Hangzhou, China | Dr. Ghadeer Abdullah Al‑Tayyar, Consultant and Writer

The UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education (UNESCO RCQE) participated in the General Assembly of the World Digital Education Alliance, held as part of the World Digital Education Conference 2026 in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, at the Hangzhou International Expo Center. The Center participated in its capacity as a founding member of the World Digital Education Alliance, an international platform dedicated to promoting dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of expertise in the fields of digital education and artificial intelligence in education.

The World Digital Education Conference 2026 was held under the theme “AI and Education: Transformation, Development and Governance.” Participants discussed ways to harness artificial intelligence to support systemic transformation in education, enhance the quality of education systems, and expand access to digital resources and solutions. The conference was hosted in Hangzhou from 11 to 13 May 2026, with broad participation from representatives of governments, international organizations, educational institutions, universities, experts, and technology leaders from around the world.

During the meeting, H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Mudaires, Director General of UNESCO RCQE, delivered a statement in which he emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of the World Digital Education Alliance in the Arab region. He highlighted the promising potential of Arab countries in the fields of digital education and technological transformation, as well as the need for effective international platforms that support knowledge exchange, capacity building, and the development of high-quality partnerships in this field.

His Excellency presented a proposed regional initiative under the umbrella of the Alliance, entitled “The Arab Programme for Cooperation in Digital Education.” The initiative aims to strengthen regional and international cooperation in digital education, develop digital content, and support digital transformation and artificial intelligence in education through four main pillars: establishing a regional platform for communication and coordination between the Alliance and Arab institutions; implementing joint programmes and projects in multilingual digital content development and training; supporting the accession of Arab countries to the Alliance by raising awareness and facilitating membership procedures; and organizing regional events under the umbrella of the Alliance, including an Arab International Conference on Digital Education and specialized workshops.

The Director General affirmed that the initiative contributes to advancing several Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all; SDG 8, related to decent work and economic growth; SDG 9, related to industry, innovation and infrastructure; and SDG 17, related to partnerships for the goals.

The Center’s participation underscored the importance of building more effective Arab and international cooperation pathways in digital education, in a manner that enhances the exchange of expertise, the development of policies and capacities, and innovation in the use of smart technologies to serve education quality, equity and inclusion. This participation is aligned with the directions of the World Digital Education Alliance, which seeks to build a global digital education community, promote dialogue and exchange, advance practical cooperation, and establish sustainable mechanisms for international cooperation in support of high-quality digital transformation in education.

The official platform of the Alliance lists the UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education among the members of the World Digital Education Alliance, alongside a number of UNESCO Category I and Category II centers, regional and international organizations, universities, research centers, and technology-sector entities.

The conference witnessed the launch and presentation of a number of international outputs in the field of digital education and artificial intelligence, including initiatives, standards and frameworks related to the ethics of artificial intelligence in education, the development of smart education platforms, the enhancement of digital resource sharing, and bridging the global digital divide. Xinhua News Agency also reported that the conference showcased significant outcomes, including the upgrading of a smart education platform and the launch of initiatives, frameworks and standards related to artificial intelligence and digital education.

This participation reaffirms UNESCO RCQE’s commitment to supporting international directions in the areas of education quality, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence in education. It also reinforces the Arab region’s contribution to global initiatives supporting the future of education, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. It further supports the presence of Arab countries in international platforms concerned with digital education and expands global partnerships in ways that strengthen integration between national and regional initiatives and relevant international frameworks for developing digital education and employing modern technologies and artificial intelligence to improve education quality.

His Excellency concluded his statement by affirming UNESCO RCQE’s readiness to lead the first phase of implementation of this initiative, through coordinating efforts with partners, experts, and relevant institutions. This would enhance innovation in digital education, strengthen the Arab region’s presence in international initiatives, and achieve tangible impact in developing education systems across Member States. He also reaffirmed the Center’s commitment to its role in supporting education quality, advancing digital transformation, and expanding international partnerships, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and UNESCO’s directions in enabling quality and inclusive education, and promoting innovation and artificial intelligence in education.

On the sidelines of the conference, His Excellency also met with H.E. Professor Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, as well as a number of ministers, senior officials, heads of international organizations and entities, and university leaders, to strengthen avenues of international cooperation with the Center.

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