The "2025 IIOE Higher Education Digitalisation Pioneer Case Award" has been officially sponsored by BGI Group, with the branding name of the award being "BGI Group · 2025 IIOE Higher Education Digitalisation Pioneer Case Award" to express the appreciation of the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (Shenzhen, China) (hereinafter referred to as "UNESCO-ICHEI"). The sponsorship of the award is a living demonstration of BGI Group's continuous support of UNESCO-ICHEI and its contribution to the digital development of higher education.

Dedication to serve social needs,develop talents and promote educational equity

The BGI Group carries the core mission of integrating science and education. It has established BGI College to conduct a series of projects, including joint talent cultivation under this mission. A series of projects were carried out, including public welfare donations and joint talent cultivation under this mission. BGI College explored new mechanisms for collaborative education with Chinese and overseas universities, and established an innovative education model that complements the current life science education. It aims to nurture leading talents who can drive the progress and breakthrough of life science and strategic emerging industries.

Through its innovative education model, BGI College has pioneered the "3+1+X" integrated undergraduate, master's, and doctoral education system. It collaborates with over 60 universities across China and offers learning experience mounted on authentic research projects to drive teaching, enabling students to acquire practical skills and meet social needs. In terms of global cooperation, BGI College actively promotes international educational exchanges. For example, it conducts agricultural technology training and public health talent cultivation projects in multiple African countries to help improve local food security and medical standards. In Thailand, BGI Group collaborates with Chulalongkorn University and other institutes to promote genomic research and precision medicine education, support the "Genomics Comprehensive Action Plan", and promote the development of life sciences in Southeast Asia. Additionally, BGI Group also provides public health assistance in countries such as Sierra Leone, such as providing technical support for Ebola and COVID-19 testing during the outbreaks, and promoting local medical talent training.

BGI College not only focuses on the cultivation of high-end scientific research talents, but also is committed to basic skills training, such as collaborating with the Shenzhen biopharmaceutical industry to conduct training for bioinformatics data analysts, thereby enhancing the level of vocational education.

This time, through the sponsorship of the "BGI Group · 2025 IIOE Higher Education Digitalisation Pioneer Case Award", BGI Group and BGI College further demonstrate their efforts in supporting the high-quality and equitable development of higher education. The sponsored award aims to encourage the emergence of more excellent cases, actively empower technological education innovation in developing country institutions, and promote the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4.

Strategic cooperation to jointly promote the integrated development of life sciences and educational innovation

In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), BGI College serves an active role in ensuring talents are exerting their leading influence, devoting their expertise into the life science and health industry. This exploration has extended to a broader international stage. Through cooperation with the UNESCO-ICHEI, BGI College will launch micro-certification courses in fields such as "AI + biotechnology" and "AI + agriculture" on the IIOE (International Institute of Online Education) digital learning platform, supporting universities, educators and students in the Global South countries to grasp the cutting-edge developments in life sciences.

On March 26, 2025, UNESCO-ICHEI and BGI College signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will leverage their respective advantages and conduct in-depth cooperation in the construction and sharing of course resources in life sciences and agriculture, as well as the development of micro-credential courses, jointly promoting the integrated development of life science and educational innovation. Both parties expect to upgrade the smart classroom project into professional life science laboratories, and will utilize the partner network of UNESCO-ICHEI to jointly carry out activities such as standard setting and pioneer award selection.

Based on this strategic cooperation, the two parties will continue to explore the new biologically intelligent field, pumping scientific momentum into global sustainable development.

BGI Group visiting UNESCO-ICHEI

The 12th issue of CLOUD, the flagship magazine of UNSCO-ICEHI, recently delved deeply into the innovative model of BGI College, diving into the scientific question-driven, competency-based learning, and global talent cultivation model. This case vividly demonstrated the multi-sector collaboration in talent development. To read more about the article, please visit UNESCO-ICHEI's official website. We welcome readers interested in the development of life sciences to consult and discuss how to cultivate innovative talents in the new era.

CLOUD Issue 12 Link:https://en.ichei.org/dist/index.html#/reader?id=1592&qk_qishu=1&lang=1

    About BGI Group

BGI Group is one of the world's leading life science and genomics organizations. BGI's mission is to use genomics to benefit mankind and to be a leader in the era of life sciences. BGI follows a genomics development model of "research, production and application". With businesses in more than 100 countries and regions around the world, BGI has established cooperation and partnerships with thousands of different organizations across multi-disciplinary research areas including medical health, resource conservation and judicial services. At the same time, BGI provides equipment, technical support and solutions for the needs of national economies and people's livelihoods, such as precision medicine and precision health.  

    About BGI College

The BGI College in Shenzhen was established in 2011. It aims to promote an innovative educational model that complements current life science education. Through internationalized and open educational practices, it collaborates with top universities at home and abroad to offer innovative education at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, cultivating leading talents who can drive the progress of life science and the development of strategic emerging industries. Based on the latest frontier research advancements, it conducts high-end training in genomics and popularizes education in the field of life science, cultivating new types of workers who meet the requirements of the economic and social development in the era of life.