UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

11/14/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/15/2024 02:54

UNESCO spearheads South-South cooperation in Africa for developing AI competencies

The seminar was organized by UNESCO in cooperation with the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) Africa 21 Hub, in the framework of UNESCO's initiative on Digital competencies for teachers and school students in Member States of the Group of 77+China, supported by the South-South Cooperation fund of the Group.

The seminar was guided by UNESCO's AI competency frameworks for teachersand AI competency framework for students, as well as UNESCO's Guidance for generative AI in education and research, AI and education: guidance for policy-makers, and K-12 AI curricula: A mapping of government-endorsed AI curricula.

Speakers from Digital Moment (Canada), the FAST Foundation (Armenia), and the Global Digital Library (Norway), shared insights on building digital and AI competencies, as well as key regional partners, such as the Institut de la Francophonie pour l'éducation et la formation, the Conference of Ministers of Education of French-speaking States and Governments, and the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie.

Enhancing partnerships required for AI competency development

In her opening remarks, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Education, Ms Stefania Giannini, highlighted the seminar's role in advancing the Pact for the Future, adopted at the Summit of the Future in September 2024, and called for international cooperation to support developing countries in strengthening their AI capacities.

UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations, Mr Firmin Edouard Matoko, highlighted UNESCO's dedication to supporting African development through education, noting that one-third of its educational budget is dedicated to the continent. "These frameworks are essential tools for reshaping education to meet the demands of the digital age," he said, emphasizing the need to tailor AI competency frameworks to the African context.

Ministers of Education in attendance also expressed the transformative potential of AI in education. Senegal's Minister, H.E. Mr Moustapha Mamba Guirassy, called for collaboration to seize this critical juncture, stating, "Digital education and artificial intelligence are key levers for transforming our educational systems. Let us unite our efforts to approach this decisive turning point together." Côte d'Ivoire's Minister, H.E. Ms Mariatou Koné, highlighted the role of digital learning in reducing inequalities, saying, "Digital education and artificial intelligence must reduce inequalities by providing quality education and promoting collaborative learning." Guinea-Bissau's Minister, H.E. Mr Herry Mane, noted the importance of digital skills, adding, "Digital skills are essential for leveraging AI. We are developing a digital programme and the necessary infrastructure to support this goal."

The two-day event included workshops led by Prof. Mamadou Kaba Traoré, who helped country representatives to reflect on and develop AI competency frameworks tailored to their national contexts. Through case studies from African countries including Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cameroon and international examples from Armenia, Brazil, France, and Norway, participants explored best practices in digital education and AI competencies.