual-guide.pdf

http://www.ifla.org/VII/s43/pub/cpdwl-qual-guide.pdf

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Quality continuing education: Quality continuing education: Regular learning needs Regular learning needs

assessmentassessment 2009:2009:

Up to 2009, training courses have been Up to 2009, training courses have been organized with a regional focus organized with a regional focus (in other words: for a particular ODIN). (in other words: for a particular ODIN).

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assessmentassessment• The contents of these courses were always The contents of these courses were always

decided in close cooperation with the target decided in close cooperation with the target group and based upon their needs. group and based upon their needs. Then experts were invited to teach.Then experts were invited to teach.

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assessmentassessment• 2009 2009 ::

Since 2009, funds are available to organize Since 2009, funds are available to organize training coursestraining courses

»on a more regular basis & on a more regular basis &

»on a multi-regional = global scaleon a multi-regional = global scale

• Participants may be sponsored by IODE or by Participants may be sponsored by IODE or by others. others.

• Advantages of new approach:Advantages of new approach:

»better response to changing training needsbetter response to changing training needs

»promotion of even more international cooperationpromotion of even more international cooperation

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assessmentassessment• To assess training needs, To assess training needs,

to prioritize courses and to prioritize courses and to enable cost-effective planning, to enable cost-effective planning, Web-based surveys were set-up,Web-based surveys were set-up,through which data managers or information through which data managers or information managers can identify their training needs. managers can identify their training needs.

• On the basis of the results, a course program On the basis of the results, a course program is organized.is organized.

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Quality continuing education: Quality continuing education: Broad range of learning Broad range of learning

opportunitiesopportunities• Broad range of topics is offered, with an Broad range of topics is offered, with an

emphasis on emphasis on

»applications of ICTapplications of ICT

»standards & interoperability & platform standards & interoperability & platform independenceindependence

• Live activities are hosted Live activities are hosted

»by a member state or by a member state or

»by the IODE project office in Oostende (Belgium) by the IODE project office in Oostende (Belgium)

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Quality continuing education: Quality continuing education: Building expertise in education Building expertise in education

• At IODE Project Office:At IODE Project Office:

»Staff member at PhD level has been Staff member at PhD level has been appointed appointed to manage / co-ordinate / upgrade the to manage / co-ordinate / upgrade the education activitieseducation activities

»Investments have been made in Investments have been made in infrastructure and facilities infrastructure and facilities

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Quality continuing education: Quality continuing education: Dissemination of information Dissemination of information

• Information about continuing education is Information about continuing education is widely disseminated.widely disseminated.

• Methods:Methods:

»Newsletters in electronic format. Newsletters in electronic format.

»Email lists.Email lists.

»Web sites. Web sites. In addition to In addition to http://http://www.iode.orgwww.iode.org, , some ODINs have established their own web some ODINs have established their own web site.site.



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Quality continuing education: Quality continuing education: Ensuring high quality activities Ensuring high quality activities

• High quality of the education activities is High quality of the education activities is desired.desired.

• Evaluation and follow-up can help:Evaluation and follow-up can help:

»Individual feedback from trainees is invited after Individual feedback from trainees is invited after each courseeach course

»IODE Group of Experts on Marine Information IODE Group of Experts on Marine Information Management evaluate activitiesManagement evaluate activities

»Comments in planning workshops for the ODINsComments in planning workshops for the ODINs

• Difficulty:Difficulty:

»Not all course instructors combine Not all course instructors combine subject expertise with expertise in teaching.subject expertise with expertise in teaching.

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Quality continuing education: Quality continuing education: Recognition of continuing Recognition of continuing

learninglearning• Continuing learning activities should be Continuing learning activities should be

recognized in recruitment or promotion recognized in recruitment or promotion decisions. decisions.

• However, this principle is not directly applicable However, this principle is not directly applicable as IODE has no hierarchical relation with the as IODE has no hierarchical relation with the trainees.trainees.

• Nevertheless, members of an IODE network Nevertheless, members of an IODE network (one of the “ODINs”) (one of the “ODINs”) who perform remarkably well in training events who perform remarkably well in training events and in other international activities and in other international activities are assigned as mentors are assigned as mentors or leaders of follow-up activities.or leaders of follow-up activities.

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Quality continuing education: Quality continuing education: Budget for staff development Budget for staff development

• A reasonable part of the institutional A reasonable part of the institutional budget should be earmarked for staff budget should be earmarked for staff development. development.

• However, this principle is not simple to However, this principle is not simple to apply to here.apply to here.This program does not deal with the This program does not deal with the internal staff development in a particular internal staff development in a particular library.library.

