Despite global progress, challenges persist with over 771 million youth and adults around the world still do not possess basic literacy skills – 60% of whom are girls and women as of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic and other crises have exacerbated these challenges.

UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week 2023, held from 4 to 7 September in Paris, France, brought together over 1000 participants from more than 50 countries, including Arab states, to discuss the future of digital learning. The event, which was the first since the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on the safe use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), the implications of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for education, and the need to ensure inclusion in digital learning.

In a world that is constantly evolving, the importance of education cannot be overstated. Ensuring that learners are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to thrive is a shared global endeavor of paramount importance. With this commitment in mind, The UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for the Arab States – Beirut spearheaded a series of enlightening webinars throughout September 2023, focusing on various aspects of education in the Arab region.

The world stands at a critical juncture in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the newly released Special Edition of the SDGs Report prepared by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), in collaboration with over 50 international and regional agencies within the UN Statistical System organizations, is a rallying cry for decisive action. Drawing on the latest data and estimates, this report offers an honest assessment of our progress so far while igniting hope for a future of transformative change.

Every year, more than 100 organisations that are part of the Groningen Declaration Network (GDN) gather at the GDN Annual Meeting to lead discussions on developing capabilities, policies, and technical platforms to improve data exchange as a support to citizen and learner mobility. With the introduction of the new hybrid event design, over 170 delegates were able to attend the meeting either in person or remotely in 2022. This year marks the 12th GDN Annual Meeting, which will be held on October 17-19, 2023, in Jordan.

As summer fades into memory, the excitement of a new academic year sweeps across the Arab world. The return to school is not just a seasonal shift but a beacon of hope, a testament to resilience, and a chance for transformative change in the lives of millions of learners. In this edition of the September newsletter, we explore the significance of going “Back to School” in Arab countries and the promising initiatives that are shaping the future of education in the region. Education has always held a special place in the heart of Arab societies. It is seen as a means to embrace a future filled with opportunities. Arab nations recognize that investing in education is investing in the future, and this is reflected in their commitment to providing quality education for all, irrespective of gender or socioeconomic background.

عقدت اليونسكو الدورة الأولى للمؤتمر الدولي الحكومي للدول الأطراف في الاتفاقية العالمية للاعتراف بالمؤهلات المتعلقة بالتعليم العالي في الفترة من 4 إلى 5 يوليو 2023 في مقرّ اليونسكو في باريس. تتمثّل الأهداف الرئيسة للدورة الأولى للمؤتمر في اعتماد النظام الداخلي (RoP) ، وانتخاب مكتب واعتماد برنامج عمل للفترة 2023-2025.

Education remains a fundamental pillar of both global and national endeavors aimed at achieving sustainable development, safeguarding human rights, and promoting peace. However, the world is currently grappling with a pervasive learning crisis, and education systems are struggling to effectively adapt to the evolving demands of our changing world. During the Transforming Education Summit (TES), governments from more than 130 countries pledged to take immediate action to address these pressing challenges. In this context, teachers, who represent the most influential factor in determining learning outcomes, find themselves facing significant challenges.

UNESCO convened the first session of the Intergovernmental Conference of the States Parties to the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education from 4 to 5 July 2023 at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. The main objectives of the first session of the Intergovernmental Conference is to adopt the Rules of Procedure (RoP), elect a Bureau and adopt a work programme for 2023-2025.