On May 30, 2024, International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) attended the 12th International Ain Shams University Congress. Organised by Ain Shams University, the conference aims to explore and emphasise the power of partnerships and alliances in enhancing innovation within educational institutions. It is expected that mutual communication will promote the integration between technology and education and empower educators as well as learners.

Prof. Mona Abdel-Aal Elzahry, Director of IIOE National Centre, delivered an opening speech

Prof. JIN Li, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, Vice President of Southern University of Science and Technology, China, delivered an online speech, reflecting on the long-standing cooperative relationship between Ain Shams University and the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE). He acknowledged the remarkable achievements in higher education since the establishment of the IIOE Egypt National Centre. Additionally, Prof. JIN briefly introduced the latest project developed by the IIOE platform. He mentioned the key development initiative for the year, "IIOE Micro-Certification", and stated that IIOE would continue to support the digital empowerment of educators and leaders. Prof. JIN also emphasised the importance of partnerships in advancing educational practices, particularly in the application of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. He once again expressed his gratitude to Ain Shams University and the IIOE Egypt National Centre for hosting this conference.

Prof. JIN Li, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, delivered an online speech

Prof. LIM Cher Ping, Chief Expert of IIOE, Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation at the Education University of Hong Kong, China, delved deeply into how AI can be integrated into the field of education and touched upon opportunities AI presents in enhancing teaching quality, sharing educational resources, and promoting lifelong learning. Prof. LIM particularly emphasised the importance of "learning how to use AI for learning" in the era of Generative AI (GenAI) and discussed the challenges AI applications face in higher education. In his speech, Prof. LIM highlighted several key points on how to enhance the capabilities of AI in the field of higher education, including the application of GenAI in teaching and learning processes, and how it prompts us to reconsider the definition of education and the reflection of teaching methodologies.

Prof. LIM Cher Ping, Chief Expert of IIOE, delivered a speech

At the conference, Mr. SIT Fung, Chief of the IIOE Management Centre, delivered a speech titled "IIOE: Empowering Educators in the Age of AI". He focused on four application scenarios supported by the IIOE platform and introduced the collaboration model with IIOE National Centres in detail. Mr. SIT also highlighted several key projects provided by the platform, including micro-certification, the 1+X GenAI course series, and the intelligent teaching assistant iTA. Additionally, he had an in-depth discussion with the attendees on the mutual recognition of micro-certification, which demonstrated his profound insights and long-term vision of educational innovation.

Mr. SIT Fung, Chief of the IIOE Management Centre, delivered a speech

The International Ain Shams University Congress is a significant academic event organised by Ain Shams University in Egypt. It covers a wide range of topics across multiple fields, including technology, medicine, and humanities.

This year's congress is dedicated to promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange among academics and researchers. It discussed about various innovative applications such as AI, sustainable development, and online education. The conference aims to foster global cooperation and development in the education field, along with improvements in education quality and innovation capacity.