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.

Speakers highlighted that growing demand for AI teacher training offers a strategic opportunity to strengthen MIL, shared national policy experiences, and called for proactive, equitable approaches to navigating the rapidly evolving AI-driven information landscape.

UNESCO IITE has published a Russian-language version of the brief “Media and Information Literacy for All: Closing the Gaps”, produced by the UNESCO Unit for Media and Information Literacy and Digital Competencies.

The session “AI and Women’s Leadership in Higher Education: Insights from UNESCO IITE and UNESCO-ICHEI Initiatives” explored how strengthening women’s AI competencies, leadership and institutional support can advance more inclusive digital transformation, drawing on the experience of 'Women Leading Change in Africa'.

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.