The UNESCO Regional Centre for Quality and Excellence in Education, based in Saudi Arabia, announced the launch of a package of high-quality projects and programs for 2026, a strategic step aimed at improving the education system at the national, regional, and international levels. This initiative is part of the Centre's ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of education and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which calls for ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Background and context of the initiative
The UNESCO Regional Centre for Quality and Excellence in Education, established under an agreement between UNESCO and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, serves as a beacon of knowledge and a regional center of expertise dedicated to promoting a culture of quality and excellence in the education systems of Arab countries. Since its inception, the Centre has consistently launched initiatives aimed at capacity building, developing educational policies, and exchanging best practices among member states, in line with modern global trends in education.
The importance of the projects and their expected impact
These projects are particularly important as they align directly with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 , which places human capital development as one of its key pillars. Locally, these initiatives will support the Saudi Ministry of Education's efforts to develop curricula, train teachers, and enhance the efficiency of the education system. Regionally, these projects are expected to serve as a platform for joint Arab cooperation, helping participating countries address shared challenges such as learning loss and the integration of technology in education.
Project details and key dates
The center explained that the proposed projects reflect its strategic directions aimed at developing educational policies and promoting sustainability. The list of announced projects includes the following:
- The Financial Sustainability Program project aims to develop innovative and sustainable financing models for educational institutions.
- The teacher project we want: focuses on professional development programs for teachers that are in line with 21st-century skills.
- The Sustainable Learning Cities Quality Standards Project: seeks to establish global frameworks and standards for cities that adopt lifelong learning.
- The joint and pioneering business incubators project aims to link educational outputs with the labor market and promote entrepreneurship.
The center called on relevant authorities and institutions to review the terms and specifications booklet, in preparation for submitting bids according to the following timetable:
- Project applications open: Sunday, February 8, 2026.
- Deadline for submitting inquiries: Thursday, February 15, 2026.
- The deadline for submitting the receipt for the purchase of the booklets is: Thursday, February 19, 2026.
- The deadline for submitting competition bids is: Monday, March 2, 2026.
The center affirmed its commitment to supporting all initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of education, expanding partnerships, and promoting innovation in educational policies and practices to achieve a sustainable and tangible impact.
