On 30 July 2025, the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) jointly launched the AI Training-of-Trainers Programme for the East Africa region during the 16th IUCEA Annual Conference. Leveraging the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) platform and its course resources, the programme provides systematic support for building digital and AI application competencies among faculty members of IUCEA member universities. It focuses on enhancing teachers’ AI literacy and practical teaching capabilities, thereby promoting localized exploration and practices in the digital transformation of education.

Professor Idris A. Rai, Deputy Executive Secretary of IUCEA, noted that AI is reshaping the global higher education landscape at an unprecedented pace. Higher education institutions in East Africa must seize the opportunity to accelerate faculty capacity building and transform teaching models. As part of its mission to promote regional higher education collaboration and development, IUCEA has partnered with UNESCO-ICHEI to launch the AI Training-of-Trainers Programme, which aims to cultivate AI-literate faculty members through systematic training and drive improvements in teaching methods and quality in higher education.

Professor Idris A. Rai introduced the three implementation phases of the AI Training-of-Trainers Programme. In the first phase, UNESCO-ICHEI and IUCEA utilised the IIOE platform and its micro-certification courses to provide online training on AI literacy and teaching methodologies for key faculty members. The second phase engaged those faculty members to co-develop localised course content and training resources, addressing the needs of higher education professionals. The programme is now in its third phase, where localised AI competency training is being delivered online to a broader group of faculty members across IUCEA member institutions, promoting the transformation and innovation of teaching epistemologies and methodologies in higher education institutions.

Mr. CAO Zian, Chief of the Global Partnership and Programme Office at UNESCO-ICHEI, shared several cases, in which UNESCO-ICHEI partners with universities, international organisations, and industry partners to jointly advance AI and digital competency development by leveraging the IIOE platform and course resources. He stated that UNESCO-ICHEI is working with global partners to build a community of practices that promotes deep cooperation and knowledge exchange in the AI empowerment of higher education.

The AI Training-of-Trainers Programme will serve as a model case of UNESCO-ICHEI for bridging global experience and localised implementation. The programme will not only improve the ability of higher education professionals to apply AI in teaching and research, but also provide replicable experience for advancing digital transformation in higher education across East Africa. Looking ahead, UNESCO-ICHEI will continue working closely with IUCEA to expand training coverage and promote deeper integration of AI into higher education.

About the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA)

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), established in 1970 and headquartered in Kampala, Uganda, is the key institution under the East African Community (EAC) for promoting cooperation in higher education. It currently has nearly 150 member universities across the East African region. In 2009, IUCEA was formally integrated into the legal framework of the EAC. Since then, it has remained committed to enhancing the quality of regional higher education, facilitating cross-border academic recognition, and promoting policy alignment, as a major driving force in the advancement of higher education integration in Africa.

From 29 to 31 July 2025, the 16th IUCEA Annual Conference was held in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Under the theme “A New Vision for East African Higher Education Amid Global Educational Transformation,” the conference brought together representatives from governments, universities, international organisations, and industry to discuss key topics such as interdisciplinary education, lifelong learning, digital transformation in education, and AI.