(Times are CET)

On 18 February 2026, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), together with Huawei, associate member of the Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL), will unveil a new global, multi-lingual course designed to strengthen the digital skills of literacy educators worldwide.

Literacy educators are at the heart of inclusive, equitable and high‑quality education. Their work empowers learners, supports communities and drives social transformation. Yet, despite their vital role, many continue to face persistent challenges: limited access to professional development, precarious working conditions, and insufficient policy recognition. The rapid pace of digital change and the COVID‑19 pandemic have intensified these pressures, underscoring the urgent need for digital, learner‑centred approaches to adult learning and education. In low-resource, remote or crisis‑affected settings, educators often lack continuous training opportunities, digital tools and strong professional support networks – barriers that hinder their ability to meet the evolving needs of their learners.

To help bridge these gaps, UIL, with the support of GAL and Huawei, has developed a free, open-access, multilingual course - available in English, French, Arabic and Spanish - and hosted on the UIL Learning Hub.

Grounded in UNESCO’s Recommendation on Adult Learning and Education (RALE), the Marrakech Framework for Action and the Digital Empowerment for Lifelong Learning and Transformative Andragogy (DELTA) framework, this new course offers a flexible learning pathway to advance the professionalisation of literacy educators and enhance the quality of literacy provision globally. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate supporting their ongoing professional growth and recognition.

The global launch webinar will officially introduce the new course, explore the evolving role of literacy educators in digitally transforming learning environments, and highlight regional perspectives on capacity‑building priorities. It will also encourage governments, civil society organisations and regional networks to champion the use and contextual adaptation of the course.

Languages

Arabic, English, French and Spanish

Programme

13:30–13:40: Opening Remarks

Moderator: Ms Samah Shalaby, Programme Specialist, UIL

• Ms Isabell Kempf, Director, UIL
• N.N., Huawei (tbc)

13:40–14:35

Panel session: Empowering literacy educators in the digital age: Regional and national perspectives (3 rounds)

Moderator: Ms Madina Bolly, Senior Programme Specialist, UIL

Speakers:

• Mr John Edeh Onimisi, Director of Literacy and Development, National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), Nigeria
• Mr Lazare Golo, Directeur de l'Alphabétisation et de laPromotion des langues nationales, Ministère de l'Education nationale et de la Promotion Civique, Tchad
• Mr Rajiv Kumar Singh, Director (Academic), National Institute for Open Schooling, India
• Mr Batjargal Batkhuyag, Capacity Support and Advocacy Adviser (CSAA), ASPBAE – Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education
• Mr Mauricio Velasco, Regional Project Coordinator, DVV International (Latin America)
• ANLCA Representative, Kingdom of Morocco (TBC)

Panel synthesis: Ms Rakhat Zholdoshalieva, Team Leader, UIL

14:35- 15:00: Course overview and launch

Ms Annapurna Ayyappan, Programme Specialist, UIL

Testimonial:

• Ms Blessing Anyikwa, Professor, Adult Basic Education, University of Lagos, Nigeria

Supported by HUAWEI