Foreword

In 2021, the COVID-19 epidemic has been continuing to spread around globally, and major international organisations and countries around the world have issued policies to support the recovery and reconstruction of education. The United Nations (UN) released "Education during COVID-19 and beyond", proposing to reshape education, accelerate positive changes in teaching and learning, and lay the foundation for a more forward-looking, inclusive, flexible and resilient education system. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has established the Global Education Coalition, a platform for collaboration and exchange to protect the right to education during this unprecedented disruption and beyond. The Chinese National Commission for UNESCO has released the Reference Manual for Educational Response to the Epidemic, contributing to the world China's educational experience in responding to the epidemic. 

With the mission of “Education for Rural Transformation”, the UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education (UNESCO INRULED) is continuously providing the outcomes and products in terms of research and advocacy, capacity development, Africa priority, information, and networking as well as UNESCO INRULED’s institutional development. UNESCO INRULED has been joining efforts with other partners (UNESCO IBE, UNESCO IITE, National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO, UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office, China Education Online, Research Centre for Minority Education and Multi-cultural Studies, etc.) worldwide to achieve the social, economic, and ecological development of the rural areas that contribute to the realisation of the SDG4 and the 2030 Agenda. This biennial report depicts what UNESCO INRULED has contributed to rural transformation during 2020 and 2021, providing several valuable insights for different stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, educators, learners) on how to advance and sustain quality education in rural areas. 

During 2020 and 2021, UNESCO INRULED conducted the research on ICT in Rural Education in Suichuan County and Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, the Teacher Professional Development Project, the Systematic Support to South-South Cooperation in Education for Rural Development – the Pre-Primary Education Assistance Project in Namibia, etc. The courses and training programmes include Project-Based Learning Regarding Rural Education and Rural Development, a summer course on “Gender Equality and Rural Revitalisation” and course series of “Education and Rural Development”. Additionally, UNESCO INRULED held, co-organised and attended several conferences from different perspectives, like the seminar series with UNESCO IBE Director, meeting with the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO, the Online Education Experience Sharing Session for Primary and Secondary Schools, the Symposium on “Girls’ and Women’s Education: Retrospect and Prospect”, the International Seminar on Technological Progress Promotes the Quality of Rural Education, the International Symposium on the Role of Education in Poverty Alleviation. In particular, UNESCO INRULED launched a series of dialogues on “The Futures of Education and Education for Rural Revitalisation”, sharing insights and exchanging ideas for the future of rural education, rural development and beyond, which is of great importance to the futures of education in rural areas. UNESCO INRULED also jointly with the partners published a series of guidance and handbooks about flexible learning and resilience education to help students, teachers and parents get through this uncertain and complex situation around the world.  

Building resilient, inclusive and sustainable rural education is an important strategic support for rural revitalisation. Under the new situation, it is necessary to strengthen the sense of responsibility and urgency, make rural education the top priority of education work, promote the coordinated development of various types of education in rural areas, and better adapt to the development of the information society and achieve sustainable development goals. In the new year, UNESCO INRULED is willing to work with partners to carry out and organise more research, seminars, and activities in the field of rural education revitalisation. In addition, UNESCO INRULED shall keep actively participating in education empowerment and help global rural revitalisation strategy and the achievement of the United Nations Educational Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr. Ronghuai Huang

Professor, Beijing Normal University

Director, UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education