The Pioneer Award directed by UNESCO-ICHEI aims to showcase, through case studies, the positive explorations, innovative experiences, and successful practices of the partners of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) in the field of higher education digitalization to the world. In 2023, the theme of the first Pioneer Award was "Reform and Innovation of Blended Learning in Higher Education". The selection was carried out in aspects such as classroom teaching and innovation, resource construction, student support, institutional governance and strategic transformation, and the promotion of balanced development of education.