Geospatial Data in Educational Planning and Management

Building the right school in the right place at the right time, creating educational programmes or services that take into account geographic constraints, social challenges, and local economic realities: planning is always a matter of context. This IIEP-UNESCO development program explores ways to improve micro-planning, using geolocalized data previously inaccessible due to the lack of sufficiently powerful technologies.

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Educational planners have always relied on geolocalized data to produce their diagnoses and recommendations. However, the emergence of information technology now makes it possible to process large amounts of highly accurate data at low cost - and therefore to better adapt educational policies to changing local needs and contexts.

Led by IIEP and its partners, the Geospatial Data in Educational Planning and Management programme aims to develop new tools and methodologies that rethink the integration of location-based data into educational practices.

Why focus on geospatial data?

To inform national sector plans, educational planning must take into account local characteristics at the level of smaller communities. This is the approach IIEP has been advocating for many decades. Cross-referencing data from the education system with geo-referenced information enables educational planners and managers to generate highly contextualized policies that ensure that the education system is responsive to the needs of local communities:

greater equity in the distribution of educational opportunities,
better adaptation of these opportunities to the needs of local communities,
more efficient use of all available resources.

Through this programme, IIEP collaborates with experts, academics, and practitioners to develop methodologies and practical tools to improve current knowledge and techniques in micro-planning. And thus provide education authorities with increasingly refined insights to meet the expectations of their communities, according to local constraints and contexts.
Amélie A. Gagnon - Head of Development at IIEP-UNESCO