CLOUD Issue 14 Officially Released｜Beat of Digital Pioneering
UNESCO-ICHEI's Flagship Magzine
CLOUD Issue 14 Officially Released
On 1 September 2025, the "BGI Group · 2025 IIOE Higher Education Digitalisation Pioneer Case Award" (hereafter the Pioneer Awards) drew to a close in Singapore. The pioneers highlighted in award-winning cases exemplify the leading and demonstrative role played by the IIOE global partners in advancing digital transformation. Through practical exploration, they have opened pathways that others can follow; through lived experience, they offer approaches that can be adapted; and through sustained commitment, they continue to generate momentum for progress. With this shared sense of inspiration, UNESCO-ICHEI presents the fourteenth edition of CLOUD, bringing together the innovative practices of IIOE's global partners and shaping these vivid, grounded examples into reference models for institutions worldwide. As the applause of the ceremony fades, we hope these stories will continue to be seen and discussed, sparking new actions and possibilities across ever-wider educational landscapes.
Highlights Expert Insights As the Chief Expert of IIOE and judge for the Pioneer Awards, Professor Lim Cher Ping, Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation at The Education University of Hong Kong, eloquently shared with profound insight the original purpose of establishing the awards and their significance to global partners. He pointed the process of selecting award recipients is also a journey of identifying role models, recognising and motivating actors of change, and amplifying their impact. Dialogue with CLOUD In this edition of the CLOUD dialogue column, we have invited the teams of the IIOE Egypt National Centre and the IIOE Pakistan National Centre to share their practical experiences and insights. This also serves to showcase the diverse and outstanding operations of IIOE National Centres, illustrating the ongoing impact of IIOE as a global alliance for digital higher education ecosystems. Programme Localisation IIOE champions a model of co-construction and shared growth grounded in multilateral cooperation, encouraging universities, international organisations, and local institutions to work together in translating global standards into locally meaningful resources. The partnership between Kazakhstan's "Orleu" National Professional Development Centre and UNESCO IITE offers a vivid illustration of this approach in the Russian-speaking region. Data Story In this edition of CLOUD, our signature data story continues, offering an intuitive and accessible presentation of Navigating the Future, the latest report from the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Drawing on insights from nearly 7,000 teachers and students across 150 countries, the report outlines the core competencies expected of future talent and provides an important macro-level reference point for the Pioneer Award case studies featured in this issue. These practices not only respond to the challenges of the present, but also signal forward-looking explorations that may help shape the education ecosystems of tomorrow. This issue of CLOUD not only documents the footsteps of pioneers, showcasing the ongoing and noteworthy transformations worthy of attention and study, but also conveys a core philosophy of the Pioneer Awards: the digital transformation of higher education is not merely about technological advancement, but also fundamentally concerns human development, cultural renewal, and the evolution of ecosystems. Thank you for your continued support of CLOUD. We hope this issue will prove both informative and inspiring, and look forward to working together in fostering a more open and inclusive higher education landscape in the era of AI.
About CLOUD
CLOUD is an original quarterly magazine guided by UNESCO-ICHEI's mission to advance the digital transformation of higher education in developing countries. It presents a multi-perspective view of global developments and innovative practices, from digital transformation strategies to exemplary institutional cases, offering a visually engaging and accessible resource for higher-education innovation. "CLOUD" symbolises "connecting leaders online for university digital transformation". Published both in print and online, it provides an open, inclusive platform for information exchange among higher-education practitioners worldwide. As a two-way window linking Shenzhen with the world, the magazine is available in all six official languages of the United Nations.
