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1 person is interested
International Curriculum Expert - Information & Communications Technology (ICT)
ORGANIZATION: IESC/Geekcorps
Please visit the new page to apply.
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1 person is interested
Title:
International Curriculum Expert - Information & Communications Technology (ICT)
Program:
Youth Employment and Business Start-up (YouLead) Program
Location:
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Start Date:
May 2018
Duration:
Two months
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
The Youth Employment and Business Start-up (YouLead) Program is a four-year program that supports USAID’s goal to increase the employability of youth in Sri Lanka. YouLead focuses on improving access to employment opportunities, increasing the prospects of successful self-employment, and improving the quality and relevancy of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by enhancing learning experiences and strengthening the TVET environment in Sri Lanka.
The information and communications technology (ICT) sector has been identified by YouLead to have a high employment growth potential in Sri Lanka. YouLead seeks a volunteer expert in the ICT industry with experience in curricula development to review the existing curricula and course materials offered by the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training, Sri Lanka’s largest vocational training provider. The Ministry has set up an independent, private-sector-led ICT Industry Skills Council that is mandated to review and make curricula recommendations. The council members provide guidance and access to their in-house trainers, but do not have the resources to delve into the details of curricula development. This scope of work is designed to aid the council in the rapid review of existing curricula and make recommendations for revisions to that curricula, as well as recommendations for the development of new curricula that fills a gap in the current offerings. New National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 5 curricula are required in the fields of Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IT Security. YouLead is a highly demand-driven project, so it is important to keep the council informed during the process and ensure that any curricula developed will help create vocational students who are ready and able to contribute productively on their first day of employment.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The International Curriculum Expert will oversee and guide the process to develop a refined course list and curricula in a priority sector-including the amount of "soft" or foundational skills (e.g. presentation skills, English, computer literacy, etc.) needed for each course. Since there is a wealth of excellent vocational training material available internationally, YouLead does not plan to develop any training curricula from scratch. It is expected that the expert will have access to best practice international training materials that can be used in the development of the course materials. She/ He will manage a small team to implement this activity, including a Sri Lankan curricula expert who will help ensure that the course materials are adjusted to Sri Lankan culture and needs, as well as access to private-sector trainers and a gender-focused volunteer expert to review for gender sensitivity and gender stereotyping.
RESPONSIBILITIESThe International Curriculum Expert will:
- Review the ICT industry vocational curricula currently in use by the ministry;
- Identify relevant international best practice curricula that can aid the process;
- Work closely with the local curricula development expert, the ministry’s curricula experts (if available), and master trainers provided by the skills council’s members to ensure any recommendations are adapted to the Sri Lankan context;
- Make recommendations to the skills council on the overall set of courses that should be available-including recommendations to discontinue, combine, or break-up courses currently offered and recommend new courses not currently offered;
- Provide guidance on curricula specifically around Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and IT Security;
- Make recommendations to the skills council on:
- The depth of technical information and apprenticeship training that should be included in each course with the goal of getting prepared students as quickly into the workplace as possible;
- Global trends and demand for Data Science, AI, IT Security among other high-demand topics;
- The type and degree of foundational skills needed for each course at the various skills levels in high-demand topics such as Data Science, AI, IT Security and others;
- The structure, timing, and duration of each course (as necessary);
- The evaluation of students;
- The relevant tools, technologies, and mode of delivery of curriculum; and,
- Teaching styles and teacher qualifications (as necessary).
- Incorporate gender-specific recommendations from the YouLead team as well as the gender volunteer expert;
- Participate in a curriculum development workshop;
- Work with the subject specialist(s) to introduce the concept of Green Curricula where feasible;
- Encourage and support the skills council’s efforts to advocate for curricula implementation and reform on behalf of the industry.
- Concise recommendation report on the number, relevance, structure, and evaluation system of TVET courses that are and/or should be available in the ICT sector;
- Detailed report on recommended revisions to each existing curriculum that can be implemented by local curricula experts;
- Co-development of at least one full curriculum with participation/on-the-job training of ministry and local partner curricula development experts;
- Bi-weekly reports to the skills council members.
The Volunteer Expert will report to the Workforce Development Director on issues related to curricula development and review and work closely with the Partnership Director regarding interactions with the Industry Sector Skills Council.
WORK FLOWWork on curricula review and the identification of relevant best practice curricula, that can be adapted to Sri Lanka, can start remotely before arrival in Sri Lanka. YouLead is a train-the-trainer project, so the expert is encouraged to incorporate local counterparts and partners in the process as much as is feasible and efficient.
QUALIFICATIONSThe Volunteer Expert should have:
- Significant experience in vocational curricula development and implementation in the ICT sector;
- Knowledge of current and future trends in different niche areas of ICT such as Data Science, AI, and IT security;
- Familiarity with existing ICT curricula;
- Significant experience in carrying out Training Needs Analysis;
- Five to ten years’ experience in curriculum development and conducting training programs especially Training of Trainers (ToT) highly preferred;
- Experience working in developing countries preferred;
- Proven ability to work effectively in cross-cultural contexts;
- Training skills, including participatory training in group settings;
- Self-motivated, proactive, detail-oriented, mature, professional team player, who is a strong communicator, with good interpersonal skills; and,
- English language fluency required.
IESC will cover the volunteer's round-trip airfare, travel, lodging, and meals and incidental expenses, in accordance with the Department of State's foreign per diem rates for Sri Lanka.
More opportunities with IESC/Geekcorps
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About IESC/Geekcorps
Location:
901 15th Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20005, US
Mission Statement
Promoting stability and prosperity in the developing world
Description
Geekcorps, a division of IESC, promotes economic growth in the developing world by sending highly skilled technology volunteers to teach communities how use innovative and affordable information and communication technologies to solve development problems.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
Colombo, Sri LankaColombo, Sri Lanka
DATE POSTED
April 3, 2018
SKILLS
- IT Consulting
GOOD FOR
N/A
REQUIREMENTS
N/A