The 2024 World Digital Education Conference will take place in Shanghai, China, from January 29 to 31, 2024. At the invitation of Mr. Huai Jinpeng, the Chinese Minister of Education, Amb. Simona-Mirela Miculescu, President of UNESCO’s 42nd General Conference, will participate in the upcoming event. Hosted by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, in collaboration with the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, this conference is set to gather over 600 attendees, including Ministers and senior education officials, UN agency representatives, academics, teachers, digital technology specialists, and private sector stakeholders. Under the overarching theme “Digital Education: Application, Sharing, and Innovation,” the conference will delve into a variety of crucial topics, including enhancing digital literacy among educators, the digitalization of education, global trends in digital education development, artificial intelligence ethics, and the opportunities and challenges posed by digital transformation in primary education and governance. This event follows the UN Transforming Education Summit, which recognized digital transformation in education as a key area for action. The conference aims to provide valuable insights on ensuring that the benefits of digital advancements are accessible to all learners.
In her opening remarks, Amb. Miculescu emphasized the transformative role of digital education as a vital complement to traditional learning, highlighting its importance in maintaining educational continuity during crises, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she also addressed significant challenges that must be confronted, such as accessibility, content quality, and connectivity. Amb. Miculescu urged policymakers to create free, open, and universally accessible digital learning platforms featuring high-quality, curriculum-aligned resources while prioritizing user privacy and data security. She underscored the necessity of inclusivity and quality in digital education, particularly emphasizing gender equality to bridge existing digital skill gaps. In light of the rise in hate speech and discrimination exacerbated by social media, she called for careful monitoring of content quality on educational platforms. She announced that UNESCO has designated March 19 as the International Day for Digital Learning, aiming to promote collaborative actions on significant digital education issues globally and nationally. Lastly, Amb. Miculescu congratulated China on the establishment of the UNESCO International Institute for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education as a UNESCO Category I institute in Shanghai. During her visit, she plans to tour the esteemed Tongji University, Suzhou’s renowned classical