Subthemes
Eleven inter-related subthemes with questions and topics that will be explored at the conference are set out below. By bringing together participants from the education, workplace learning and government sectors we will be critically examining these issues and the opportunities and challenges that are changing the world of learning.
The Future of Digital Learning: Ethical, Scalable, and Human-Centred Innovation
The Future of Digital Learning: Ethical, Scalable, and Human-Centred Innovation
Digital transformation is reshaping learning environments, driving scalability, interoperability, and accessibility. Hybrid and flexible teaching models are evolving, improving engagement and learning outcomes. AI and automation are accelerating change, requiring education systems to balance efficiency with meaningful human interaction.
Ethical considerations -including transparency, accountability, and responsible AI use - are shaping the integration of new technologies. The challenge is to develop sustainable, inclusive, and responsive digital learning environments that align with long-term educational and workforce needs, ensuring equity for diverse learners, including refugees and those in underserved communities, while enabling interoperability across sectors and borders.
AI, Data, Immersive Learning, and the Evolution of Learning
AI, Data, Immersive Learning, and the Evolution of Learning
AI is transforming learning, training, assessment, and decision-making. Learning analytics and adaptive systems are enabling new approaches to individual and organisational growth, providing real-time data insights that support curriculum development, learner engagement, and workforce training. AI-driven feedback and adaptive learning systems are delivering increasingly personalised experiences, but ethical concerns around data privacy, learner autonomy, and transparency are intensifying as institutions expand data-driven strategies.
The integration of multimodal learning - text, audio, images, and video - is redefining teaching methodologies, while AI-powered learning assistants are shaping instructional design and real-time learning support. AI’s role in assessment is growing, leveraging natural language processing, automation, and advanced reasoning models. The impact of generative AI on research, learning materials, and academic publishing is reshaping knowledge production, prompting discussions about credibility, authorship, and the evolving nature of expertise in education.
AI’s influence on workforce learning raises questions about whether L&D will remain human-led or shift towards AI-driven models. Immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are creating new opportunities for experiential learning. Participants seek practical examples of successful AI, data-driven decision-making, and immersive technology implementation in both education and training.
Personalised Learning and Skills Recognition
Personalised Learning and Skills Recognition
Advances in adaptive learning technologies are enabling increasingly tailored educational experiences, allowing learners to progress at their own pace while addressing individual needs. Neuroscience and cognitive psychology are informing the design of adaptive learning platforms, helping to refine engagement strategies.
As lifelong learning becomes a necessity, digital credentials, micro-credentials, and blockchain-based verification are reshaping skills recognition. Institutions are working towards greater alignment between education, employment, and credentialing systems, ensuring qualifications are portable and widely recognised across industries and borders.
Participants will examine scalable and equitable approaches to personalised learning that balance innovation with pedagogical integrity, learner autonomy, and workforce adaptability.
Workforce Learning and Organisational Transformation
Workforce Learning and Organisational Transformation
As automation reshapes industries, continuous upskilling and reskilling are essential for workforce resilience. Organisations are embedding learning into daily workflows, ensuring professional development aligns with business objectives. AI is playing an increasing role in corporate training and professional development, raising questions about its impact on human-led L&D strategies.
A team-based approach to learning is gaining traction, valuing collective intelligence and knowledge-sharing over individual performance. Digital transformation is also driving changes in leadership development and employee retention strategies, as organisations seek to create learning cultures that foster adaptability.
Participants seek case studies demonstrating how L&D strategies are adapting to digital transformation. Lessons learned from existing L&D initiatives, including successful implementations and challenges, are a key area of interest.
Rethinking Higher Education for Global Transitions
Rethinking Higher Education for Global Transitions
Higher education must respond to rapid economic, political, and technological shifts. Institutions are exploring new financial models and technology-driven solutions to maintain sustainability while preparing students for an increasingly complex and interdisciplinary world.
As AI reshapes academic research, knowledge validation, and intellectual property, questions arise about authorship, credibility, and expertise in the intelligent age. Meanwhile, universities face the challenge of integrating digital transformation while promoting cognitive development, creativity, critical thinking and and problem-solving abilities - ensuring students are prepared for the AI era.
Discussions will focus on how institutions can navigate these changes while balancing innovation with academic integrity and educational quality.
