As education systems evolve in the age of AI, literacy extends beyond reading and writing to include using digital tools effectively, leveraging artificial intelligence responsibly, and critically evaluating online content.
To help educators meet the demands of an increasingly digital world, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), through the Secretariat of the UNESCO Global Alliance for Literacy, and Huawei launched the multilingual online course Improving the Digital Competencies of Literacy Educators. Since December 2025, more than 10,000 educators worldwide have completed the course, strengthening their ability to support adult learners with the digital skills needed for today and the future. The initiative forms part of the UNESCO Global Education Coalition.
‘The most valuable thing I learned from the course was the importance of media and information literacy in developing learners' critical thinking skills and promoting the responsible use of digital information.’
Laura Patricia Garza Rodríguez, literacy educator and beneficiary of the UIL digital skills course for literacy educators, Mexico
For Laura Patricia Garza Rodríguez, the course reinforced the importance of helping learners navigate digital information critically and responsibly. Her experience reflects a wider shift taking place in literacy classrooms around the world, as educators seek to equip learners with the skills needed to participate fully in an increasingly digital society.
From insight to action
What makes the course distinctive is its strong connection to real teaching practice. Delivered through 11 self-paced sessions, it allows educators to reflect on their work while developing and testing out new skills.
For Naima Inchto from Morocco, one of the most valuable outcomes was discovering practical ways to use technology to support adult learners beyond the classroom: ‘The most important thing I learned is how to use simple technologies like WhatsApp and audio clips in adult education. I will create a group for learners to receive daily review exercises, helping ensure continuity of learning outside the classroom.’
The emphasis on practical application is echoed by participants around the world. emphasizes the potential of digital tools to support more learner-centred instruction: ‘I learned how to integrate modern digital tools and interactive learning strategies to improve students' reading and writing skills while taking into account their individual differences.’
These experiences show how digital competencies strengthen not only what educators teach, but also how they facilitate learning.
Building confidence in a changing world
For many participants, the course is also about building confidence – moving from uncertainty to more deliberate and critical use of technology. Rather than focusing solely on tools, educators develop a deeper understanding of how digital technologies shape learning and information. This shift is essential in helping learners not just to access content but also to question its intent and use it responsibly.
Digital literacy as empowerment
Across participants’ reflections, one message stands out: digital competencies are closely linked to empowerment. By strengthening both technical and critical skills, the course enables educators to create more inclusive, engaging and relevant learning environments, particularly for youth and adults who risk being left behind in a rapidly changing world.
A growing global impact
With more than 10,000 educators reached, the course is contributing to a wider transformation in literacy education. National and municipal adult education agencies and providers are key partners in expanding the course across countries and UNESCO learning cities. Its impact is visible in the classrooms educators describe: more learner-centred approaches, greater use of collaboration and stronger emphasis on critical thinking. Through these changes, literacy education becomes a foundation skill and, at the same time, a pathway to participation in the digital age.
As the statements of course beneficiaries across the globe show, when educators gain digital skills, the benefits extend far beyond the classroom – empowering learners to navigate, question and thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Huawei: Leveraging Technology for Educational Equity and Bridging the Digital Divide
In 2019, Huawei launched its digital inclusion initiative. In the field of education, Huawei is dedicated to harnessing technology for educational equity, having already benefited more than 1,790 schools and over 700,000 primary and secondary teachers and students, unemployed youth, elderly people, and residents in remote communities worldwide. Since 2020, Huawei and UNESCO have jointly launched the Technology-enabled Open Schools for All project to build a digital future for school education.
Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with global partners to connect every corner of the world, making quality education accessible to all.
Source: https://www.huawei.com/en/news/2026/9/unesco-uil-digital-inclusion
