The digital age is undergoing a vital paradigm shift. Educational evolution is no longer strictly defined by the underlying technology itself, but by how we shape collaboration, co-creation, and relational intelligence within learning environments.
The upcoming EDEN 2026 conference addresses this head-on under the central theme: “Beyond Technology: Human-AI Collaboration for Learning and Teaching.” Hosted by the University of Porto’s Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, the conference shifts the spotlight back onto the human, socio-emotional, and cultural dimensions of technological change. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for human agency, the event explores how human-AI partnerships can amplify creativity, trust, and deeper institutional connection.
The core content of the conference is structured around 5 critical thematic pillars:
Adapting to an AI-driven ecosystem requires structural agility and systemic capacity-building. Discussions will focus on developing visual and conceptual frameworks for educational change, building institutional models for safe human-AI transformation, and leveraging open education networks to build inclusive digital futures.
As technology reconfigures classrooms, the fundamental role of the instructor is evolving. This track evaluates relational, learner-centered pedagogies designed to protect teacher and learner well-being in an automated world. The goal is to address “the human side of AI” and establish clear pedagogical responses to these new educational configurations.
Integrating AI into critical educational systems demands robust ethical guardrails. Practitioners will explore how to maintain absolute academic integrity in the generative AI era, while translating high-level policy into ethical decision-making frameworks for everyday teaching practices.
Effective digital education must be built in active partnership with students. This focus area investigates how to foster genuine student engagement and sense of purpose both with and beyond AI tools, while examining how digital subjectivities are transforming student identities in modern educational contexts.
The mechanics of evaluating knowledge are changing rapidly. The final track highlights cutting-edge methodologies in digital assessment, the scalability of professional micro-credentials, and innovative AI-driven approaches to conducting learning and teaching research.
More information and registration here.