ACER and UNESCO IIEP partner to strengthen educational planning in the Asia-Pacific

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and the UNESCO International Institute of Educational Planning (IIEP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen strategic collaboration in the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership aims to improve educational planning and management through joint activities focused on data use, capacity building, and knowledge sharing.  

Accurate and timely data is essential for effective educational planning and management. For those in planning roles, data enables the diagnosis of system challenges, the design of targeted policies, and the monitoring of progress toward national and global goals, including Sustainable Development Goal 4. However, many countries face challenges in collecting and using data effectively. 

The new ACER-IIEP partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting countries to make better use of data for decision-making and policy formulation across the region. Joint activities may include training programs, collaborative research on educational planning and administration, and the development of a regional community of practice focused on data use and evidence-informed policy. 

Reflecting on the significance of the new partnership, Martín Benavides, Director of IIEP, said: 

‘Strong, actionable data is essential to fostering education systems that are efficient, equitable, and accountable. Partnering with ACER will allow us to work with countries across the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen their capacity to collect, analyze, and use data to inform education policy and planning, ultimately improving learning for all. Through our complementary expertise, we can help ministries turn data into action for more effective and inclusive education systems.’ 

ACER CEO, Lisa Rodgers also reinforced the importance of the collaboration: 

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to supporting countries in the Asia-Pacific to build stronger, evidence-informed education systems.  By combining ACER’s deep regional experience with IIEP’s global leadership in planning, we can support countries to build education systems that are grounded in evidence, responsive to local needs, and capable of driving social, economic and environmental change.’ 

The partnership builds on connections ACER made at IIEP’s Regional Conference on Educational Planning in 2024. The conference set a roadmap for educational planning and management across Asia-Pacific, including addressing solutions for improving learning, equity and well-being, new digital tools being harnessed in the region, and planning for greater resilience and climate change adaptation. ACER contributed a policy brief about the importance of ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy for all students in the Asia-Pacific region.  

ENDS 

BACKGROUND 

About IIEP 
Founded in 1963, IIEP is the only United Nations entity dedicated to educational planning and management. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of UNESCO Member States to plan and manage their education systems. Through technical cooperation, knowledge generation and sharing, and training, IIEP supports countries throughout the planning and policy cycle. Today, the Institute has an increased focus on implementation and management so that education sector plans and policies result in real system transformation. 

About ACER
With more than 95 years’ experience, ACER is a global leader in educational research and assessment. It works with governments and organisations across the Asia-Pacific to improve learning outcomes, particularly for marginalised learners. Its mission is to create and share evidence-informed insights and tools to improve learning for all.  

ACER’s work is grounded in building strong evidence to support equity and inclusion, and in ensuring that education systems are shaped by research and best practice. Its collaborative approach focuses on tailoring solutions to the unique needs and priorities of each country in the region. ACER is a recognised partner of UNESCO, and this new agreement with IIEP further strengthens the global collaboration between the organisations. 

Announcement details

Muriel Poisson, Knowledge Management and Mobilization Team Lead at UNESCO IIEP and Lisa Rodgers, ACER CEO celebrated the partnership at the inaugural Development and Education (DevEd) Conference in Melbourne, Australia. DevEd 2025 is a fitting location for the announcement, bringing together leaders, thinkers, researchers, policymakers and practitioners from across the Asia-Pacific region to deliberate on challenges and promising education initiatives.