About Us-UNESCO-ICHEI

About Us

UNESCO-ICHEI is committed to promoting the digital transformation of higher education institutions in developing countries in Asia and Africa, thereby expanding opportunities for lifelong learning and quality, equitable education.

About Us

The International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) was jointly established by UNESCO and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government of the People's Republic of China on June 8, 2016. It was approved by the 38th General Conference of UNESCO held on November 13, 2015, as the Category 2 Centre focusing on higher education in China. On May 18, 2023, the 216th session of the UNESCO Executive Board adopted the decision to renew the designation of UNESCO-ICHEI as a Category 2 Centre for 8 years.

Director's Message

JIN Li

Director, International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO

Paint a world of education equity with the brush of innovation

"Education is the most effective means of reducing poverty and inequality and encouraging social inclusion."

Located in Shenzhen, a great city steeped in innovation, the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) aims at tapping the potential of integration between information and communications technology (ICT) and higher education by means of the city's advantages in ICT and China's experiences in massification of higher education. Thus, it helps developing countries in Asia and Africa enhance quality and equity in higher education.

Guided by Education 2030 Framework for Action (FFA) and UN's Sustainable Development Goal 4 (UN SDG4)—ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, UNESCO-ICHEI builds a system based on research and production by launching various flagship projects in ICT-enabled higher education and cooperating with higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries in Asia and Africa, and enterprises and HEIs in China in order to solve challenges faced by higher education in developing countries. Since its establishment, UNESCO-ICHEI has reaped an abundant harvest in projects like Shenzhen Funds-in-Trust (SFIT), link of digital higher education, smart classroom, capacity-building workshops and International Institution of Online Education (IIOE). UNESCO-ICHEI also gives full play to the role of think tank by organizing and participating in a series of international meetings and issuing policy suggestions and case on international higher education.

ICT is a key factor boosting digital transformation in higher education. Centered on four functions, namely, knowledge gaining, capacity building, technical support and information sharing, ICHEI provides tailor-made plans of ICT-enabled education, intellectual support and talents for HEIs in Asian and African developing countries, hence spurring their social-economic development. Our dream to shape a world with education equity guides us along the way forward. It is our hope that HEIs, international organizations and high-tech companies will chase the shared dream with innovation, giving more students access to quality higher education.

Mission

UNESCO-ICHEI works closely around the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Education 2030). Relying on the advantages of Shenzhen's information and communications technology (ICT) industry, UNESCO-ICHEI addresses the digital transformation needs of developing countries by fostering innovation in higher education institutions (HEIs) through technology and enhancing the digital competencies of the higher education workforce. UNESCO-ICHEI is committed to achieving equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all through multilateral collaborations with flagship universities, international organisations, EdTech enterprises, governments, and other stakeholders.

Functions

In collaboration with international stakeholders, UNESCO-ICHEI fully exerts its four main functions —knowledge production, capacity building, technical support, and information sharing — by developing international cooperation programmes in higher education for developing countries, in an effort to construct a global network based on the principle of "extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits".

The functions are achieved through the following activities: building a global laboratory of ideas focusing on higher education innovation; promoting multilateral cooperation with stakeholders in global higher education; providing intellectual support to HEIs based on their needs during different phases of digital transformation; and introducing higher education innovation cases that have significant value for global application.

Milestones

2014

On June 5
Shenzhen Municipal People's Government signed MoU with UNESCO in Suzhou.

2015

In May
Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and UNESCO signed the Framework Agreement of Funds-in-Trust.
In November
UNESCO-ICHEI was approved by the 38th General Conference of UNESCO.

2016

On June 8
UNESCO-ICHEI was founded in Shenzhen.
On November 12
The Inaugural Meeting of the First Governing Board was held in Shenzhen, and Irina Bokova, then Director -General of UNESCO, visited UNESCO-ICHEI.

2017

On August 8
UNESCO-ICHEI held the Foreign Aid Training Programme of the Ministry of Commerce for the first time.

2018

From June 11 to 12
UNESCO-ICHEI held the 2018 Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar on MOOCs for Higher Education.

2019

In March
UNESCO-ICHEI participated in the 2019 Mobile Learning Week for the first time.
In July
The first Smart Classroom was established at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, Pakistan.
On September 24
The Asia Programme of the Shenzhen Funds-in-Trust Project was concluded.
From December 7 to 8
UNESCO-ICHEI jointly established the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) with 11 partner HEIs in Asia and Africa, 4 HEIs in China and 8 technology enterprises.

