Vienna (Austria), 10 August 2021 – After the launch of the Review Mechanism for the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), UNODC Civil Society Unit (CSU) organized a series of dedicated workshops and seminars, among other events, for civil society, academics, and the private sector to facilitate their involvement in the review process. As part of this project, formally known as “Stakeholder Engagement for the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), its Review Mechanism and Related Activities”, or SE4U for short, CSU designed an asynchronous online course aimed at providing practical information about entry points and tools for engagement and stimulating the sharing of experiences, networking opportunities, and partnerships against organized crime at national, regional, and global levels. The first cohort of 46 participants from different parts of the world took the course between 1 July and 10 August 2021.
The unique feature of the SE4U asynchronous online course is that it is a self-paced online training available through the UNODC Global eLearning Platform. Participants can access learning materials and complete assignments anytime and from any computer with internet connection.
The content of the course builds on the Toolkit on Stakeholder Engagement for the Implementation of UNTOC released in July 2020. Reading materials are supplemented with interactive practice exercises (e.g., multiple-choice quizzes, drag and drop exercises, jigsaw puzzle activities, short essays, and discussion forum assignments) which make participants reflect on acquired knowledge and help them deepen their learning experience.
The SE4U asynchronous online course has several noteworthy benefits. First, it offers participants an added flexibility of self-paced learning to balance work, family, and continued education. Another advantage is that there are no set meeting times and participants can “attend” the course at their own schedule. There is also no need to coordinate meeting times across time zones. Ultimately, because of the ability to log on from any location, SE4U discussions feature a broader range of perspectives, helping participants enhance their own cross-cultural sensitivity and better network with like-minded organizations and individuals from around the globe. These and other features make the SE4U asynchronous online course an essential element of the broader UNODC CSU plan to expand the participation of non-governmental stakeholders in the implementation of UNTOC, its supplementing Protocols, and the Review Mechanism.
Future opportunities to complete the SE4U asynchronous online training will be announced shortly. Check UNODC CSU website for updates.
