As part of the joint UNESCO CODEMAO Africa-Asia Youth Coding Initiative, UNESCO and CODEMAO organized a study tour to China from July 24 to 31, 2024, for students and teachers from the target countries (Republic of Kenya, Republic of Namibia, Republic of the Congo, and Kingdom of Thailand) alongside colleagues from UNESCO IITE, UNESCO PAX, and UNESCO Field Offices. The delegation from UNESCO IITE included Mr. Tao Zhan, the Director, and Ms. Natalia Amelina, Chief of the Unit of Teacher Professional Development and Networking.
The participants began their journey in Zhuji, Zhejiang, with a Tech Night – Academic Forum. The forum featured lectures and academic exchanges on Artificial Intelligence. The tour officially commenced with an opening ceremony, where honored guests, including Mr. Tao Zhan, Director of UNESCO IITE, Ms. Li Ping from the National Center for Educational Technology (NCET), and Mr. Tianchi Li, Founder and CEO of CODEMAO, formally opened the study tour.
The activities in Zhuji included a hands-on programming course, a school visit, and a visit to a student activity center focused on creative innovation. The next day, the knowledge exchange between teachers and students continued with the observation of student activities in creative programming and an exhibition of works by students from Asia and Africa.
On the following day, the group attended the Summary Conference of the Information Literacy Activity and then traveled to Shenzhen, where they visited a school, exchanged programming knowledge with local students, participated in a tour of a technology firm, and experienced various technology products.
The tour concluded with a visit to CODEMAO’s office in Shenzhen, where representatives from UNESCO IITE, UNESCO PAX, and UNESCO Field Offices participated in a collaborative roundtable on future cooperation. During this roundtable, the achievements of the activities were summarized, and the next steps for the Asia-Africa youth programming project were discussed.
Throughout the tour, participants engaged in creative programming activities and exhibitions, fostering cross-cultural collaboration between teachers and students from Asia and Africa. This week-long event not only enhanced programming skills but also promoted technological innovation among the youth from both continents.