Local Consultant, Digital Literacy

Background

The vacancy is open only for the applicants with the citizenship of or permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia.

The rapid integration of digital technologies into education has transformed teaching and learning processes, while simultaneously exposing gaps in students’ digital competencies, critical thinking skills, and safe engagement in digital environments. In pre-university education, the effective integration of digital technology requires not only technical infrastructure and digital tools, but also participatory and student-centered approaches that enable learners to actively engage with digital content, critically assess online information, and responsibly participate in digital environments. At the same time, emerging technological developments, including artificial intelligence, algorithm-driven platforms, and data-based learning environments, are reshaping the educational landscape and creating new demands for digital and media literacy. Educational systems are therefore increasingly expected to strengthen students’ abilities to navigate complex information ecosystems, recognize misinformation and manipulative content, protect their digital rights and privacy, and use technology in an ethical and responsible manner.

Within the Ministry of Education, the Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation is implementing Quality Assurance of the Integration of Digital Technology in the Education System. In supporting this activity, the Media Department seeks to foster the development of sustainable and inclusive approaches for strengthening digital competencies in pre-university education. Ensuring quality integration of digital technology requires methodologies that are responsive to the needs and experiences of students, teachers, and educational institutions, and that promote participatory dialogue as a mechanism for identifying challenges, assessing existing practices, and fostering collaborative solutions.

The Institute requested the OSCE Mission to Serbia’s assistance in engaging one (1) local consultant/expert in digital literacy with demonstrated knowledge of contemporary digital education approaches, participatory methodologies, and competency-based learning frameworks. The expert will be responsible for developing a methodology for participatory dialogue aimed at improving students’ digital competencies, with particular attention to inclusiveness, critical use of technology, digital safety, ethical dimensions of emerging technologies, and alignment with relevant educational and digital competence frameworks.

Through this approach, the activity will contribute to building resilience, critical thinking, and meaningful participation of students in increasingly digital and information-rich societies.

The beneficiaries of this methodology will be the Ministry of education of Republic of Serbia, National Council for Education, educational advisers and schools in Serbia.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the National Project Officer, and in close co-ordination with the Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation, the consultant will be responsible for developing a scenario, methodology and technical framework for a participatory dialogue aimed at improving the digital competencies of students in pre-university education. In particular, the consultant will:

1. Review relevant national and international policies, educational standards, digital competence frameworks and good practices related to digital and media literacy, competency-based education and the integration of digital technologies in pre-university education;
2. Assess the key thematic areas to be addressed through the participatory dialogue, taking into account the needs and experiences of students, teachers, educational advisers, schools and other relevant educational stakeholders;
3. Develop a methodology for conducting an inclusive, student-centred and participatory dialogue on the improvement of students’ digital competencies in pre-university education;
4. Develop a detailed scenario for the participatory dialogue, including its objectives, proposed structure, thematic sessions, discussion questions, facilitation methods, stakeholder roles and expected results;
5. Ensure that the proposed methodology and scenario appropriately address:
   • critical and responsible use of digital technologies;
   • digital and media literacy;
   • critical assessment of online information and recognition of misinformation and manipulative content;
   • digital safety, privacy and protection of digital rights;
   • ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies;
   • inclusiveness and the meaningful participation of students from diverse backgrounds;
   • development of critical thinking, resilience and responsible participation in digital environments;
6. Develop the technical framework for implementing the participatory dialogue, including recommendations concerning the format, number and profile of participants, facilitation arrangements, working methods, necessary materials, documentation of discussions and collection of participant feedback;
7. Propose mechanisms for analysing and consolidating the findings of the participatory dialogue and translating them into practical recommendations for the Ministry of Education, the National Education Council, educational advisers and schools;
8. Finalize and submit the methodology, scenario and technical framework for the participatory dialogue, ensuring their alignment with the activity “Quality Assurance of the Integration of Digital Technology in the Education System of the Republic of Serbia” and relevant educational and digital competence frameworks.

The consultant will work online from home.

Necessary Qualifications

• Citizenship of or permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia; 
• University degree in humanities, arts or social sciences;
• Minimum 7 (seven) years of professional experience in the field of digital literacy;
• Minimum 7 (seven) years of professional experience in digital transformation of education;
• Experience in drafting public policy documents in the field of science;
• Professional fluency in Serbian, both oral and written; 
• Full computer literacy;
• Ability and willingness to work with people of different cultural, national and religious backgrounds;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, as well as the ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.

Candidates are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the OSCE Competency Model available at:  https://jobs.osce.org/osce-competency-model.

Remuneration Package

The consultant will be employed on a Special Service Agreement in the period from 15 August 2026 to 1 October 2026, and will be paid a total amount not exceeding 236,000 RSD, commensurate to individual qualifications and experience. The payment will be effected upon successful completion of all tasks.

How to Apply

Please apply online through this website (https://jobs.osce.org) no later than 23 July 2026. Only applications received through this website will be considered; applications received by email, post etc. will not be accepted.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Candidates who have not been contacted by 5 August 2026 should consider there will be no follow up to their application.

Contact Tel. No: 011-3606 100, ext.: 4133, 4131 or 4127 (Human Resources Office)

The OSCE is committed to achieving a better balance of women and men within the Organization.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, cancel the recruitment, or offer a consultancy at a different level or with modified terms of reference or for a different duration.