• Nevertheless, we can state here Nevertheless, we can state here that a considerable part of the budget of that a considerable part of the budget of IODE is earmarked for training activities. IODE is earmarked for training activities.

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Quality continuing education: Quality continuing education: Working hours provided for Working hours provided for

learninglearning• Employers should give staff paid time off Employers should give staff paid time off

to attend workshops, conferences and for to attend workshops, conferences and for learninglearning

• In our case, the partner institutions send In our case, the partner institutions send trainees to IODE training courses which trainees to IODE training courses which take place during working hours.take place during working hours.

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Quality continuing education: Quality continuing education: Evaluation of education Evaluation of education

offeringsofferings• Continuing education offerings for staff Continuing education offerings for staff

development are evaluated:development are evaluated:

»Immediately after a training session, each Immediately after a training session, each participant is invited to write a structured participant is invited to write a structured evaluation of courses and instructors. evaluation of courses and instructors.

»Furthermore, recurring contacts with the same Furthermore, recurring contacts with the same trainees allows a less formal exchange of ideas.trainees allows a less formal exchange of ideas.

»Also the formal IODE Groups of Experts Also the formal IODE Groups of Experts & the IODE Committee & the IODE Committee evaluate training offerings.evaluate training offerings.

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Quality continuing education: Quality continuing education: Examination of the outcomes Examination of the outcomes

• The efficacy and outcomes of staff development The efficacy and outcomes of staff development should be assessed regularly.should be assessed regularly.

• IODE continuously examines the effectiveness IODE continuously examines the effectiveness and outcomes of trainings. and outcomes of trainings.

• This leads to improvements of the programs and This leads to improvements of the programs and products. Examples:products. Examples:

»fromfrom ad hocad hoc training workshops in various locations, training workshops in various locations, toto more streamlined training more streamlined training in 1 well equipped and training centerin 1 well equipped and training center

»fromfrom NO collection of training materials, NO collection of training materials, toto materials collected on 1 WWW site. materials collected on 1 WWW site.

UNESCO-IOC-IODE UNESCO-IOC-IODE andand “STRATEGIES for “STRATEGIES for REGENERATING the REGENERATING the LIBRARY AND LIBRARY AND INFORMATION INFORMATION PROFESSION” PROFESSION”

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Strategies:Strategies: Challenging existing structures Challenging existing structures

• Challenging existing organizational structures?! Challenging existing organizational structures?!

• One of the primary general aims of UNESCO is to One of the primary general aims of UNESCO is to stimulate co-operation on an international scale. stimulate co-operation on an international scale.

• IODE assists each member stateIODE assists each member state

»to establish or improve a national infrastructureto establish or improve a national infrastructure

»to empower marine information centers to become to empower marine information centers to become valuable partners in marine science centers, valuable partners in marine science centers, with more assertive roles and functionswith more assertive roles and functions

information management has climbed in status, information management has climbed in status, coming closer to the respectful position of coming closer to the respectful position of numerical data management.numerical data management.

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Strategies:Strategies:Retention of information Retention of information

professionalsprofessionals• Retention of trained information Retention of trained information

managers in marine science managers in marine science centers is desirable.centers is desirable.

• This cannot be achieved easily:This cannot be achieved easily:

»In developing countries, government In developing countries, government salaries are low in comparison with salaries are low in comparison with those in the private sector.those in the private sector. staff trained by IODE is frequently staff trained by IODE is frequently “headhunted” by the private sector or “headhunted” by the private sector or promoted out of the information promoted out of the information specialty within their own institution.specialty within their own institution.

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Strategies:Strategies:Developing leadersDeveloping leaders

• Training employees to be Training employees to be good leaders is desirable.good leaders is desirable.

• Not easy. Not easy. Can leadership be learned?Can leadership be learned?

• In IODE, just a few training In IODE, just a few training sessions cannot “upgrade” sessions cannot “upgrade” employees to managers / employees to managers / leaders. leaders.

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• However several However several trainees have emerged trainees have emerged as natural leaders and as natural leaders and have contributed to the have contributed to the active development of active development of their ODINs.their ODINs.

• Information managers Information managers who perform well are who perform well are given a role as “leader” given a role as “leader” of a project in some of a project in some regional network.regional network.

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• In addition, efforts are made to In addition, efforts are made to convince information managers convince information managers of some ideas related to of some ideas related to management and leadership:management and leadership:

»Taking over ICT management Taking over ICT management from ICT experts offers from ICT experts offers advantagesadvantages

»Skills required for convincing Skills required for convincing presentations and communication presentations and communication are not only desirable for top are not only desirable for top management, but also for management, but also for information managers.information managers.

