205 EX/27 Part II. Executive Board. PARIS, 9 August 2018 Original: English. Item 27 of the provisional agenda

Transcription

1 Executive Board Two hundred and fifth session 205 EX/27 Part II PARIS, 9 August 2018 Original: English Item 27 of the provisional agenda INVITATIONS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATES (CATEGORY I) FOR THE REVISION OF THE 1974 REGIONAL CONVENTION ON THE RECOGNITION OF STUDIES, DIPLOMAS AND DEGREES IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN SUMMARY Pursuant to the Regulations for the general classification of the various categories of meetings convened by UNESCO, and in accordance with 39 C/Resolution 82, the Director-General submits to the Executive Board proposals concerning invitations to the International Conference of States for the revision of the 1974 Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean. Financial and administrative implications related to this document are to be covered by extrabudgetary financial contributions as well as the programme and budget of document 39 C/5. Action expected of the Executive Board: proposed decision in paragraph 12. Job:

2 BACKGROUND 1. The 1974 Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (the LAC Convention ) is one of two UNESCO regional recognition conventions that has not been updated yet to take into account transformations in higher education systems, policies and environments. UNESCO s category 1 Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) serves as the Secretariat for the Convention, with technical backstopping from UNESCO Headquarters. 2. The agreement on the need to amend the LAC Convention and on the mechanism to be followed was adopted during the Regional High Level Ministerial Meeting on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in LAC (Brasilia, October 2015). A Working Group for the revision, composed of representatives of Member States, with due respect to the region s geographical diversity, and internal organizations was established during the Ministerial Meeting. It convened for three meetings in Havana, Cuba (February 2016), Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (August 2016) and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (2017) organized by IESALC with the support of the host countries. 3. By 39 C/Resolution 82, the General Conference invited the Director-General to conduct the necessary consultations with a view to the preparation of an International Conference of States, in particular by organizing at least two regional intergovernmental consultation meetings. The first meeting took place in Buenos Aires (April 2018) and the second in Cordoba, Argentina (June 2018) on the occasion of the Regional Conference of Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (CRES), agreeing on a new final text. Twenty Member States from the region participated in the first meeting and 19 in the second. 4. In accordance with 39 C/Resolution 82 by which the General Conference also decided to convene an International Conference of States (category I) with a view to examining and adopting amendments to the LAC Convention, the Director-General hereby presents proposals for invitations to the International Conference of States to adopt the LAC Convention. The Conference is to be held in Argentina, in May 2019, with financial support from the host country. In accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of Regulations for the general classification of the various categories of meetings convened by UNESCO (the Regulations ), the Executive Board, in consultation with the Director-General shall draw up the provisional agenda and the provisional Rules of Procedure of the Conference, which are presented in the annexes to this document. CATEGORY OF THE CONFERENCE 5. Pursuant to the Regulations, this Conference falls within the category of International Conferences of States (category I) and the heads of delegation will therefore represent their governments. PARTICIPANTS 6. In accordance with the Regulations as they relate to category I meetings, invitations to the Conference are decided on by the Executive Board. Member States and Associate Members (Art and 11.2 of the Regulations) 7. Under Article 11, paragraph 1, the General Conference, or the Executive Board authorized by it, shall decide on the Member States and Associate Members whose governments are to be invited. 8. In accordance with the above-mentioned article, the Director-General proposes that the Member States and Associate Members in UNESCO s Latin America and the Caribbean region be invited to participate, with the right to vote. In addition, the Director-General proposes that States which are Contracting States to the LAC Convention be invited to participate, with the right to vote.

