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1997_ENG 20-09-2005 15:27 Page 1

We, at UNESCO, view the application of the provisions of the 1997 Recommendation – as regards both rights and responsibilities – as a development issue impacting on an institution's or a Member State's being able to deliver quality research and The UNESCO 1997 Recommendation concerns status development in teacher-training, For All best-practice, poverty-reduction of teaching personnel. EI would like to schemes, – the gamut of a nation's development goals. We already know that non-application of the Articles can only exacerbate brain-drain or highlight, in particular, the following aspects of the notch-down quality where it counts: in the staffing and management of higher UNESCO Recommendation: education institutions, which live or die on the high-quality.

Academic freedom Security of employment

Academic freedom is not an outdated

EI is concerned about the proliferation of short-term contracts and supports privilege but an essential criterion for the decision of the Supreme Court of which ruled that "academic staff the development and circulation of “

should have a strong security of employment in order to enjoy the freedom knowledge. Both the State and the required to maintain academic excellence, which is or society must ensure that academic staff enjoys the conditions which allow should be distinctive of the university." them to exercise their mission“ without fear of repression and risk for their , their career and their life. Such conditions necessarily require the existence of a democratic environment. Security of employment in the profession, including tenure or its functional equivalent, where applicable, should be safeguarded as it is essential to the interests of Higher education teaching personnel are entitled higher education as well as those of higher education teaching to the maintaining of academic freedom, that is to say, personnel. [...] Tenure or its functional equivalent, where the right, without constriction by prescribed doctrine, applicable, should be safeguarded as far as possible even when The EI Barometer of changes in the organization of or within a higher education

Human and Trade Union to freedom of teaching and discussion, freedom in carrying out research and disseminating and publishing institution or system are made, and should be granted, after Rights in the Education the results thereof, freedom to express freely their a reasonable period of probation, to those who meet stated Sector 2004 contains a

opinion about the institution or system in which they objective criteria in teaching, and/or scholarship, and/or specific section on work, freedom from institutional and research to the satisfaction of an academic body, and/or academic freedom which freedom to participate in professional or representative extension work to the satisfaction of the institution of higher

“confirms the existence of academic bodies. [. 27] education. [Art. 46] The joint ILO/UNESCO Committee of Experts on self-censorship. the Application of the Recommendation concerning

CEART the Status of Teachers (CEART) was created to monitor the implementation of the1966 general Collegiality Recommendation on Teaching Personnel. Collective bargaining and social dialogue Higher education teaching personnel should “ In 1999, its mandate was extended to the have the right and opportunity, without discrimination EI considers the lack of consultation with teachers organisations is an evident 1997 Recommendation. of any kind, according to their abilities, to take part in violation of Article 8 of the Recommendation. It is essential that academic

the governing bodies and to criticize the functioning of CEART is composed of 12 independent members staff is able to bargain their conditions of employment based on existing provisions. higher education institutions, including their own, while appointed by UNESCO and ILO, and meets every respecting the right of other sections of the academic Organizations which represent higher

three years to examine reports submitted by ILO community to participate, and they should also have the education teaching personnel should be considered governments, by national organisations right to elect a majority of representatives to academic and recognized as a force which can contribute representing teachers and their employers, bodies within the higher education institution. [Art. 31] “greatly to educational advancement and which Social dialogue is the "glue" of by the ILO and UNESCO, and by relevant should, therefore, be involved, together with other successful as intergovernmental or non-governmental stakeholders and interested parties, in the the Joint ILO/UNESCO organisations. presents determination of higher education policy. [Art. 8] Committee of Experts said in reports on the themes included in the agenda EI believes that the system of collegiality should be maintained even if 2003. Without its widespread use of each meeting. opening up to the economic world is essential. EI opposes the general belief in higher education to give that universities can no longer be run by a collegial system of governance Higher education teaching personnel should enjoy the right to freedom of association, professors and researchers a CEART's work is also to examine allegations from and regrets the direct appointment of rectors, deans and heads of and this right should be effectively promoted. voice in fixing salaries and teachers organisations on the non-observance of department. Collective bargaining or an equivalent procedure employment, concepts such as the Recommendation's provisions by member should be promoted in accordance with the collegiality and a quality States. standards of the International Labour Organization. education will be severely tested, [Art. 52] if not ignored altogether, stresses the International Labour Organization. 1997_ENG 20-09-2005 15:27 Page 2

[1997] Recommendation on

5th October is World Teachers’ Day. Created by UNESCO in 1994, the Status of Higher this day was intended to better promote the UNESCO/ILO Education Teaching Personnel Recommendation adopted in 1966 for primary and secondary

The UNESCO 1997 Recommendation teaching staff. It is also the day for teachers working in the higher

concerning the Status of Higher education sector, and a great opportunity to promote the Recommendation adopted for this sector by the UNESCO Education Teaching Personnel General Conference in 1997. ➤ is the only international norm that applies to “ higher education teaching personnel, defined as "all those persons in institutions or programmes of higher education who are engaged to teach and/or to undertake scholarship and/or to Higher education, more than ever, is challenged by rapid undertake research and/or to provide changes of the working life. Thus, a more unstable work situation educational services to students or to the is identified for higher education teaching personnel in all parts of the world. Commercialization and trading of higher education community at large" (Article 1, paragraph f) services combined with short-term and part-time contracts ➤ was adopted on consensus by the UNESCO contribute to weaken the security of tenure and to lower the General Conference on the 11th November 1997 status of the teaching personnel, as well as it constitute a threat ➤ includes 77 articles, in 10 chapters, that cover to academic freedom - of expression and to publish research the following areas: results, and of the participation in governance of the institutions. Therefore, information activities about CEART's work, provided by EI and other international teacher organizations, and

• Rights and freedoms: disseminated through their networks, directly to the higher ➤ Individual rights and freedoms: education teaching staff, is of utmost importance.

civil rights, academic freedom [Dr. Anne-Lise Hostmark-Tarrou – ➤ Self-governance and collegiality Director, Centre for Research on Education and Work, The [1997] Recommendation on the Status of Akershus College “ Higher Education Teaching Personnel Former President and Coordinator, Research Support Group • Duties and responsibilities of the Association for Teacher Education in (ATEE) represents the formal acknowledgement by

of personnel Recommendation Chairperson of CEART, 2003-2006 UNESCO's Member States of the need to • Conditions of employment: address common issues with regard to the ➤ Entry into the profession ] The 1997 UNESCO Recommendation is a print for status of higher education teaching personnel ➤ Security of employment sound educational policy for all regions of the world. In a in all countries, through the application of period of expansion and renewal of post-, ➤ Evaluation and discipline common regulations without exceptions, promotion of the Recommendation can be an effective means ➤ Negotiation of conditions of for improving higher education. despite the diversity of laws, regulations and employment . [Dr. Mark Thompson – Canada ➤ Salaries, workload, social security Professor Emeritus of Industrial Relations, Faculty of Commerce benefits, health and safety The fact that higher education sector is 1997 and Business Administration, University of British Columbia presently susceptible to market pressures and

[ Member of CEART threats of commercialisation brought forth by the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and other trade agreements, calls for

For a complete online version of the Recommendation, the urgent widespread distribution, publicity please go to: and application of the Recommendation. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001132/113234mb.pdf http://www.ei-ie.org/ressourc/english/eedhiedrec.html Education International strongly suggests that Education International • 5 bd du Roi Albert II • B-1210 • the 1997 Recommendation be implemented CEART Tel.: +32 2 224 0611 – Fax: +32 2 224 0606 • [email protected] – www.ei-ie.org http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/techmeet/ in all countries. ceart www.ei-ie.org