The Indonesian delegation participated in the 2024 World Digital Education and Digital Educational Governance held in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. The event was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Shangha, Pudong, recently. UNY Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs Prof. Siswantoyo, who represented Indonesian universities in the forum, received a warm welcome from local UNESCO Tech officials and their staff.

This world forum was attended by 170 countries involving 1300 participants consisting of UNESCO, world education experts, university leaders, South ASEAN Minister Education Organization (SEAMEO), Chinese Language Education Center (CLEC), Asean China CEnter (ACC), and other organizations in the world in charge of education. The first day was filled with parallel discussions from Multisectoral Regional Office for East Asia-UNESCO, Shanghai Municipal Education, Minister of Education Angola, Ministry of Education China, Cairo University, SEAMEO, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), Huawei ICT Talent Partnership, President of Lomonosov Moscow State University, President of Kookmin University-Korea, New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

Prof. Siswantoyo in this activity reported on the digital transformation strategy of UNY special characteristics with the stages of Initiation, Incubation, acceleration, Development, maintenance and stepping. Initiation has been launched by the government through the palapa ring scheme with four pillars including digital infrastructure, digital government, digital society, digital economy, incubation contains strengthening the vision of digital-based education for academic and student affairs, finance, resources and cooperation; Acceleration discusses the strengthening of an integrated digital learning system for four fields, "Development includes the development of UNITY for UNY Jaya, and maintenance means that strengthening the digital learning system in the four main fields at UNY" he explained. The Vice Rector also explained about UNY Smart School's, Digital learning focus, and strategies to improve the quality of human resources.

In the near future, UNESCO Tech UNY in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture will carry out joint research programs, scholarship programs for both countries sponsored by UNESCO, and student internship programs. "UNESCO Tech will help strengthen Science Technology Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) in Indonesia by implementing various training programs (upskilling for educators) with the jargon "Better Teacher Better Education". Said Dr. Zhu as Director of UNESCO Tech. (Author: Faqih Ma'arif,  Editor: Dedy, Tj.Lak)