2020

On April 2
IIOE was officially launched online.
On December 20
The Inscription Stone Unveiling Ceremony and “Our Journey with SUSTech—UNESCO-ICHEI 2015-2020” exhibition at the Convention Centre of Southern University of Science and Technology was held.

2021

On June 8
The anniversary of UNESCO-ICHEI, the inaugural issue of CLOUD was published.
In June
The new website of UNESCO-ICHEI was officially launched in the six languages of the UN.
In September
IIOE was selected as the Successful Story of Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace at the 2021 World Internet Conference.

2022

From April to May
3 newly established IIOE National Centres were started-up. By the end of the year, UNESCO-ICHEI has established 8 IIOE National Centres around the world.
In May
UNESCO-ICHEI was invited to attend the World Higher Education Conference 2022, and the Africa Programme of the Shenzhen Funds-in-Trust Project was concluded. The research outcomes of "Digital Transformation of Higher Education" were released at the World Higher Education Conference 2022.
By the end of 2022
In 2022, UNESCO-ICHEI newly established 8 new Smart Classrooms. By the end of the year, UNESCO-ICHEI has established 12 smart classrooms around the world.

2023

On February 28
UNESCO-ICHEI held the International Higher Education Digital Transformation Conference and summarised the pilot project outcomes that was jointly established by the IIOE partners.
On May 5
13 universities in Shenzhen joined the symposium on international cooperation among Shenzhen universities held by UNESCO-ICHEI and SUSTech.
On May 18
The UNESCO Executive Board adopted the decision to renew the designation of UNESCO-ICHEI as a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO.
From September 4 to 7
UNESCO-ICHEI participated in the first UNESCO Digital Learning Week and convened an IIOE Roundtable. During the event, UNESCO-ICHEI officially launched the IIOE Micro-certification for Higher Education Workforce Digital Competency Project and UNESCO-ICHEI Higher Education Digital Pioneer Case Award globally through UNESCO Headquarters.
From December 7 to 9
2023 IIOE Global Partners Summit on the topic of "Higher Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence", and presented the UNESCO- ICHEI Higher Education Digitalisation Pioneer Case Awards recognising good practices from the IIOE partners. The 2023 International Advisory Committee (IAC) Meeting, and the 1st Session of the 3rd UNESCO-ICHEI Governing Board was successfully held.

2024

From April 23 to 24
UNESCO-ICHEI was invited to attend the 2024 High-Level Policy Dialogue on "Technological Renaissance Policy: Leveraging the Critical Role of University Research", organized by the Ministry of Education and Science of Mongolia in collaboration with seven national universities.
On April 25
The Southeast Asia Regional High-Level Policy Dialogue was co-hosted by UNESCO-ICHEI in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the theme of "Leading Effective Integration of GenAI in Higher Education".
On June 24
The Central Asia Regional High-Level Policy Dialogue was co-hosted by UNESCO-ICHEI in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, under the theme of "Facilitating GenAI-Driven Higher Education Transformation".
On July 18
The Nigeria National Education Policy Dialogue, themed "Building a Consensus Framework in the Age of AI: Developing Nigeria's Higher Education Policy Roadmap" was successfully co-held by UNESCO-ICHEI.
On September 6
UNESCO-ICHEI was invited to participate in the China-Africa-UNESCO High-Level Dialogue on Cooperation in Education and Cultural Heritage Protection, and introduced "Three-year Plan to Support the Transformation of Higher Education in Africa".
On December 6
The 2nd Session of the 3rd UNESCO-ICHEI Governing Board was successfully held.
On December 7
The Higher Education Innovative Development Conference was successfully held by UNESCO-ICHEI in Shenzhen, China, with the theme of "Talent Cultivation Resonating with Digital Intelligence".
On December 13
The High-Level Policy Dialogue in Africa was co-hosted by UNESCO-ICHEI in Dakar, Senegal, with the theme of "Operationalising Strategies for Quality Higher Education in the AI Era".

2025

On January 6
During the IIOE Annual Partnership Meeting 2024, UNESCO-ICHEI hosted the ceremony for the rotation of IIOE Rotating Presidency Unit.
On March 28
UNESCO-ICHEI officially launched DeepSeek on IIOE (DS-I) to the global network of partner higher education institutions (HEIs) and relevant stakeholders.
On April 24
UNESCO-ICHEI and UNESCO IITE jointly launched the Russian version of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) learning platform and Micro-Certification courses in Russian.