On August 21, 2026, the CIFAL Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting was held at the Changning Campus of East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL). Mr. Alexander Mejia, Director of the Division for People and Social Development at UNITAR and Head of the CIFAL Global Network; Ms. Adriana López Mendoza, Global Coordinator of the CIFAL Global Network; and representatives from CIFAL Jeju, CIFAL Japan, and CIFAL Shanghai attended the meeting. Prof. Wu Qiaofang, Director of the International Exchange Center and Dean of the International School at ECUPL, delivered the welcome address. Ms. Zhang Lijun and Ms. Song Lijue, Deputy Directors of the International Exchange Center and Associate Deans of the International School, also attended. Mr. Mejia and Mr. Wang Genxiang, Chairperson of CIFAL Shanghai, delivered remarks, and Ms. López Mendoza gave a keynote speech on "Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation Initiatives."
On August 20, 2026, the WWEC2026 Holistic Education Sub-Forum was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Guided by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and hosted by CIFAL Shanghai, the forum focused on "Sustainable Development Education in China: Practice and Cooperation with the CIFAL Network." Distinguished guests included Ms. Adriana López Mendoza, Global Coordinator of the CIFAL Global Network; Amb. Sungchul Shin, Director of CIFAL Jeju; Dr. Michelle Rubido Palumbarit, Director of CIFAL Philippines; Ms. Akiko Ito, Director of CIFAL Japan; Mr. Hu Wei, Executive Vice President of the China Association for Non-Government Education;
The 12th WWEC Worldwide Educators Conference was successfully held from August 20 to 22, 2026, at Hall 4.2 of the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Under the theme "Deepening Implementation of the Talent Strategy, Accelerating Progress Towards a Strong Education Nation," the conference was guided by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and co-hosted by the Shanghai Association for Non-Government Education, CIFAL Shanghai, and other partners. Mr. Alexander Mejia, Director of the Division for People and Social Development at UNITAR and Head of the CIFAL Global Network; Ms. Adriana López Mendoza, Global Coordinator of the CIFAL Global Network; Amb. Sungchul Shin, Director of CIFAL Jeju; Dr. Michelle Rubido Palumbarit, Director of CIFAL Philippines; Ms. Akiko Ito, Director of CIFAL Japan; Mr. Wang Genxiang, Chairperson of CIFAL Shanghai; and Mr. Chen Wei, Executive Deputy Director of CIFAL Shanghai, were among the distinguished attendees.
The CIFAL Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting was held on August 21, 2026, at ECUPL. UNITAR officials and CIFAL center representatives discussed joint UN project applications, cross-border study tours, youth empowerment, and talent cultivation for international organizations. ECUPL and CIFAL Jeju signed a cooperation agreement.
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.