3 page 2 9. Under Article 11, paragraph 2, Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO not invited under paragraph 8 of the present document may send observers to the conference, without the right to vote. International organizations (Arts and 11.4) (a) Organizations of the United Nations system with which UNESCO has concluded agreements providing for reciprocal representation (Art. 11.3) 10. The Director-General reminds the Board that under Article 11, paragraph 3, the following organizations of the United Nations system, with which UNESCO has concluded mutual representation agreements, may send observers to the Conference: United Nations (UN): Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) International Labour Organization (ILO) International Organization for Migration (IOM) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) UN Women (b) Organizations of the United Nations system with which UNESCO has not concluded mutual representation agreements, other intergovernmental organizations and international nongovernmental organizations invited to the Conference, in accordance with the Directives concerning UNESCO s relations with international non-governmental organizations (Art. 11.4) 11. Pursuant to Article 11, paragraph 4, the Director-General proposes that the Executive Board invite the following organizations of the United Nations System with which UNESCO has not concluded mutual representation agreements, other intergovernmental organizations and international non-governmental organizations to send observers to the Conference: (i) Organizations of the United Nations system with which UNESCO has not concluded mutual representation agreements: The World Bank Inter-American Development Bank (ii) Other intergovernmental organizations: Organization of American States (OAS) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) (iii) International non-governmental organizations maintaining formal associate relations with UNESCO: Education International (EI) International Association of Universities (IAU) Campaña Latinoamericana por el Derecho a la Educación (CLADE)

4 page 3 (iv) International non-governmental organizations maintaining operational relations with UNESCO: Proposed decision Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQUAHE) Global University Network for Innovation (GUNI) Red Iberoamericana para el Aseguramiento de la Calidad en la Educación Superior (RIACES) 12. In the light of the above, the Executive Board may wish to adopt the following decision: The Executive Board, 1. Recalling 39 C/Resolution 82, 2. Having examined document 205 EX/27 Part II, 3. Decides: (a) (b) (c) (d) that invitations to participate in the International Conference of States for the revision of the 1974 Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean will be sent to all Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, as well as to the Contracting States to the Convention in accordance with paragraph 8 of document 205 EX/27 Part II; that invitations to send observers to the Conference will be sent to Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO not invited under paragraph 8 of document 205 EX/27 Part II; that invitations to send observers to the Conference will be sent to the organizations of the United Nations system with which UNESCO has concluded mutual representation agreements and which are listed in paragraph 10 of document 205 EX/27 Part II; that invitations to send observers to the Conference will be sent to the organizations of the United Nations System with which UNESCO has not concluded mutual representation agreements, the other intergovernmental organizations and the international non-governmental organizations listed in paragraph 11 of document 205 EX/27 Part II; 4. Authorizes the Director-General to send out any other invitations she may deem useful for advancing the work of the Conference, notifying the Executive Board thereof; 5. Approves the provisional agenda and the provisional Rules of Procedure of the abovementioned conference as contained in Annexes I and II to document 205 EX/27 Part II.

5 Annex I ANNEX I DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDA International Conference of States 1974 Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean Day 1 08:30 09:00 Registration 09:00 09:30 Welcome Remarks Minister of Education (host country) ADG/ED UNESCO 09:30 10:00 Adoption of the Rules of Procedure Election: 1 President, 2 Vice-presidents, 1 General Rapporteur Chair: Director of the International Institute for Higher Education in LAC (IESALC) 10:00 10:30 Election of the Credentials Committee Election of Drafting Committee 10:30 10:45 Tea Coffee 10:45 11:00 Presentation of the Agenda Adoption of the Agenda 11:00 11:30 Presentation of the LAC Regional Convention elaboration process Presenter: Director of the International Institute for Higher Education in LAC (IESALC) 11:30 12:30 Presentation on quality assurance as a key issue for recognition Presenter: UNESCO Section of Higher Education Round of interventions by participants 12:30 14:00 Lunch 14:00 15:00 Credentials Committee Report 15:00 15:30 Discussion on the new Regional Convention text 15:30 15:45 Tea Coffee 15:45 16:45 Discussion on the new Regional Convention text PREAMBLE 16:45 18:00 Discussion on the new Regional Convention text DEFINITIONS

