The 2024 IKCEST-ISTIC Joint International Training Workshop on Big Data and AI, which also served as the 131st IKCEST Training Programme for Silk Road Engineering Science and Technology Development, was held from October 14th to 19th, 2024. It was co-hosted by the International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Sciences and Technology (IKCEST) under the Auspices of UNESCO and the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC) under the Auspices of UNESCO, and was organized by IKCEST Silk Road Training Base. The workshop was attended by 17 ISTIC participants from Malaysia, Mauritius, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, along with over 100 international students from various universities.

At the opening ceremony, Chen Ling, Vice Dean of the School of Continuing Education at Xi'an Jiaotong University, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the IKCEST Silk Road Training Base. Liu Chang, Secretary-General of IKCEST, and Mohd Basyaruddin Abdul Rahman, Chairman of the ISTIC Governing Board, introduced the basic information about IKCEST and ISTIC respectively. They expressed their commitment to further deepening cooperation between the two organizations in the field of engineering and technology, aiming to contribute to the promotion of international scientific and technological exchange and innovation.

This 6-day training program focused on the applications of big data and artificial intelligence in the Industry 4.0 era. The curriculum covered cutting-edge topics such as deep learning, large AI models, and brain-computer interfaces, showcasing China's latest research achievements in the field of artificial intelligence. The training arranged a visit to the School of Chemistry, and included on-site tours of the iHarbor, autonomous vehicle training platforms, and UAV training platforms. These activities allowed participants to experience how Chinese AI solutions are effectively changing daily life and work methods.

The International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Sciences and Technology (IKCEST) is a category II centre under the auspices of UNESCO and was established in June 2014 in Beijing. Chinese Academy of Engineering is responsible for the operation and management of the IKCEST. IKCEST aims to provide knowledge-based services at a global scale in the form of consultancies, scientific research and education for policy-makers and engineering science and technology professionals in the world, with particular reference to the developing countries. The International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation （ISTIC）is a category II centre under the Auspices of UNESCO and was established in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ISTIC is a leading international platform offering sustainable programmes and services in producing holistic talents towards institutional excellence and augmenting sustainable development for South-South Cooperation. IKCEST and ISTIC signed an MOU in 2017, and have since continued to carry out collaborations within this framework, including jointly organizing international science and technology training programs.