On 25 March 2024, the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) hosted an official online meeting with Ahmadu Bello University, the 2024 Rotating Presidency Unit of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE). Both parties shared views and reached a consensus on the key projects and work plans of IIOE for 2024.

UNESCO-ICHEI reported to the Rotating Presidency on key IIOE projects for 2024. These encompass a range of endeavours, notably the 2024 Regional Policy Dialogue Series, the IIOE Micro-Certification Programme, the 1+X GenAI Series of Higher Education Teachers' Professional Development (TPD) Programme, collaborative regional research efforts, and the publication of the Cloud.

UNESCO-ICHEI, in collaboration with influential international organisations and IIOE National Centres, will host a series of regional policy dialogues across Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Arab region, and Francophone West Africa. These dialogues aim to facilitate the seamless integration of GenAI into higher education. They seek to establish a platform for dialogue among regional policymakers, provide tailored policy recommendations to promote the adoption of GenAI in higher education, foster multilateral cooperation for industry-education integration, and enhance the policy environment for partner institutions at the sub-regional level. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the localisation of the IIOE Micro-Certification Programme.

In 2024, UNESCO-ICHEI and IIOE are set to unveil the "1+X" GenAI Series Micro-Certification Training programme, offering fundamental courses in GenAI along with diverse modules covering pedagogy, governance, operations, and industry-academic integration. This initiative aims to empower IIOE partner institutions with essential skills in GenAI. Concurrently, IIOE will collaborate with partner institutions to develop and launch digital teaching IIOE Micro-Certification training courses, facilitating the localised implementation of IIOE Micro-Certification programme and enhancing the digital teaching proficiency of university educators.

Moreover, UNESCO-ICHEI will persist in conducting research and fostering knowledge exchange, intending to publish several joint research reports on the digital transformation of higher education across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Arab countries in 2024. Additionally, several editions of the Cloud will be released, spotlighting themes such as the IIOE Micro-Certification programme, IIOE Global Partners Summit, the White Paper on Higher Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence, the Pioneer Case Award, and the integration of GenAI into higher education.

Professor Kabiru Bala, Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, expressed immense pride in assuming the role of the 2024 IIOE Rotating Presidency Unit. He fully endorsed and supported IIOE's work priorities for 2024, recognising the huge potential of Micro-Certification Programme and the application of GenAI in higher education. Stressing the significance of localised project implementation, he stated that the IIOE Rotating Presidency Unit would play a leading role in vigorously promoting the work of IIOE Nigeria National Centre, facilitating other HEIs in Nigeria to join the IIOE network, as well as strengthening exchanges with other IIOE National Centres around the world, and working with UNESCO-ICHEI to promote the IIOE's global development.

Following the outcomes of the meeting, UNESCO-ICHEI will continue to optimise the IIOE project, promote collaboration between IIOE and partner HEIs and organisations, accelerate the research and practice of AI in higher education applications, and amplify successful cases worldwide through policy dialogues and industry-education integration. These efforts will further leverage the pioneering role of the IIOE ecosystem in driving digital innovation in global higher education.