UNESCO and the Council of Europe are promoting education transparency, open school data and digital tools to reduce fraud and strengthen public trust.
UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) and the Council of Europe are strengthening efforts to improve transparency and prevent corruption in education.
During meetings held in Strasbourg, France, from 14–16 October 2026, education stakeholders marked ten years of the Council of Europe’s Platform on Ethics, Transparency and Integrity in Education (ETINED). Discussions focused on open school data, digital technologies, academic integrity and accountability in higher education.
The organisations highlighted how accessible, understandable education data can help governments, schools, universities and communities make better decisions and build public trust.
Initiative Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisations | UNESCO-IIEP and Council of Europe |
| Initiative | Ethics, Transparency and Integrity in Education (ETINED) |
| Main focus | Education transparency and fraud prevention |
| Event location | Strasbourg, France |
| Event dates | 14–16 October 2026 |
| Key areas | Open school data, accountability, academic integrity and digital tools |
| Upcoming development | Joint policy guidelines on open school data expected in 2027 |
Tasks
The initiative encourages education stakeholders to strengthen transparency and integrity through practical measures, including:
- Improving public access to school and higher education data.
- Using data to identify corruption risks and support accountability.
- Strengthening academic integrity and preventing education fraud.
- Helping students, parents and teachers understand education information.
- Using digital tools and artificial intelligence to detect misconduct.
- Protecting sensitive information while promoting institutional openness.
The collaboration also supports training, peer learning, ethics frameworks and technical assistance to countries.
Qualifications
Education and Certification
This is an education governance and policy initiative, not a job vacancy, scholarship or training programme with an advertised application process. The supplied announcement does not specify individual educational qualifications or certification requirements.
Experience
The article highlights collaboration among education authorities, universities, civil society, international organisations and other stakeholders. It does not provide formal eligibility criteria for individuals to participate in the initiative.
Additional Information
How Open Education Data Can Help
Open education data can help communities understand how institutions make decisions, use public resources and manage educational outcomes. When information is accessible and people have the skills to interpret it, transparency can support stronger accountability.
However, the organisations also emphasise that transparency must be balanced with privacy, institutional autonomy and academic freedom. Making information available does not mean publishing sensitive personal data without safeguards.
What Happens Next?
ETINED reviewed priorities for its next programme period, covering 2028–2031. UNESCO-IIEP and the Council of Europe are also working towards jointly publishing policy guidelines on open school data in 2027.
Official source: IIEP-UNESCO – How international collaboration builds trust in education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is open education data?
Open education data refers to accessible information about education systems and institutions that can help stakeholders understand decisions, improve accountability and support evidence-based planning.
How can open data help prevent education fraud?
It can make institutional decisions and resource use easier to scrutinise, while digital tools may help identify misconduct such as forged credentials and impersonation.
What is ETINED?
ETINED is the Council of Europe Platform on Ethics, Transparency and Integrity in Education. It promotes ethical conduct, transparency and integrity in education systems.
What role does UNESCO-IIEP play?
UNESCO-IIEP supports education planning and works through its ETICO programme to generate knowledge, provide practical tools, deliver training and help countries assess corruption risks.
Will new policy guidelines be published?
The announcement states that joint policy guidelines on open school data are expected to be published in 2027.
Can individuals apply for this initiative?
The supplied announcement does not advertise an individual application process. It reports on policy discussions and collaboration between international organisations and education stakeholders.
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The UNESCO-IIEP and Council of Europe collaboration highlights the growing importance of transparency, data literacy and responsible digital technology in education. Its planned policy guidelines could provide further direction for countries seeking to strengthen accountability and public trust in schools and universities.
Disclaimer
Opportunities Feed shares education, career and development-related news for informational purposes only. It is not affiliated with UNESCO or the Council of Europe. Readers should consult official organisational sources for further updates.
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