UNESCO-ICHEI Participates in the 2026 Global MOOC and Online Education Conference
The 2026 Global MOOC and Online Education Conference took place at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), from 2 to 4 November. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, the conference was organised by the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance (GMA) and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE), and jointly hosted by Tsinghua University and VNU. Under the theme “Reallocating Intelligence: Transforming Education for a Human-AI Future”, participants explored university missions, talent development, educational governance and international cooperation in the AI era. Mr. PAN Feng, Deputy Director of the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (Shenzhen, China) (UNESCO-ICHEI), and Ms. SU Rui, Chief of Knowledge Production and Communications Centre, were invited to the conference.
On November 3rd, during the opening ceremony, H.E. Mr. Lê Tiến Châu, Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Mr. Bùi Thế Duy, President of VNU, Mr. Tshilidzi Marwala, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Rector of the United Nations University, and Mr. CHEN Qun, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, gave featured remarks.
H.E. Mr. Lê Tiến Châu emphasised that achieving Viet Nam’s goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045 requires innovation in educational models and the development of talent capable of applying artificial intelligence (AI) to real-world problems, supporting economic transformation and upgrading. Mr. Bùi Thế Duy highlighted that universities need to adapt their educational approaches to changing skills needs in the AI era. VNU has identified AI research, development and application as a strategic priority to improve the quality of education and research and enhance institutional management. Mr. Marwala noted that AI can help educators personalise learning and expand access to quality education, while urging universities and policymakers to address the risk of new digital divides. Mr. CHEN Qun stated that UNESCO is reassessing the competencies higher education professionals need in the AI era, stressing the importance of professional development that enables educators to lead teaching and learning transformation.
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| H.E. Mr. Lê Tiến Châu, Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam | Mr. Bùi Thế Duy, President of VNU |
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| Mr. Tshilidzi Marwala, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Rector of the United Nations University | Mr. CHEN Qun, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education |
During the opening ceremony, Mr. LI Luming, President of Tsinghua University and Chair of the Board of GMA, and Mr. Bùi Thế Duy jointly launched Infinite Possibilities: Report on the Digital Development of Global Higher Education (2026) and The Digital Development Index of Global Higher Education (2026). Drawing on data from 101 countries, the publications identify digital transformation trends, synthesise progress in practice and propose collaborative action for the future. UNESCO-ICHEI as the authoring member of the reports since 2023, joined partners in marking the release of the reports, supporting efforts to provide an evidence base for countries to refine their digital transformation strategies.
In their keynote presentations, experts highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence and core human capabilities in preparing learners to use AI effectively. They also stressed the shared responsibility of higher education institutions to apply AI responsibly to improve teaching and broaden access to quality learning opportunities. Universities were encouraged to adapt curricula, teaching and assessment to develop learners' independent judgement, problem-solving abilities and emotional regulation skills, preparing them for future challenges.
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Left: Infinite Possibilities: Report on the Digital Development of Global Higher Education (2026)
Right: The Digital Development Index of Global Higher Education (2026)
On 4 November, Mr. PAN Feng participated in the roundtable on "Inclusive and Sustainable Educational Ecosystems for Global Collaboration". He shared UNESCO-ICHEI's experience in supporting the digital transformation of higher education institutions in the Global South through the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) ecosystem. Mr. PAN Feng emphasised that cooperation in higher education should connect technology, talent, institutions, policy and industry through mutually supportive partnerships. The IIOE ecosystem designs programmes around partner institutions' needs and supports local implementation through its National Centres. By working with universities and industry partners to develop contextually relevant training resources and provide policy advice, IIOE translates global resources into local capacity and sustains multilateral cooperation for shared development.
Mr. PAN Feng, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI
Following the conference, UNESCO-ICHEI representatives met with university representatives, inviting more institutions and organisations to join its cooperation network. Looking ahead, UNESCO-ICHEI welcomes opportunities to share IIOE micro-certification courses, training, research and exchange resources with conference participants, working together towards a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future for higher education.
