On 14 May 2026, Dr. Ali Asgary, Director of CIFAL York, and his delegation visited CIFAL Shanghai for a working meeting with Director Wang Genxiang. The two sides exchanged expertise in digital training, foreign-aid programmes, youth study tours, disaster management and ESG. They agreed to leverage the UNITAR Global Network and complementary China-Canada resources to advance international training cooperation, and committed to implementing concrete joint projects that contribute to international talent cultivation and sustainable development capacity building.
On 12 May 2026, the Ma & Morley Programme Shanghai Workshop, co-hosted by CIFAL Shanghai and CIFAL Newcastle, was successfully held at the Changning Campus of East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL). The event brought together nearly 40 educators, young leaders and volunteers from China and Australia to advance UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) education and cross-cultural leadership through photography workshops, group discussions and cultural exchanges.
On March 19, 2026, a delegation from Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, including Ms. Yao Jie, Director of the International Exchange Office, and Mr. Long Yingfeng, Dean of the Law School, visited the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Shanghai International Training Centre (CIFAL Shanghai). The two parties engaged in in-depth discussions on deepening international cooperation. Proposed collaboration areas include joint student internship programs, sharing international institutional resources, co-hosting international forums, and overseas training for faculty and officials. CIFAL Shanghai shared its global network achievements and successful partnership cases with Tongji University and East China University of Political Science and Law. Both sides committed to maintaining close communication to advance cooperation projects.
On March 12, 2026, a delegation from the UNITAR Shanghai International Training Centre visited Shanghai Whale Robot Technology Co., Ltd. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on sustainable AI education development, teacher training systems, and curriculum resource collaboration. As a leading enterprise in AI education, Whale Robot has developed 500+ educational products covering all grade levels, with business operations spanning over 50 countries worldwide. This meeting marks an important consensus between both parties in promoting AI education普及 and building an innovative education ecosystem, laying a solid foundation for subsequent strategic cooperation.
From 9–11 December 2025, the CIFAL Global Network convenes its 22nd Annual Steering Committee Meeting at London’s Corinthia Hotel, bringing together all 32 centres to review regional achievements, adopt the UNITAR 2026-2029 strategy and accelerate local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Geneva, 30 October 2025 – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the CIFAL Global Network successfully closed the Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development Training Programme for Senior Officials, co-developed with CIFAL Shanghai. Held at UNITAR Headquarters from 13–30 October, the high-level initiative gathered senior municipal officials from Shanghai to exchange best practices on leveraging STI for inclusive growth.
The 2025 Malawi Information Technology and Management Seminar, a China-aid program hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and organized by CIFAL Shanghai, officially launched on October 23 in Shanghai. Over 14 days, 25 government officers and university experts from Malawi will attend thematic lectures and visit leading Chinese companies to gain hands-on insights into China’s advances in big data, IoT, cloud computing, AI and e-governance, fostering deeper bilateral cooperation in the digital era.
On 14 October 2025, the Ministry of Commerce of China and CIFAL Shanghai launched a 14-day Belt & Road High-Tech Industry & Innovation Seminar. Thirty-one government leaders and experts from 11 countries will dive into AI, big data, cloud computing and on-site visits to top Chinese tech firms, aiming to foster joint R&D and investment along the Belt & Road.
On September 22, 2025, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr. Alek Voninski of the University of Newcastle visited CIFAL Shanghai. The two sides held in-depth discussions on international talent cultivation and sustainable development, reached several cooperative consensuses and laid a solid foundation for future joint progress and mutual benefit.