The team from the Egyptian Center for the International Institute for Distance Learning, based in the Department of Education Development at Ain Shams University, won the UNESCO-ICHEI Digitalization Pioneer Case Award 2023. The award was sponsored by the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation UNESCO-ICHEI, and was presented for the center's achievements in the project to empower Egyptian higher education institutions in the field of digital teaching and learning, one of the center's activities.

The award was received by Prof. Mona Abdel Aal El-Zahry, Executive Director of the Education Development Department, Director of the Egyptian Center for the International Institute for Distance Learning, and Head of the project's working team, as part of the activities of the Global Forum for Partners of the International Institute for Distance Learning, organized by the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation.

The working team consisted of Dr. Dalia Youssef, Director of the Central Unit for E-Learning and Deputy Director of the Egyptian Center for the International Institute for Distance Learning, Prof. Hani Youssef, Head of the Training Department at the Central Unit for E-Learning, Dr. Heba Shawky, Project Coordinator at the Central Unit for E-Learning, Prof. Duaa Anas, Member of the Central Unit for E-Learning, and Dr. Aya Abdel Latif and Dr. Mohamed Youssef, members of the project team.

It is worth noting that the UNESCO-ICHEI Digitalization Pioneer Case Award 2023 aims to support innovative projects that have an impact in the field of digital transformation in higher education. 140 projects from 83 educational institutions from 42 countries around the world applied for the award, and the team of the Egyptian Center for the International Institute for Distance Learning was able to win the award.