A UNESCO-ICHEI Initiative · Supported by Tencent Charity Foundation
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Who We Are

About IIOE

A UNESCO-ICHEI initiative empowering education systems worldwide through high-quality, accessible, and inclusive online learning.

Founded 2019 12 National Centres 100+ Countries UNESCO Endorsed

Our Purpose

Mission & Vision

Two complementary principles guide everything IIOE does — from curriculum design to partnership strategy.

🎯
Our Mission
To democratise access to quality online education by building a global network of National Centres, developing world-class digital curricula, and harnessing technology to deliver transformative learning experiences to educators and learners in developing nations — regardless of geography, language, or economic background.
🌟
Our Vision
A world where every educator and learner has access to world-class digital learning — where geographic and economic barriers no longer determine educational opportunity, and where online education serves as a powerful engine of sustainable development, social equity, and economic growth across the globe.

Our Journey

Our Story

From a bold idea in 2019 to a global network touching 100+ countries — the IIOE story is one of partnership, persistence, and purpose.

2019
IIOE Founded
The International Institute of Online Education is established as a joint initiative between UNESCO and ICHEI (International Centre for Higher Education Innovation), with Tencent Charity Foundation as founding sponsor. The mandate: transform online education access in developing nations.
2021
First National Centres Open
Morocco (UCA) and Kenya (UoN) become IIOE's first two National Centres, localising the platform in Arabic, French, and Swahili and launching the first cohort of co-produced courses with regional universities.
2023
AI Integration Begins
IIOE partners with DeepSeek and leading Chinese universities to integrate artificial intelligence into the learning platform — enabling adaptive content delivery, multilingual translation, and intelligent learner analytics for the first time.
2025
12 National Centres Milestone
The IIOE network reaches 12 active National Centres across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Arab world. Cumulative learner enrolment surpasses 20,000. The annual Pioneer Award is established to celebrate excellence across the network.
2026
Course Distribution Platform Launches
IIOE launches its next-generation course distribution platform with 614 courses across 28 disciplines, AI-powered personalisation, and full support for six UN languages — marking a new era of scale and accessibility for the global initiative.

Impact in Numbers

IIOE by the Numbers

20,000+Active Learners
614Courses Available
12National Centres
100+Countries Reached
4,200+Certificates Issued

The Team

Leadership

Experienced educators, policy experts, and technology leaders working together to advance IIOE's mission.

DG
Prof. David Gunn
Director General
Former UNESCO education director with 25 years experience in international higher education policy and digital learning strategy.
LW
Dr. Li Wei
Deputy Director
ICHEI veteran and architect of IIOE's National Centre model. Leads operations, partnerships, and strategic expansion across the network.
AB
Prof. Amina Benali
Chief Academic Officer
Award-winning educator and curriculum designer. Oversees the quality and development of all 614 courses on the IIOE platform.
JO
Dr. James Odhiambo
Head of National Centres
Coordinates IIOE's 12 national centre directors, supporting local adaptation, educator training, and regional impact measurement.

Structure

Governance Model

IIOE operates under a three-tier governance structure that ensures international credibility, operational efficiency, and local relevance.

🏛️
UNESCO Oversight
UNESCO provides the international mandate, quality assurance framework, and global convening power that gives IIOE its credibility and reach. UNESCO's education sector reviews IIOE's strategic direction annually.
⚙️
ICHEI Management
The International Centre for Higher Education Innovation manages day-to-day operations, platform development, course quality control, and the global network of partner universities and technology companies.
🌍
National Centre Network
Each of the 12 National Centres operates under a partnership agreement with a host university, adapting IIOE content to local languages and contexts while maintaining global quality standards.

Get Involved

Join IIOE as a Partner Institution

Whether you are a university, government ministry, NGO, or technology company, there is a place for you in the IIOE global network. Together, we can make quality education truly universal.

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