UNESCO-ICHEI Presented at the 14th Annual Ain Shams University International Conference
On 19 April 2026, the thematic session titled "Transforming Education in the Digital Era: Professional Development & Gender-inclusive Leadership in Egypt", hosted by the IIOE Egypt National Centre, was held in Cairo during the 14th Annual Ain Shams University International Conference. The session was attended by Prof. Ramy Maher Ghaly, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs of Ain Shams University; Prof. Mona Hagras, Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Universities of Egypt; and Eng. Amr El-Masry, Director of Education at Microsoft North Africa, among other distinguished guests.
Prof. JIN Li, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, delivered video remarks. Mr. CAO Zian, Chief of the IIOE Management Centre, attended the session and delivered a keynote presentation. Representatives from the Embassy of China in Egypt, the UNESCO Cairo Office, as well as university faculty members and industry representatives from Egypt and across the Arab region, attended the session.
The session focused on enhancing the professional competencies of higher education personnel and advancing gender-inclusive leadership. Through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and the presentation of outcomes, participants explored the role of AI, digital technologies, and innovative pedagogies in empowering educators, improving learning environments, and promoting equity in education. The session aimed to share practical experiences, showcase interim achievements, and strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration, with a view to supporting Egypt's higher education system in becoming more resilient and inclusive.
The thematic session "Transforming Education in the Digital Era: Professional Development & Gender-inclusive Leadership in Egypt"
In his remarks, Prof. JIN Li reviewed the progress of the IIOE Egypt National Centre since its establishment in 2022, noting that it has developed into a strategic hub covering 25 universities and 2 industry partners across Egypt. He highlighted that the National Centre received the BGI·2025 IIOE Higher Education Digital Pioneer Award, demonstrating its leading role within the global IIOE ecosystem. He further emphasised the tangible impact of this partnership on strengthening the capacities of higher education professionals. This includes increasing women's participation and leadership through the Women Leading Change in Africa project, as well as the sustained empowerment of educators through IIOE training programmes in support of faculty development.
Video remarks by Prof. JIN Li, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI
Prof. Ramy Maher Ghaly, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs of Ain Shams University, commended the long-standing collaboration with UNESCO-ICHEI, noting that joint initiatives have not only driven innovation in teaching practices but also laid a strong foundation for the advancement of digital education in Egypt. Ain Shams University remains firmly committed to advancing the digital transformation of higher education, with the IIOE Egypt National Centre playing a pivotal role in strengthening digital teaching and learning capacities across universities nationwide. In contributing to national development, universities should place greater emphasis on building digital competencies and promoting the ethical and effective use of AI in education.
Remarks by Prof. Ramy Maher Ghaly, Vice President for Education & Student Affairs of Ain Shams University
During the keynote session, Mr. CAO Zian noted that strengthening teacher capacity and developing industry-relevant talent are key priorities for the current development of higher education. The IIOE Egypt National Centre has co-developed a suite of localised courses, integrated relevant training into faculty development and evaluation systems, and piloted the IIOE "AI + Cross-Border E-commerce" micro-certification programme, thereby expanding the local application and impact of high-quality educational resources.
On inclusive development, he highlighted the progress achieved under the Women Leading Change in Africa project. Through micro-certification programmes, more than 3,500 higher education professionals have been reached, with women accounting for 66% of participants, strengthening women educators' digital and AI competencies, as well as their leadership capacities.
Mr. CAO Zian, Chief of the IIOE Management Centre, delivering keynote speech
During the session, distinguished guests presented awards to the winners of the second IIOE Egypt Micro-Certification Excellence Awards, along with the "She Leads" Digital Education Excellence Award. The awards recognised outstanding achievements in digital education practice and innovation and were a highlight of the event. They aim to encourage members of the IIOE Egypt National Centre network to actively engage in programme implementation and to promote the local adoption and scaling of high-quality outcomes. Notably, the "She Leads" award, initiated by the National Centre, focuses on women educators' innovative use of AI and emerging technologies in teaching and research.
Presenting awards to the winners
The session and the establishment of these awards represent a key manifestation of the Women Leading Change in Africa project in Egypt. The project, jointly launched by UNESCO-ICHEI and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE), aims to strengthen the capacities and leadership of women in higher education across Africa in the digital and AI era, in support of UNESCO's priorities on Africa and Gender Equality. It has been implemented in seven countries, including Egypt. As a key implementing partner, the IIOE Egypt National Centre is actively advancing related training and capacity-building initiatives, continuously exploring pathways for women's leadership development, and developing transferable case studies to inform policy-making.
