The thematic session "Media and Information Literacy for Higher Education" highlighted that professional development and capacity-building in AI can and should serve as a starting point for strengthening teachers' MIL competencies.

Jointly organised by Shanghai Open University, UNESCO IITE and UIL, the conference brought together education leaders, researchers, policymakers and practitioners from around the world to explore how AI and digital technologies can support more inclusive and innovative lifelong learning.

This year, the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) convened its Governing Board (GB) in Beijing, China, for its 26th Session, held on 20 August 2026 within the framework of the Global Smart Education (GSE2026) Conference.

This report seeks to support policymakers by providing the analysis of existing teacher AI competency frameworks and offering evidence-based recommendations for the design of national frameworks that promote consistent high-quality teacher development in AI.

UNESCO invites educational and cultural organizations, libraries, museums and communities to join Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2026 (24–30 October). This year’s decentralized approach encourages stakeholders to organize and register their own online or in-person events throughout October and November.