6 Annex I page 2 Day 2 09:00 09:30 Welcome remarks 09:30 10:30 Discussion on the new Regional Convention text OBJECTIVES 10:30 10:45 Tea Coffee 10:45 12:30 Discussion on the new Regional Convention text OBJECTIVES 12:30 14:00 Lunch 14:00 15:30 Discussion on the new Regional Convention text OBLIGATIONS OF STATES PARTIES 15:30 15:45 Tea Coffee 15:45 18:00 Discussion on the new Regional Convention text OBLIGATIONS OF STATES PARTIES Day 3 09:00 09:30 Welcome remarks 09:30 10:30 Discussion on the new Regional Convention text APPLICATION 10:30 10:45 Tea Coffee 10:45 12:30 Discussion on the new Regional Convention text APPLICATION 12:30 14:00 Lunch 14:00 16:00 Discussion on the new Regional Convention text FINAL CLAUSES 16:00 16:30 Tea Coffee 16:30 17:00 Drafting Committee Report 17:00 18:00 Signing of the new Regional Convention

7 Annex II ANNEX II International Conference of States 1974 Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean PROVISIONAL RULES OF PROCEDURE I. COMPOSITION OF THE CONFERENCE Rule 1 Delegations 1. The following delegations invited to the Conference by decision of the General Conference (or Executive Board) of UNESCO may participate in the Conference with the right to vote: (a) (b) The Member States of the UNESCO Latin America and the Caribbean region; The Associate Members of the UNESCO Latin America and the Caribbean region and any other States which are Contracting States to the 1974 Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean. 2. Each delegation may consist of up to three persons, who may be delegates, advisers or experts. Rule 2 Observers and representatives The following observers and representatives may take part in the Conference without the right to vote, by decision of the General Conference (or Executive Board) of UNESCO. (a) (b) (c) Member States of UNESCO and Associate Members of UNESCO other than those in the list presented above; Representatives of the United Nations and of other organizations of the United Nations System with which UNESCO has concluded agreements providing for reciprocal representation; Observers from organizations of the United Nations System with which UNESCO has not concluded mutual representation agreements, other intergovernmental organizations and international non-governmental organizations invited to the Conference. II. CREDENTIALS Rule 3 Presentation of Credentials 1. The credentials empowering delegates to participate in the Conference shall be issued by the Head of State, the Head of Government or Minister of Foreign Affairs. They shall be communicated to the Secretariat of the Conference. The names of advisers and experts attached to delegations and the names of the observers and representatives referred to in Rule 2 shall also be communicated to the Secretariat. 2. Full powers shall be required for signing the revised Convention to be adopted by the Conference. Such full powers may be included in the credentials referred to in paragraph 1 above.

8 Annex II page 2 Rule 4 Provisional admission 1. Any delegation to whose admission an objection has been made shall be seated provisionally with the same rights as other delegations until de Conference has given its decision concerning this objection after hearing the report of the Credentials Committee. 2. Any delegation that submits credentials not fulfilling the conditions laid down in Rule 3, paragraph 1, may be authorized by the Conference to be seated provisionally with the same rights as other delegations, subject to presenting credentials in proper form subsequently. III. ORGANIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE Rule 5 Elections 1. The Conference shall elect its President, two Vice-Presidents and a General Rapporteur. 2. The Bureau shall consist of the President, Vice-Presidents and General Rapporteur of the Conference and the Chairperson of the Credentials Committee. Its function is to co-ordinate the work of the Conference and of its subsidiary bodies (subject to the power of the Plenary Conference to regulate its procedure) and to fix the date, hour and order of business of the meetings. Rule 6 Plenary meeting The Conference, in its Plenary, shall examine and adopt the revised Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean. Rule 7 Subsidiary bodies 1. The Conference shall establish a Credentials Committee and a Drafting Committee. 2. The Conference may also establish such working parties as are necessary for the conduct of its work. Each of these bodies shall elect its Chairperson and Rapporteur. Rule 8 Credentials Committee The Credentials Committee shall consist of five members elected by the Conference on the proposal of the President from among the States specified in Rule 1. The Committee shall elect its own Chairperson; it shall examine and report to the Conference without delay on the credentials of delegations; it shall also examine and report on the credentials of observers. Rule 9 Drafting Committee The Drafting Committee shall consist of the General Rapporteur and Working Group, which has been established under the Regional Convention Committee in the Latin America and the Caribbean. The Committee shall elect its Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson; it is responsible for drawing up the final revised text of the instrument in the three working languages of the Conference. Rule 10 Duties of the President 1. The President shall open and close each plenary meeting of the Conference. (S)he shall direct the discussions, ensure observance of these Rules, accord the right to speak, put questions to the vote and announce decisions. (S)he shall rule on points of order and, subject to the present Rules, shall control the proceedings and the maintenance of order.

