AI Day 2026: UNESCO and CODEMAO launched AI and Coding for Youth platform

On 27 March 2026, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris hosted the AI Day themed around “Youth and Digital Transformation-Global Priority Africa and South-South Cooperation”. The event was organized in partnership with CODEMAO, a China based EdTech company specializing in coding and AI education for young learners. The AI Day focused on the role of youth in digital transformation and the potential of AI to drive sustainable development.

On 26 March 2026 UNESCO and CODEMAO also held a special preparatory session on the UNESCO-CODEMAO “Youth Coding Initiative”.

In a landmark collaboration, UNESCO and CODEMAO have officially launched the Coding and AI for Youth platform, a digital ecosystem designed to provide access to AI and coding education for young learners in Africa and Asia. The platform emerges from a shared commitment to bridge the global digital divide, empower youth with future ready skills, promote ethical and inclusive AI development, support educators in integrating technology into learning. Discover more on the platform at https://iite.unesco.org/youthcoding/

This initiative reflects a strategic alignment between UNESCO’s mission to advance equitable education and CODEMAO’s expertise in engaging youth through technology. By combining global reach with practical, hands-on learning, the platform aims to equip the next generation with the skills needed to thrive in a digital world and to use AI as a force for positive change. For more information visit presentation by Dr Natalia Amelina, Chief of TPDN Unit, UNESCO IITE, PhD at AI Day_Dr Natalia Amelina_26.03.2026

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UNESCO and CODEMAO are collaborating to foster global innovation by utilizing technology and education to empower youth, particularly girls and women, through improved access to coding and digital skills.

Ms Shafika Isaacs, Chief, Section for Technology and AI in Education, UNESCO, and Head a.i., Institute for Information Technologies in Education – IITE (UNESCO Category 1 Institute, Moscow, Russia) meets Mr Tianchi Li, CEO of CODEMAO and Mr Jiang Changjian, Associate Professor, School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, China

From Tools to Thinking: UNESCO IITE and ASPnet Webinars on Intentional Uses of AI in the Classroom

Two international webinars organized by the UNESCO IITE and UNESCO ASPnet in March 2026 brought together educators from across the world to explore how intentional uses of AI in the classroom. Discussions highlighted practical classroom experiences, ethical considerations, and the importance of using AI to foster critical thinking rather than replace learning.

31 March 2026

Terms of Reference (ToR) – Development of a Short Online Course “Empowering learners through Meaningful Youth Engagement in schools” – EXTENDED

In alignment with the UN’s call for meaningful youth engagement, UNESCO has released the *Meaningful youth engagement handbook: Empowering schools to foster active participation and leadership*. This 48-page resource provides teachers and school leaders with evidence-based strategies, reflection tools, and case studies to embed youth voice into school governance and pedagogy. To scale the impact of this handbook and train educators globally, UNESCO is seeking to develop a short, self-paced online course to translate the handbook’s philosophy – that student engagement is not an “add-on” but a core element of quality education – into actionable learning.

13 March 2026