Information and communication technologies (ICT) are both a necessity and an opportunity for education. However, their impact on the learning process is not fully understood. Performance indicators are needed to identify their uses and outcomes across diverse educational settings.
What is the role of the UIS?
The Institute has piloted new questionnaires on ICT in education in Latin America and the Caribbean and in five Arab states. These form the basis of a series of regional surveys launched in 2011. The aim is to gather internationally comparable data, which will enable countries to benchmark their progress and to learn from the experiences of others in setting their own priorities and developing policy around ICT in education.
These surveys were developed with the International Working Group on ICT Statistics in Education (WISE), which was established by the UIS. The working group provides invaluable insight into the design and implementation of the survey instruments and related methodologies.
This work also entails close collaboration with UNESCO’s Communication and Information Sector and other strategic institutional partners. In addition, the Institute is a key member of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, which brings together a wide range of international organizations. Within this partnership, the UIS is specifically responsible for developing indicators on ICT use in education.