9 Annex II page 3 2. The Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of the subsidiary bodies of the Conference shall have the same duties with regard to the bodies over which they are called upon to preside. Rule 11 Acting President If the President is absent during a meeting or any part thereof, the Vice-President designated by her/him shall replace her/him as Acting President. A Vice-President sitting as President shall have the same powers and responsibilities as the President. If no Vice-President has been designated, the functions of the President shall be assumed by a Vice-President according to the alphabetical order in English of the Member States of the Bureau, commencing with the country of the President. Rule 12 The President shall not vote The President, or Vice-President acting temporarily as President, shall not vote, but may designate a member of her/his delegation to vote in her/his place. IV. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS Rule 13 Public meetings All plenary meetings shall, unless the body concerned decides otherwise, be held in public. Rule 14 Quorum 1. At plenary meetings of the Conference, a majority of the States invited to the Conference shall constitute a quorum. 2. A quorum is not required for plenary meeting deliberations of the Conference. 3. A quorum is not required for the subsidiary bodies of the Conference. Rule 15 Order and time-limit of speeches 1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Rule, the President shall call upon speakers in the order in which they signify their wish to speak. The Secretariat is responsible for drawing up the list of speakers. 2. The Chairperson or Rapporteur of a subsidiary body of the Conference may be accorded precedence for the purpose of explaining the conclusions reached by the body of which (s)he is the Chairperson or Rapporteur. 3. To facilitate the conduct of business, the President may limit the time allowed to each speaker. 4. The consent of the President must be obtained whenever and observer of an international nongovernmental organization wishes to make a verbal communication. Rule 16 Closing of list of speakers During the course of a debate, the President may announce the list of speakers and, with the consent of the meeting, declare the list closed. S(he) may, however, accord the right of reply to a member if a speech delivered after the list has been declared closed makes this desirable. Rule 17 Point of order During a discussion, any delegation may rise to a point of order and such point of order shall be immediately decided upon by the President. An appeal may be made against the ruling of the

10 Annex II page 4 President. Such appeal shall be put to the vote immediately, and the President s ruling shall stand unless it is overruled by a majority of the delegations present and voting. Rule 18 Suspension, adjournment and closure 1. In the course of a discussion, any of the delegations referred to in Rule 1 may move the suspension or adjournment of the meeting, or the adjournment or closure of the debate. 2. Such motions shall be immediately put to the vote. Subject to the provisions of Rule 17, the following motions shall have precedence in the following order over all other proposals or motions: (a) (b) (c) (d) Rule 19 to suspend the meeting; to adjourn the meeting; to adjourn the debate on the item under discussion; to close the debate on the item under discussion. Resolutions and amendments Draft resolutions and amendments may be submitted orally to the Secretariat of the Conference. At the request of any delegation of the Conference, supported by two other delegations, discussion of any substantive motion, resolution or amendment shall be suspended until the text is circulated in the working languages of the Conference. Rule 20 Reconsideration of proposals adopted or rejected When a proposal has been adopted or rejected, it may not be reconsidered unless so decided by a two-thirds majority of the delegations present and voting. Permission to speak on a motion to reconsider shall be accorded only to one speaker supporting the motion and to two speakers opposing it, after which it shall be immediately put to vote. V. VOTING Rule 21 Voting rights Each delegation referred to in Rule 1 shall have one vote in the Conference and in each of the subsidiary bodies on which it is represented. Rule 22 Majority required 1. In plenary meetings, the decisions of the Conference shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of the delegations present and voting, except in the case of Rules 5, 7, 8, 9, 17, 19 and 32.1, where a simple majority is sufficient. At the meetings of all other bodies of the Conference, decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of the delegations present and voting. 2. For the purpose of the present Rules, the expression delegations present and voting means delegations casting an affirmative or negative vote. Delegations abstaining from voting shall be considered as not voting. Rule 23 Method of voting 1. Voting shall normally be by show of hands.

