The 2024 edition of UNESCO Digital Learning Week will take place from September 2 to 5, 2024, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, under the theme "Steering Technology for Education." This year’s event aims to foster multistakeholder cooperation in the development and use of AI in education, focusing on a human-centered and environmentally sustainable approach. Special attention will be given to exploring the interconnections between digital transformation and greening education.

Day 1: September 2, 2024

Opening of UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2024: Ministers Discuss AI in Education

On September 2, 2024, UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2024 commenced in Paris with an impressive opening ceremony. Key figures such as Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, and Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, who delivered a video message, addressed the gathering. The day's highlight was a Ministerial Roundtable where education ministers from countries like Greece, Malaysia, Senegal, Bolivia, and Venezuela deliberated on integrating AI into education to achieve sustainable development goals. The day also featured the prestigious UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICT in Education. Discussions on AI competencies for students and breakout sessions focusing on the development of AI curricula for schoolchildren rounded out the day. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Permanent Delegation of Turkmenistan to UNESCO participated in the event.

Day 2: September 3, 2024

Ethics of AI and Competencies in Education to Take Center Stage on Day Two of Digital Learning Week

On the second day of UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2024, discussions will continue on the ethical dimensions of AI use. The day will kick off with a public lecture on AI regulation, featuring perspectives from the United States and the European Union. A significant roundtable will focus on Africa's Continental AI Strategy and its implications for education. The day will also feature sessions on the ethics of AI in school and higher education, alongside discussions on digital literacy and ethical challenges across different regions. In the afternoon, special attention will be given to AI competencies for teachers, including the launch of a new competency framework and discussions on the use of AI across various educational levels. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Permanent Delegation of Turkmenistan to UNESCO are expected to participate.

Day 3: September 4, 2024

Generative AI to Be the Key Focus of Day Three

The third day of UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2024 will be dedicated to generative AI. The day will begin with a plenary session discussing lessons learned from early adopters of generative AI in education. Breakout sessions will explore the use of AI in low-tech environments, the development of AI tools for marginalized groups, and system-level AI tools for teachers. Discussions on personalized learning and assessment using AI, featuring demonstrations of innovative AI-driven solutions for education, are also on the agenda. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Permanent Delegation of Turkmenistan to UNESCO are expected to attend.

Day 4: September 5, 2024

Conclusion of UNESCO Digital Learning Week with a Focus on Sustainable Futures and Youth Initiatives

The final day of UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2024 will focus on the transition to sustainable and green education. The day is expected to feature a plenary session on policy perspectives for sustainable futures, followed by a series of practical sessions on the potential of digital technologies for greening education and their impact on the environment. The day will culminate in a Youth Forum, where young activists from around the world will discuss the role of digital technologies in education and their impact on the environment, ending the event with a call to action for future initiatives. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Permanent Delegation of Turkmenistan to UNESCO will participate.

International Cooperation Department 

Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan