The Sixth Annual Meeting of the Global Education Coalition will take place on 24 March 2026 at UNESCO in Paris under the theme “Turning vision into value: Transforming education together.” It will gather Member States, Coalition partners and education leaders to discuss how digital transformation and artificial intelligence can generate meaningful social and economic value for education systems.
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The event will be preceded on 23 March by a Digital Transformation Collaborative (DTC) Country Engagement Day, convening governments and partners for technical dialogue, peer exchange and capacity-building to advance coherent, country-led digital transformation in education. Together, these events will help shape the next phase of collaboration for education transformation.
The Digital Transformation Collaborative is a multistakeholder alliance of intergovernmental, non-governmental, and private sector organizations. It is a subgroup of members of the Global Education Coalition, founded to respond to the educational disruptions of COVID-19 and support recovery and transformation.
Through a combination of national engagement, regional dialogue and global advocacy, the DTC supports countries worldwide to transition from isolated technology interventions to comprehensive strategies that embed digital transformation across the entire education system.
At the core of the collaborative’s approach is the six pillars framework, addressing governance, content, infrastructure, financing, data systems and capacity development. The framework enables countries to assess their digital maturity, bring together key stakeholders and identify priority actions. It supports a holistic vision of transformation that goes beyond the deployment of digital tools.
This approach ensures that digital transformation is not treated as a standalone reform, but as an integral component of broader education system strengthening.
The example of Chile: from consultation to national strategy
In close collaboration with the government of Chile, the Digital Transformation Collaborative facilitated a structured consultation process combining thematic workshops, stakeholder consultations and a national dialogue involving more than 200 participants.
This inclusive process led to the identification of 200 priority actions to advance digital transformation in education. Importantly, engagement across political parties helped position digital education as a long-term state priority, ensuring continuity beyond electoral cycles.
The resulting national strategy, announced at the XIII País Digital Summit in November 2025, reflects a shift towards a more coordinated, participatory and sustainable approach to digital education.
“This national plan marks a turning point for education in Chile. It is not only about incorporating technology, but about ensuring that digital transformation becomes a state policy with continuity and sustainability. It is a historic opportunity to reduce gaps, advance equity and ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has equitable and sustainable access to the opportunities that digital education provides.” – Esther Kuisch-Laroche, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Santiago.
Other examples of country engagements
To date, DTC has supported several countries in applying the six pillars framework to their national education ecosystems. In most cases, this work has involved conducting a digital maturity assessment, followed by in-country workshops designed to translate findings into actionable priorities.
In Egypt, efforts have focused on building upon existing digital transformation initiatives, which helped mitigate disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key priorities include developing sustainable connectivity models and strengthening digital platforms for learning, teacher support and system management.
In Brazil, discussions have focused on advancing national quality standards for digital resources, developing innovative approaches to connectivity financing, enhancing interoperability of education data systems and strengthening the measurement of digital competencies for both students and teachers.
In Tunisia, the engagement formed part of a broader regional initiative on digital education in the Maghreb. Consultations highlighted opportunities to further strengthen policy implementation, including through enhanced financing approaches, streamlined processes and reinforced digital platforms to support learning, skills certification and inclusive pathways, particularly for out-of-school children and learners with additional needs. Discussions also emphasized the importance of improving interoperability across education data systems and advancing digital and AI competency frameworks.
Global policy dialogue
Across all contexts, a consistent lesson has emerged: effective digital transformation requires integrated, system-wide approaches rather than isolated interventions.
Beyond national engagements, the Digital Transformation Collaborative also serves as a platform for regional collaboration and global policy dialogue.
At the ADEA Triennale 2025 in Ghana, representatives from across Africa explored the DTC’s innovative financing toolkit alongside the digital maturity assessment, highlighting the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches supported by sustainable financing and strong leadership.
The collaborative also contributes to global advocacy and knowledge-sharing through major international platforms, including the United Nations General Assembly and UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week.
Discussions have focused on the cost and sustainability of digital transformation, as well as the role of artificial intelligence across the six pillars framework. These exchanges have also supported the refinement of tools such as the digital maturity assessment and their expanded application to higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Get involved
Governments and partners interested in engaging with the DTC facility or learning more about the DTC are invited to contact: globalEDcoalition@unesco.org.