On 15 January 2026, the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI), together with the 2025 Rotating Presidency Unit of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) – the Indonesia Cyber Education Institute, co-hosted the IIOE Partners Annual Meeting. Held in a hybrid format, the meeting brought together representatives from IIOE National Centres, partner universities, international and regional organisations, as well as partner enterprises.

During the meeting, UNESCO-ICHEI officially launched the "AI + Cross-Border E-Commerce" Micro-Certification Programme. Developed in the context of the rapid growth of the global digital economy, the programme responds to the increasing demand for interdisciplinary and digitally skilled talent in cross-border e-commerce. It aims to support higher education institutions and partners in strengthening the alignment between local talent supply and evolving industry needs through a systematic capacity-building approach.

BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI

Ms. BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, noted that the "AI + Cross-Border E-Commerce" Micro-Certification Programme represents a strategic evolution in IIOE's capacity-building efforts. Moving beyond training focused primarily on teachers' digital competencies and general AI literacy, the programme targets the rapidly evolving cross-border e-commerce sector and seeks to bridge the gap between classroom learning and market practice. Through a design that combines theoretical learning with practice-oriented scenarios, it equips learners with the key skills required to achieve quality employment and sustainable development in the global digital economy.The programme has established a tiered course structure for leaders, teachers and students from higher education and TVET institutions, emphasising local industrial relevance while responding to global development needs, and continuously strengthening a capacity-building ecosystem oriented towards industry–education integration.

Mr. TANG Min, Initiator of the China Cross-Border E-Commerce 50 Forum

Mr. TANG Min, Initiator of the China Cross-Border E-Commerce 50 Forum, noted that the Forum has long brought together enterprise resources and industry practices in the field of cross-border e-commerce, and will actively support course co-development and the provision of practical cases. He emphasised that the deep integration of artificial intelligence and cross-border e-commerce has become a key trend in industry development, placing new demands on higher education talent development models. Systematic cultivation of professionals aligned with this trend is therefore both urgent and necessary.

Mr. SIT Fung, Assistant Director of UNESCO-ICHEI and Chief of the IIOE Management Centre

From an implementation perspective, Mr. SIT Fung, Assistant Director of UNESCO-ICHEI and Chief of the IIOE Management Centre, introduced the overall positioning, key features, course development plan, and participation pathways for IIOE National Centres under the programme. He noted that the first batch of micro-certification courses will be launched for leaders and teachers from higher education and TVET institutions, combining theoretical learning with practical application. At the same time, a call for pilot participation will be initiated to widely collect input from IIOE National Centres and partner institutions on course design, implementation, and localisation, to better align the programme with diverse regional education and industry contexts.

During the discussion session, representatives engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics including course optimisation, certification pathways, and regional promotion of the "AI + Cross-Border E-Commerce" Micro-Certification Programme. A number of universities and institutions expressed their interest in participating in the pilot phase, laying a solid foundation for the programme's implementation across different countries and regions.

Looking ahead, UNESCO-ICHEI will continue to focus on the role of AI in empowering education and industry-oriented capacity building. Working closely with IIOE and its global partners, UNESCO-ICHEIwill further deepen the development of "AI + Industry" micro-certification programmes, enabling higher education to play a stronger role in digital transformation and contributing to the achievement of United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) by promoting inclusive, equitable and quality education.