On October 15th and 16th, the Second New Infrastructure Construction Development Forum co-hosted by China International Contractors Association and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei) will be held in Dongguan and Shenzhen, China. The International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) was invited to the Forum, and the Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, LI Ming, delivered a speech on October 15th.
The theme of the Second New Infrastructure Construction Development Forum was Co-constructing a New Ecosystem of Infrastructure and Blueprinting a New Pattern of Development. The Forum focused on multi-level cooperation of industrial policies and discussed strategies to coordinate central enterprises, ICT providers, industrial organisations and other stakeholders to advance industrial policies to a closed business loop, aiming to promote rapid and benevolent development of the international market expansion in multiple industries. Representatives from relevant policy governing units, such as the Department of Foreign Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Commerce, The National Development and Reform Commission of China, and China International Development Cooperation Agency, leaders from 30 central enterprises including CSCEC International, CREC International, and CITIC Construction, plus experts and scholars in relevant fields were also present at the Forum.
Director LI delivered a speech titledDigital Talents Accelerate the Development of New Infrastructure Constructionand pointed out that the New Infrastructure Construction overseas had prospered under the One Belt One Road advocacy. He also remarked that the digital transformation in traditional industries and the cultivation of digital talents were essential in steering rapid and benevolent development of international market expansion for various industries, bringing unprecedented opportunities and challenges for global higher education institutions in terms of digital talents cultivation.
In the post-pandemic era, developing countries have higher demands on digital talents cultivation, and digitalising local education becomes an important task. UNESCO-ICHEI, since its establishment, has focused on knowledge production, capacity building, technological support, and information-sharing. Relying on the advantages of Shenzhen's information and communication technology (ICT) sector and drawing upon China's experience in the massification of higher education, UNESCO-ICHEI intends to improve quality and equity in higher education to support the development of higher education in the Asia Pacific, West Asia and Africa. The Center also promoted innovation and digitalisation in partner higher education institutions through flagship programs such as the Shenzhen Funds-in-Trust, Smart Classroom, the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE), and Capacity Building Workshops.
Director LI listed, in particular, the multilateral partnership between UNESCO-ICHEI and some leading ed-tech companies and technological enterprises in the world. He pointed out that UNESCO-ICHEI cannot realise current achievements without the support of its partners. UNESCO-ICHEI also worked with partner higher education institutions and partner enterprises to improve the digital infrastructure in higher education institutions in developing countries and promote the digital transformation and capacity building of the local higher education workforce. These efforts helped align local education demands and the workforce's abilities and strengthen the bond between China and other developing countries.
At the end of the speech, Director LI expressed willingness on behalf of UNESCO-ICHEI to develop a partnership with domestic enterprises present at the Forum regarding digital talents cultivation and customised education training. UNESCO-ICHEI looks forward to establishing close relationships with Huawei and more Chinese-funded enterprises to collectively promote the digital transformation of higher education institutions in developing countries, advance digital talents cultivation, fulfil needs for digital talents in multiple industries, further improve South-South cooperation and foster a win-win relationship among stakeholders.
On October 15th and 16th, the Second New Infrastructure Construction Development Forum co-hosted by China International Contractors Association and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei) will be held in Dongguan and Shenzhen, China. The International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) was invited to the Forum, and the Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, LI Min