11 Annex II page 5 2. Vote by roll-call shall be taken if it is requested by not less than two delegations. The request shall be made to the President or Chairperson of the meeting before voting takes place or immediately after a vote by show of hands if the request is for a second vote by roll-call. The names of States having the right to vote shall be called in alphabetical order, beginning with the delegation the name of which has been drawn by lot by the President or Chairperson. When a vote is taken by roll-call, the vote of each delegation participating shall be recorded in the report of the meeting. 3. Except as otherwise provided by these Rules, only proposals or amendments submitted by a delegation referred to in Rule 1 and seconded by at least one other such delegation shall be put to the vote. Rule 24 Procedure during voting Once the President or Chairperson has announced the beginning of voting, it may not be interrupted except by raising a point of order on the voting procedure. The President or Chairperson may allow delegations to explain their votes either before or after voting. Rule 25 Voting on proposals 1. When two or more proposals refer to the same question, the body concerned, unless it decides otherwise, shall vote on the proposals in the order in which they have been submitted. 2. After each vote, the body concerned may decide whether to vote on the following proposal. Rule 26 Division of proposals Any delegation may propose that a separate vote be taken on parts of a proposal or of any amendment thereto. When an objection is raised to the motion for a separate vote, the motion shall be put to the vote. Permission to speak on a motion for a separate vote shall be accorded only to one speaker for the motion and two speakers opposing it. If the motion for a separate vote is accepted, the different parts of the proposal or amendment shall be put to the vote separately, after which those parts which have been approved shall be put to a final vote as a whole. If all the operative parts of the proposal or amendment have been rejected, the proposal or amendment shall also be considered to have been rejected as a whole. Rule 27 Voting on amendments When an amendment to a proposal is moved, the amendment shall be voted on first. When two or more amendments to a proposal are moved, the Conference shall first vote on the amendment deemed by the President to be furthest removed in substance from the original proposal and then on the amendment next furthest removed therefrom, and so on. If, however, the adoption of any amendment necessarily implies the rejection of another amendment or of the original proposal, the latter amendment or the proposal shall not be put to the vote. If one or more amendments are adopted, the amended proposal shall then be voted upon. A motion is considered an amendment to a proposal if it merely adds to, deletes from or revises part of that proposal. Rule 28 Equally divided votes Subject to Rule 22, if a vote is equally divided, in voting not concerned with elections, the proposal or amendment shall be considered to have been rejected.

12 Annex II page 6 VI. WORKING LANGUAGES Rule 29 Working languages Spanish, English and French are the working languages of the Conference. Speakers are free, however, to speak in any other language, provided that they make their own arrangements for the interpretation of their speeches into one of the working languages. VII. SECRETARIAT OF THE CONFERENCE Rule 30 Secretariat 1. The Secretariat of the Conference shall be provided by the Director-General of UNESCO. 2. The Director-General of UNESCO shall designate the officers forming the Secretariat of the Conference. Rule 31 Duties of the Secretariat 1. It shall be the duty of the Secretariat to perform all work necessary for the smooth functioning of the Conference. 2. The Director-General of UNESCO or her/his representative and any other member of the Secretariat of the Conference may make written or oral statements on any question submitted to the Conference for consideration. VIII. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE Rule The present Rules shall be adopted by a simple majority of the delegations present and voting. 2. The present Rules may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the delegations present and voting. Printed on recycled paper

