Database on Intergovernmental Cooperation in Education

A global resource for scholars, students, citizens, and stakeholders engaged with intergovernmental cooperation in education.

Read the Abstract

The Challenge

Dispersed Knowledge

Resolutions are often dispersed across organizational websites or archives, with limited institutional memory of the debates preceding their adoption.

Accessibility Barriers

Accessibility issues further complicate understanding the perspectives, ideas, and legal frameworks shaping global education values.

DICED

Digital Humanities Approach

DICED leverages data science and computational approaches to address challenges in archival research and policy analysis.

Standardization

By utilizing standards like the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) and UNESCO-OECD-Eurostat Data Structure Definitions, the project creates a structured, accessible database.

Systematic Exploration

This resource enables the global education community to systematically and diachronically explore international resolutions, enhancing replicability, verifiability, and understanding of global education governance.

Academic Abstract

Global Resource: A global public resource on intergovernmental cooperation in education, focusing on standardization, accessibility, and reuse of education policy textual data.
Integration of Standards: It integrates digital humanities standards, such as the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI, Burnard, 2014), with international frameworks like the SDMX Education Data Structure Definitions (UNESCO, OECD, Eurostat 2019).
Comprehensive Encoding: These XML-based standards are combined and expanded to form a comprehensive encoding system for education policy events.
Application: The Database on Intergovernmental Cooperation in Education (DICED) applies this system to encode, store, and share documents produced by instances of intergovernmental cooperation in education.
Analytical Potential: Enables systematic analysis of networks, idea circulation, power dynamics, and discursive practices, enhancing understanding of how international organizations and stakeholders have shaped and continue to shape global education values.

DICED Data Coverage

The broader DICED curation work currently covers the following institutional sources.

Institutional source	Years	Status
UNESCO International Bureau of Education: Resolutions and Recommendations of the International Conference on Education	1934-2008	100% completed
Council of Europe Standing Conference of Education Ministers	1959-2023	100% completed
United Nations General Assembly Resolutions on Education	1945-2025	80% completed
United Nations Commission on Human Rights and United Nations Human Rights Council Resolutions addressing Education	1946-2025	60% completed
UNESCO Legal Instruments Pertaining to Education	1946-2025	75% completed
UNESCO General Conference resolutions pertaining to Education	1946-2025	20% completed
European Council Conclusions addressing Education	2009-2025	Planned
European Council Recommendations addressing Education	2009-2025	Planned
European Parliament Resolutions addressing Education	1958-2025	Planned
OECD Council Recommendations addressing Education	1961-2025	Planned

Methodology & Frameworks

Combining computational rigor with educational policy research.

Text Encoding Initiative (TEI)

We adopt the TEI guidelines for the representation of texts in digital form, ensuring that policy documents are machine-readable and semantically rich.

SDMX Standards

Implementation of UNESCO-OECD-Eurostat Data Structure Definitions ensures compatibility with international statistical standards and educational frameworks.