From Education to Employment: Practical Strategies for Workforce Readiness
From Education to Employment: Practical Strategies for Workforce Readiness
Aligning education with workforce demands is becoming increasingly urgent. Practical, scalable solutions are needed to bridge education-to-employment pathways, ensuring learners acquire the right skills for emerging job markets.
AI is being explored as a tool for improving vocational education, apprenticeship models, and competency-based learning. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are driving collaboration between industry and education providers to ensure training aligns with sector-specific needs.
Micro-credentials are gaining prominence, offering alternative pathways to traditional degrees. Participants seek practical strategies for how institutions are embedding flexible learning models into vocational training and professional development to improve employability outcomes.
Open, Sustainable, and Inclusive Education
Open, Sustainable, and Inclusive Education
Expanding access to education remains a global challenge, requiring affordable, sustainable, and inclusive learning models. Open Educational Resources (OER) are enabling scalable, cost-effective solutions, while technology-driven models are increasing access for marginalised groups, including refugees and displaced learners.
Despite advances in digital learning, economic and infrastructural barriers continue to limit access. Bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to quality learning resources remain urgent priorities. In an AI-driven world, digital literacy and access to credible information are essential for learners to navigate and evaluate content critically. Institutions are exploring ways to integrate critical thinking, information integrity, and responsible digital engagement into learning environments.
Financial sustainability in higher education is also a growing concern, with institutions seeking new funding models and policy frameworks to support long-term viability.
Participants will explore how governments, institutions, and industry can collaborate to strengthen digital infrastructure, expand inclusive learning opportunities, and improve access to education for all.
The Role of Educators in a Changing Learning Landscape
The Role of Educators in a Changing Learning Landscape
As digital environments evolve, so does the role of educators. AI-powered tools have the potential to enhance - rather than replace - teaching, supporting educators in delivering more personalised and adaptive learning experiences, while encouraging them to develop competencies in technology integration, adaptive instruction, and ethical AI use.
Professional development is essential to help educators navigate emerging technologies while maintaining high-quality teaching and learner engagement. There is growing demand for improvements in STEM education, with increasing emphasis on teaching quality, expanding participation, and attracting more educators to STEM fields
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is an increasing priority in digital education, though implementation varies across regions. Efforts to embed digital citizenship, media literacy, and responsible AI use into curricula are growing, with educators contributing to these developments in different ways. As their responsibilities grow, teacher well-being, leadership, and institutional support are becoming more important.
Building Psychological Resilience and Adapting to Change
Building Psychological Resilience and Adapting to Change
Digital transformation is not only reshaping education but also mental well-being of learners and educators. As virtual learning environments expand, fostering community, belonging, and emotional intelligence is essential.
The acceleration of AI and automation requires individuals to adapt, making change management, digital well-being and psychological resilience key priorities. Institutions and organisations are exploring ways to balance technological innovation with human connection and psychological safety.
Participants will explore strategies for fostering resilience in rapidly evolving learning environments while ensuring mental well-being remains a core focus.
Skills for the Digital and Green Transitions: Lifelong Learning, Mobility, and Workforce Readiness
Skills for the Digital and Green Transitions: Lifelong Learning, Mobility, and Workforce Readiness
As industries evolve, digital and green skills are becoming essential for economic resilience and workforce adaptability. Education and training systems must ensure that individuals can continuously upskill and reskill to meet the demands of rapidly changing job markets.
AI, automation, and emerging technologies are driving demand for STEM expertise, programming, data science, and cybersecurity, while the transition to more sustainable industries is creating new requirements for green skills in areas such as energy, construction, and transportation. Ensuring that education systems can develop, certify, and scale these skill sets is critical for long-term employability.
Institutions and employers are working towards greater alignment between training, skills recognition, and workforce needs, ensuring qualifications are widely accepted and portable across sectors and borders. Digital credentials, micro-credentials, and alternative assessments are gaining prominence, offering flexible and stackable pathways for learners at all career stages.
Governments, training providers, and industry leaders are investing in lifelong learning models that enable individuals to remain competitive, navigate multiple career shifts, and contribute to an increasingly digital and sustainable economy. Participants will explore strategies to develop and scale the skills necessary for future jobs, ensuring that education remains agile, responsive, and future-proof.