13 Executive Board Two hundred and fifth session 205 EX/27 Part III PARIS, 9 August 2018 Original: English Item 27 of the provisional agenda INVITATIONS TO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETING (CATEGORY II) RELATED TO THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING THE DESIRABILITY OF A STANDARD-SETTING INSTRUMENT ON INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION IN THE FIELD OF OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) SUMMARY Pursuant to the Rules of Procedure concerning recommendations to Member States and international conventions covered by the terms of Article IV, paragraph 4, of the Constitution, and in accordance with Article 21 of the Regulations, for the general classification of the various categories of meetings convened by UNESCO, as well as pursuant to 39 C/Resolution 44, 199 EX/Decision 24 and 201 EX/Decision 9 on a comprehensive study for next steps regarding international collaboration on open educational resources (OER), including technical and legal aspects as well as general standards, and taking into account administrative and financial issues, the Director-General submits to the Executive Board for its decision proposals concerning invitations to the Intergovernmental Special Committee meeting of experts (category II) to be convened in May 2019 to examine the draft text of a Recommendation concerning international collaboration in the field of OER. The financial and administrative implications are clarified in paragraph 10 of the present document. Action expected of the Executive Board: proposed decision in paragraph 11. Job:

14 I I. INTRODUCTION 1. At its 199th session, the Executive Board (199 EX/Decision 24) requested the Director-General to conduct a comprehensive study using extrabudgetary resources to consider proposals for next steps regarding international collaboration on open educational resources (OER), including technical and legal aspects as well as general standards, and taking into account administrative and financial issues, to be submitted to it for consideration at its 201st session. 2. At its 201 st session, the Executive Board (201 EX/Decision 9), invited the Director-General to submit the preliminary study contained in document 201 EX/9 to the General Conference, together with the relevant observations and decisions of the Executive Board, thereon and on how international collaboration on OER can continue to progress, taking into account the outcomes of: (a) the OER regional consultations organized by the Commonwealth of Learning; and (b) the second World OER Congress. It recommended on this basis that the General Conference at its 39th session consider the possibility of a recommendation, taking into account budgetary and resource implications for the Secretariat, to reinforce international collaboration in the field of OER. 3. The observations of the Executive Board during the debates at its 201st session, on item 201 EX/9, highlighted that a standard-setting instrument in the area of OER would be an important means for facilitating the articulation of effective OER practices and policies. It was underscored that, while the UNESCO Paris OER Declaration 2012, which was produced through an extensive international consultation and adopted at the 1st World OER Congress (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris 2012), represented an internationally recognized strategy for OER, there remains a need to expand and consolidate commitments to actions, strategies and legislation. The important role of OER for supporting Sustainable Development Goal 4 Quality Education was also underscored throughout this debate. 4. By 39 C/Resolution 44, the General Conference requested the Director-General to submit to it, at its 40 th session, a draft text of a recommendation on OER in accordance with the Rules of Procedure concerning recommendations to Member States and international conventions covered by the terms of Article IV, paragraph 4, of the Constitution. 5. In accordance with Article 10, paragraph 2, of the Rules of Procedure concerning recommendations to Member States and international conventions covered by the terms of Article IV, paragraph 4, of the Constitution, a preliminary report of the Director-General, together with the initial draft of the recommendation, will be sent for comments to Member States by a circular letter in August Pursuant to 39 C/Resolution 44 and in accordance with Article 10, paragraph 4, of the Rules of Procedure, the Director-General will convene in May 2019 an intergovernmental meeting of experts (category II) to finalize the draft recommendation, which will be submitted to the General Conference at its 40th session. In accordance with Article 21 of the Regulations for the general classification of the various categories of meetings convened by UNESCO ( the Regulations ), the Director-General submits to the Executive Board, in the Annex to the present document, proposals concerning invitations to the intergovernmental Special Committee meeting of experts (category II). Category of meeting 7. Pursuant to Article 18 of the Regulations, this meeting falls under the category of intergovernmental meetings other than international conferences of States (category II), at which the chief participants represent their respective governments. Participants 8. In accordance with the Regulations, it is for the Executive Board to decide on the invitations to the meeting, on the basis of the list submitted to it in the Annex to this document.

