The year 2026 marks the APEC "China Year". It is a prime opportunity for all stakeholders to embrace the APEC spirit of openness, innovation, inclusivity, and cooperation, while unlocking new possibilities for regional collaboration.

     Event Details    

   Date: 6 June 2026

   Location: Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) Convention Center, Shenzhen, China

   Hosts:  

• UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia (UNESCO Beijing)

• UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE)
• Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)

• International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI)

      Programme Theme    

This session will examine the impact of AI and digital technology on education. It will feature the joint release of a series of global and regional research reports on higher education digital transformation, conducted collaboratively by UNESCO and UNESCO-ICHEI. The session will provide insights into global and regional education governance trends, and explore the deeper dimensions of technology empowerment and international cooperation in talent development.

This session will focus on emerging trends in the deep integration of AI with key industries. In collaboration with industry partners and sectoral organisations, a series of IIOE micro-credential training programmes will be launched, covering "AI + cross-border E-commerce", "AI + life sciences", "agricultural technology". These initiatives aim to provide practical models for aligning talent competencies with evolving industry demands, supporting stakeholders in developing application-oriented professionals who are at the cutting edge of their respective industries.

This session will focus on the practical application of frontier technologies by enterprises, examine the transformation of higher education driven by technological change, showcase application cases of technologies in the fields of higher education and vocational education.

This session will highlight the core roles played by IIOE National Centres, Regional Centres, and Training Centres within the IIOE ecosystem at national and regional levels. It will feature the release of the IIOE Development Report (2019–2026), demonstrating the achievements of the IIOE ecosystem in advancing higher education innovation and talent development.

    Expected Outcomes    

  In collaboration with UNESCO Headquarters, the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC), and UNESCO field offices, jointly release Global and Regional Research Reports on the Digital Transformation of Higher Education

  In partnership with industry and academia, launch IIOE training programmes on frontier technological application and industry integration, covering "AI + cross-border E-commerce", "AI + life sciences", "agricultural technology", “AI + low-altitude economy”, and other fields

   Identify and showcase exemplary cases of leading technology enterprises driving future-oriented talent skills enhancement and capacity building

   In coordination with IIOE National Centres, Regional Centres, Training Centres, and other partners, jointly release the IIOE Development Report (2019–2026)

   Together with IIOE partners, release the IIOE Ecosystem Partner Consensus

As artificial intelligence reshapes global industrial landscapes with unprecedented depth, higher education stands at the crossroads of systemic transformation.

In addressing the era-defining mission of restructuring industry-academia connections and nurturing a new generation of digital-intelligent professionals, it is paramount for all stakeholders in higher education to pool their wisdom and build a shared consensus.