CTAUN Hosts First Webinar in AI Series Exploring United Nations, Education, and Artificial Intelligence
Publish Date: 2026-01-26 00:03:00
Source Domain: southasianherald.com
23
The Committee on Teaching About the United Nations (CTAUN) hosted the first webinar in a new series on Artificial Intelligence, examining the intersections of the United Nations, education, and AI.
Held on January 24, 2026, the webinar marked the International Day of Education 2026, observed under the theme “The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education.”
According to UNESCO, “The International Day of Education 2026 will recognize youth and their role as agents of change in achieving inclusive and equitable quality education and building peaceful, just and inclusive societies.”
Welcoming experts at the webinar, CTAUN Co-Chair Guillermo Reina also introduced the moderator, Ramu Damodaran, First Chief of the United Nations Academic Impact. Reina described Damodaran as someone who “personifies the human aspect,” emphasizing the importance of interpersonal relationships in the current global context.
Moderator Ramu Damodaran speaking during the webinar on January 24, 2026. PHOTO: Screenshot
Damodaran began by paying tribute to the late Anne Marie Carlson, Past Chair of CTAUN and Chair of the NGO/DPI Executive Committee. He described her as “a key figure in the organization,” noting that she was, in many ways, the “wind beneath our wings” for many years.
Reflecting on the concept of co-creation, Damodaran called it a “wonderful word,” adding, “Each one of us is a product of co creation in a biological sense, but beyond that, there is co-creation at every level around us…”
He noted that this spirit of collective purpose animated the founding of the United Nations 80 years ago, fostering co-creation between governments and their peoples. Over time, he said, this collaboration has expanded into a broad foundation of scholarship, education, learning, and teaching that reflects CTAUN’s work today.
“And what a wonderful thought that is that we are not here as an organization to educate alone. It’s not we…
