UNESCO

The Education for All programme is one of UNESCO's major focus areas in the field of education. Education is regarded as one of the most powerful means of combating poverty, and the programme is one facet of its efforts to reach the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

The International Association of Universities (IAU) is a UNESCO-based body for institutions and organisations involved in higher education. The IAU offers a range of services and a comprehensive contact network and also acts as an agent for its member institutions. The internationalisation of higher education is one of the IAU's priority areas of activity. Its efforts in this field include drawing up joint policy declarations, carrying out studies of the internationalisation of higher education, organising conferences, and other activities. UNESCO encourages the production and dissemination of research-based knowledge and policies for sustainable development in both the natural and social sciences. The organisation also runs cross-national programmes for the development of communication and is the only UN organisation to include culture in its mandate. You can read more about UNESCO here.

In Norway the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the general responsibility for national policies vis-à-vis UNESCO, while the Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for coordination. The national strategy for UNESCO cooperation for 2009–2013, which forms the basis of Norway's UNESCO policy, has set out overarching aims and measures. Norway has a UNESCO Commission, whose members are appointed by the Ministry of Education and Research, and which acts as an advisory body for the Norwegian authorities and as a link to expert groups in UNESCO's areas of responsibility. The Commission also disseminates information in Norway about UNESCO's ideas and activities.

More information:

• UNESCO in Norway
• The International Association of Universities (IAU)