UNDP Jobs - 48471- Expert in Science and Technology Educational Train

Expert in Science and Technology Educational Training Programmes Development

Location :

Kuwait, KUWAIT

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

08-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Three months, with a possibility of extension.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP and the State of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (SCPD), are committed to the strategic advancement of youth empowerment. Guided by H.H. the Amir of Kuwait address to the members of the parliament: “I invite you to focus on youth development, provide them with job opportunities and means of decent life, and activate their positive engagement and constructive role in the service and development of our community. They are the source of hope”, both UNDP and GSSCPD strive to support the capacity development of National organizations, as well as regional and international initiatives which have youth as their main focus, by providing them with necessary technical support to strengthen their capacities and skills to fulfil their mandate and contribute to the capacity building and empowerment of the Kuwaiti youth.

Within this context, the GSSCPD and UNDP strive to enhance the capacity of the International Movement for Leisure Activities in Science and Technology Organization (MILSET) – Kuwait and Asia office.

MILSET was founded in July, 1987 in Quebec City, during the first global scientific forum as an umbrella for sciences and technology oriented organizations,. It aims to contribute to the promotion of the scientific and technical culture among youth, through investing their leisure time in quality experimental scientific activities. Its approach focuses on four main principles, which form the criteria for its membership.

Those principles are:

Commitment to the advancement of science and technology;
Promotion of scientific culture;
Protection of the environment;
Contribution to Global development.

MILSET’s main strategic objectives are:

To promote principles and ethical norms to guide scientific and technological development;
To enhance scientific, technical and human capacities to participate in the emerging knowledge societies;
To enhance the linkage between culture and development, through capacity-building and sharing of knowledge;
To protect cultural diversity and encouraging pluralism and dialogue between cultures and civilizations;
To promote the free flow of ideas and universal access to information;
To promote experimentation, innovation and the diffusion and sharing of information and best practices of science, as well as policy dialogue in education.

MILSET–Kuwait started working in Kuwait under the umbrella of the Kuwait National Commission for Education Science & Culture in 1998. In close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, MILSET-Kuwait is working with 155 schools, 130 of which participate in its two main annual competitions: The Robot Competition and The Industrial Applications Competition. Participants in those competitions are mainly the members of MILSET’s 70 school robot technology labs. since 2010 MILSET imparked on upgrading those laps to technology clubs for school age children to reach out to a wider age range up to 17 years old members. Currently, 35 labs were successfully upgraded to clubs; work is in progress to upgrade the remaining laps by the end of 2014.

In addition to upgrading the labs, MILSET intends to establish a dedicated training center for its members and is striving to build its institutional and human capacity, upgrade and broaden its training curriculum and to re-orient its mandate towards to better contribute to the achievement of the organization’s strategic objectives on the local, regional and international levels; as well as to contribute to promoting and advancing the scientific and technological culture and skills among Kuwaiti youth.

To this end, UNDP and GSSCPD are seeking to recruit an “Expert in Science and Technology educational Training programmes development”, to develop a strategy and an executable capacity building action plan which will allow the realization of MILSET -Kuwait’s full potential.

Duties and Responsibilities

The expert will work under the supervision of MILSET-Kuwait management, in close consultation with GSSCPD, and is expected to assume the following:

Conduct a full assessment of the MILSET - Kuwait capacity, including, but not limited to, its performance, impact, organizational structure, human capacity in regard to its scientific training and programme;
Assess the quality and content of the training programmes and recommend best approach to enhance them.
Conduct field visits to relevant participating schools, labs and clubs in Kuwait;
Conduct Consultation meetings with stakeholders and partners, specifically: The Ministry of Education and the school administration of all participating schools;
Recommend the best approach possible to enhance MILSET - Kuwait performance, impact and outreach;
Develop MILSET - Kuwait’s 5 year strategy, in line with international best practices;
Develop an executable action plan to implement the strategy;
Develop and support the implementation of a training a plan for MILSET - Kuwait staff and volunteers.

Deliverables:

Capacity assessment report submitted;
Training programmes assessment with recommendations submitted;
Stakeholder’s analysis report submitted and stakeholders’ consultations conducted and documented;
5 years strategic plan and its executable action plan developed and its implementation initiated;
MILSET - Kuwait staff and volunteers training a plan developed and its implementation initiated;
Monthly progress reports and a final report, with recommendations on the way forward, submitted and approved by the beneficiary.

Competencies

Technical expertise in science, technology and innovation,
Excellent interpersonal communication skills;
Consistently approach work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills in Arabic and English;
Strong drafting, presentation, computer and reporting skills;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering;
A higher post graduate degree is preferred.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years of proven experience in developing educational training programmes in science and technology;
Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in strategic planning;
Experience in working with government institutions in GCC countries/Arab region and UN, is an added advantage;
Experience in research, consultation, analysis and development of frameworks and programming.

Language:

Written and spoken proficiency in both Arabic and English is required.

Duration:

Three months, with a possibility of extension.

Note:

The Consultant will be on a governmental contract administered by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development;
Contract end date will be December 31, 2014.
There will be a possibility of extension upon end of contract;
As part of the application, candidates must attach a CV/Resume.