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Strategies:Strategies: Creating a positive work Creating a positive work

environmentenvironment• Positive work environment fosters Positive work environment fosters

productivity and is therefore desirable, productivity and is therefore desirable, for employee as well as employer. for employee as well as employer.

• However, IODE cannot intervene However, IODE cannot intervene in the work environment of the in the work environment of the employees employees in the marine science centers.in the marine science centers.

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Strategies:Strategies: Creating a positive work Creating a positive work

environmentenvironment• Nevertheless IODE makes Nevertheless IODE makes

efforts in the following efforts in the following ways:ways:

»better computer facilities better computer facilities and access to Internetand access to Internet

»higher status higher status of information management of information management

»training courses and training courses and workshopsworkshops

»functioning in a more functioning in a more international contextinternational context

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Strategies:Strategies: Teambuilding Teambuilding

• Feeling that one is a Feeling that one is a valuable member of a valuable member of a good team fosters good team fosters productivity. productivity.

• IODE considers training IODE considers training courses and workshops courses and workshops as teambuilding events. as teambuilding events.

• Furthermore, the “team” Furthermore, the “team” is enlarged from the local is enlarged from the local national center to a national center to a regional, international regional, international “team”.“team”.

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Strategies:Strategies: Mentoring and coaching Mentoring and coaching

• IODE encourages IODE encourages mentoring and coaching:mentoring and coaching:

»Experts from marine Experts from marine science centers and from science centers and from universities serve as universities serve as mentors to guide mentors to guide information managers in information managers in the network. the network.

»Gradually this role is taken Gradually this role is taken over by leading information over by leading information managers of the ODINs. managers of the ODINs.

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Strategies: Involving Strategies: Involving professionals professionals

in professional associationsin professional associations• IODE recommends that IODE recommends that

information managers who information managers who participate in one of the participate in one of the networks join professional networks join professional associations such as the associations such as the International Association of International Association of Aquatic and Marine Science Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Libraries and Information Centers Centers http://www.iamslic.org/http://www.iamslic.org/

• Membership is sponsored in Membership is sponsored in some cases.some cases.

http://www.iamslic.org/

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Strategies: Strategies: Re-skilling Re-skilling

• The evolution The evolution fromfrom traditional librarians traditional librarians working with printed materials working with printed materials toto more contemporary and more contemporary and assertive information assertive information professionals working with ICT professionals working with ICT is unavoidable.is unavoidable.

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Strategies: Strategies: Re-skilling Re-skilling

• IODE supports this “re-IODE supports this “re-skilling” withskilling” with

»workshops and trainingworkshops and training

»learning WWW site,learning WWW site,accessible free of charge accessible free of charge = OceanTeacher= OceanTeacher

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OceanTeacher OceanTeacher situated in UNESCO-IOC-IODE situated in UNESCO-IOC-IODE

UNESCOUNESCO



UNESCO-IOC-IODE UNESCO-IOC-IODE capacity buildingcapacity building

UNESCO-IOC-IODE UNESCO-IOC-IODE OceanTeacherOceanTeacher

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Strategies: Strategies: Conclusion Conclusion

• IODE stimulates the exchange of marine IODE stimulates the exchange of marine data and information on an international data and information on an international scale. scale.

• An important component in the program is An important component in the program is offering opportunities and products for offering opportunities and products for continuing professional development. continuing professional development.

• This training environment is challenging This training environment is challenging due todue to

»the international scope and heterogeneity of the international scope and heterogeneity of the expert trainers as well as traineesthe expert trainers as well as trainees

»the application of ICT the application of ICT which is evolving quite fastwhich is evolving quite fast

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UNESCO OFFERS UNESCO OFFERS PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS DEVELOPMENT ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC AND GEOGRAPHIC AND GENERATIONAL BOUNDARIESGENERATIONAL BOUNDARIES• Paul.Nieuwenhuysen @ vub.ac.bePaul.Nieuwenhuysen @ vub.ac.be

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1050 BrusselVrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1050 Brussel• p.pissierssens @ unesco.org p.pissierssens @ unesco.org

Head, UNESCO-IOC project office for IODE, Head, UNESCO-IOC project office for IODE, OostendeOostendeBELGIUMBELGIUM

Questions or comments are welcome

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Documents

1 UNESCO OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC AND GENERATIONAL BOUNDARIES Paul.Nieuwenhuysen @ vub.ac.be Vrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1050