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UNCTAD Virtual Institute on Trade and Development

The UNCTAD Virtual Institute aims to strengthen the capacities of developing country universities to teach and research trade and development issues through capacity-building and networking. It addresses the needs of policymaking and negotiating capacity, private sector competitiveness, civil society engagement, and local research provision.

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UNCTAD Virtual Institute on Trade and Development

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  1. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD Virtual Institute on Trade and Development Building national capacities for trade with academia and knowledge institutions http://vi.unctad.org

  2. Addressing these needs through academia and knowledge institutions United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Problems/needs • Policymaking and negotiating capacity • Competitiveness of the private sector • Capacity of civil society to contribute to the debate on trade issues • Capacity to provide locally relevant research

  3. Policy-makers and trade practitioners equipped to analyze and take trade decisions Teach trade to graduate and post-graduate students Develop policy-orientated research Feed research into policy making United Nations Conference on Trade and Development The Vi scheme Output Objective Process Strengthen/update professional capacities on trade at universities Better informed policy decisions

  4. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development What is the UNCTAD Virtual Institute? A member driven programme aiming to strengthen capacities in developing country universities to teach and research trade and development issues through capacity-building and networking

  5. Canada West Indies Colombia Brazil Chile Argentina Egypt Senegal Mauritius Mozambique South Africa Tanzania Uganda France Belarus Ukraine Russia Jordan Iran India China Vietnam United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Who are Vi members (1)? • Academic institutions (and their staff) with graduate and post-graduate programmes and policy-orientated research on international economic and development issues Currently 22 university (institutional) members

  6. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Who are Vi members (2)? Possibility for them to set up national networks with other universities in their countries (currently 12 such universities are affiliated to the Virtual Institute) e.g. Colombia • University teachers and researchers interested in international economic issues Currently more than 250 associate (individual) members from more than 80 countries

  7. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Vi services (1) Teaching resources • Provision of publications and studies from UNCTAD and partners Hard copies for libraries (almost 1,400 publications sent) Online library of trade resources on Vi website (more than 400 documents; e-mail alert system) • Development of teaching materials for university context Competitiveness and development; Economics of commodity production and trade; Economic and legal aspects of FDI; Trade data analysis; Regional trade agreements; Transfer of technology; Trade and poverty… • Members adapt materials to their country contexts 10 localized versions of Vi teaching materials are being produced by member universities

  8. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Vi services (2) Professional development • Workshops on teaching and research of specific international economic issues 5 workshops so far on investment, commodities, trade and trade policy analysis, trade and poverty • Fellowships at UNCTAD for member university staff 14 fellows so far from Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania • Information and access to other professional development opportunities (UNCTAD, WTO, WB, CTPL…)

  9. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Vi services (3) Curricular advice and support to teaching • Exchange of syllabi among members • Personalized curricular advice International trade Masters in Tanzania and Senegal, programme in International negotiations in Colombia, International trade programmes in Vietnam… • Support to delivery of Masters courses Commodity course in Tanzania, transport course in Mauritius… • Study tours for Masters students Tailor-made training programme for students with UNCTAD, WTO, ITC, diplomatic missions… 6 tours organized so far for Brazil, Russia, West Indies (mandatory part of the Masters curriculum), Tanzania

  10. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Vi services (4) 4. Research and links with policymaking • Research Dissemination of information about research opportunities Publication of members’ research papers on the Vi website Joint research by members (2 projects currently under way involving China, India, Jordan, Mauritius, Senegal) • Links between research and policymaking Addressed in professional development workshops – recommendations on the issue in September 2006 Debated in intergovernmental meetings (EG meeting on building knowledge and skills for trade in November 2006) Facilitated through the new design of courses on Key International Economic Issues

  11. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Key features of the Virtual Institute • Idea of linking an international organization with universities • Focus on building national capacities Provision of long-term support Sustainability • Ownership by the network (members define the work programme) • Combination of standard services and customized support • Facilitation of cooperation within the network (S-S, N-S, national) • Partnerships within and outside UNCTAD • Vi team at UNCTAD plays a role in conceptualizing, facilitating and implementing activities in support of universities

  12. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Challenges and issues for the future • Human and financial resources (at UNCTAD and in the Vi network) determine the present and the future of the programme: need to find a balance between needs and resources • Capacity to differentiate services so as to respond to different levels of development and priorities of Vi members • Personalized services to limited membership or standard services with a wider outreach? • Attracting partners willing to provide joint support to the developing country/transition economy members of the Vi network • Secure predictable funds for long-term support

  13. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Contact Vlasta Macku Chief, UNCTAD Virtual Institute tel.: +41-22-917 62 27 fax: +41-22-917 00 50 e-mail: vlasta.macku@unctad.org web: http://vi.unctad.org

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