15 I page 2 Timetable 9. The Director-General proposes to convene the meeting in Paris, at UNESCO Headquarters, for two days, in May 2019 and six months before the opening of the 40th session of the General Conference. A final text of the draft recommendation will be submitted to Member States at least 70 days before the opening of that session of the General Conference. Financial and administrative implications 10. In accordance with the established rules, the travel and all other expenses related to the participation of experts in this meeting will be borne by the government/institution they represent. Other additional costs for the organization of the meeting will be borne from the 39 C/5 assessed and voluntary contributions earmarked for the meeting. Proposed draft decision 11. Having examined this document and its Annex, the Executive Board may wish to adopt the following decision: The Executive Board, 1. Recalling 39 C/Resolution 44, 2. Having examined document 205 EX/27 PART III and its annex, 3. Decides that: (a) (b) (c) (d) invitations to participate in the intergovernmental meeting of experts (category II), to examine the draft recommendation on Open Educational Resources in the light of the comments received by Member States on the preliminary report prepared to that end, will be sent to all Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO; invitations to designate observers to the intergovernmental meeting of experts (category II) will also be sent to the States mentioned in paragraph (b) of the Annex of document 205 EX/27 PART III; invitations to designate observers to the intergovernmental meeting of experts (category II) will be sent to the organizations of the United Nations system with which UNESCO has concluded mutual representation agreements and which are listed in paragraph (c) of the Annex of document 205 EX/27 PART III; invitations to send observers to the intergovernmental meeting of experts (category II) will be sent to the organizations, institutions and other entities listed in paragraphs (d) and (e) of the Annex of document 205 EX/27 PART III; 4. Authorizes the Director-General to send out invitations to the entities listed in paragraph (f) of the Annex of the document 205 EX/27 PART III, and to any other entities she may deem useful for advancing the work of the intergovernmental meeting of experts (category II), notifying the Executive Board thereof.

16 I Annex ANNEX The Director-General s proposals concerning invitations to the intergovernmental meeting of experts (category II) are listed below: (a) Member States and Associate Members In accordance with Article 21, paragraph 1, of the Regulations, the Executive Board, on the Director- General s proposal and subject to the existing regulations applicable, (i) shall decide on the Member States and Associate Members whose governments are to be invited to this category of meeting (category II). In accordance with Article 23 of the Regulations, the governments of the Member States and Associate Members that are invited to participate have the right to vote. (b) Non-Member States Under Article 21, paragraph 3, of the Regulations, the Executive Board may designate non- Member States to be invited to send observers to the meeting. The Director-General proposes that States that are not members of UNESCO but are members of at least one of the organizations of the United Nations system be invited to send observers. At the time of preparation of the present document, those States were Holy See and Liechtenstein. In addition, the Director-General proposes that the Executive Board invite to the meeting, as observers, any States that become members of any of the organizations of the United Nations system before the opening of the meeting. (c) Organizations of the United Nations System Under Article 21, paragraph 4, of the Regulations, the following organizations of the United Nations system, with which UNESCO has concluded mutual representation agreements, may send representatives to this meeting: (d) International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Other intergovernmental organizations Pursuant to Article 21, paragraph 5 (b), of the Regulations, the Director-General proposes that the following intergovernmental organizations be invited to send observers to the meeting: African Union Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organization Association of Southeast Asian Nations Commonwealth of Learning Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Council of Europe European Commission Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Organization of lbero-american States for Education, Science and Culture Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization The Commonwealth

17 I Annex page 2 (e) International and regional non-governmental organizations Pursuant to Article 21, paragraph 5 (c) of the Regulations, the Director-General proposes that the following non-governmental organizations (NGOs) be invited to send observers to the meeting, in accordance with the Directives concerning UNESCO s partnership with non-governmental organizations: All-Africa Students Union (AASU) Education International (EI) European Students Union (ESU) International Association of Universities (IAU) International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) (f) Other entities Creative Commons Information for All Programme (IFAP) OER Africa Open Education Consortium (OEC) UNESCO OER Chairs Wikimedia Foundation Printed on recycled paper