8
–10
Jul

Human Learning and Machine Learning— Challenges and Opportunities for AI in Education

32nd International Conference on Learning

Organiser: The Learner Research Network

The arrival of gene­ra­ti­ve AI has pre­ci­pi­ta­ted a panic among some educators while prompting qualified enthu­si­asm from others. Ask a GPTs (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) to take a high-stakes select response test, and it will generally pass or even excel. Prompt it to write a five-paragraph essay on any topic, and it will produce a well-written if dull and pre­dic­ta­ble response, at least as good or better than a student’s response. Here comes a cheating bonanza: unless strictly proctored, there’s no reliable way to tell whether a student response has been generated by AI, espe­ci­al­ly with a few extra tricks in written text such as adding some typos or awkward expres­si­ons. What to do? How to put gene­ra­ti­ve AI to good use?

In addition to the broad range of regular themes addres­sing edu­ca­tio­nal and social change at The Learner Conference, this year we will have a special theme exploring the impli­ca­ti­ons and appli­ca­ti­ons arti­fi­ci­al intel­li­gence in education generally, and GPTs in par­ti­cu­lar. Presentations addres­sing this special theme will examine the dif­fe­ren­ces between machine and human learning and the ways in which machines can com­ple­ment human learning. Some of the questions we will address are: What are super­vi­sed, unsu­per­vi­sed and rein­force­ment machine learning? Will mecha­ni­cal intel­li­gence ever be able to replicate or exceed human intel­li­gence? What are the practical appli­ca­ti­ons of learning analytics and arti­fi­ci­al intel­li­gence in learning manage­ment systems and other edu­ca­tio­nal tools? What are the impli­ca­ti­ons for diversity, equity and inclusion?

10:00 – 00:00
University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Conference

August

2026



Aug
17–
20
10:00
Tampere, Finland
Conference

Save the date: ECER 2026

European Educational Research Association (EERA)

We will inform you about the details once they are published.


Aug
25–
28
09:00
University of Białystok, Polen
Conference

Crossing borders with and in teacher education

ATEE Annual Conference 2026

ATEE

The conference seeks to address the critical role of teacher education today: on the one hand as a means of responding to the complexities of our increasingly interconnected global landscape, and on the other hand as a field enriched by breaking down barriers between disciplines, actors, theory, and practice.


Aug
/Sep
31–
2
10:00
Catania, Italy
Conference

Redefining Higher Education in an Era of Shifting Geopolitics

38th CHER 2026 Annual Conference

CHER

The early 21st century marked a new phase of globalisation in higher education, characterised by market-oriented reforms, intensified international competition and growing institutional autonomy under increasing budgetary pressure. Universities expanded their global reach, mobility increased, and new technologies—including artificial intelligence—reshaped teaching, research and governance. At the same time, global rankings and notions of “excellence” reinforced competitive dynamics within and across national systems.

Today, this globalised model is under strain. Shifting geopolitics, the reassertion of national interests, and debates over academic freedom, values and societal roles are redefining the position of universities. Tensions between international collaboration and re-nationalisation, alongside controversies around diversity, inclusion, political engagement and public accountability, place higher education institutions at the centre of wider economic, social and cultural fault lines.

The theme of the 2026 CHER conference invites reflection on the changing role of universities in this context. Are higher education institutions drivers of economic, cultural and political change, or are they increasingly constrained to implementing external agendas? The conference welcomes theoretical and empirical contributions examining universities’ agency across education, research, innovation, governance and internationalisation, from multidisciplinary perspectives.

Submission of proposals is open until 28 February 2026

September

2026



Sep
1–
4
09:00
“Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
Conference

learning for democracy — democracy for learning

Fourth International Conference of Scuola Democratica

Scuola democratica

The Fourth International Conference of the journal Scuola Democratica is devoted to examining the vital interplay between learning and democracy—two essential pillars for building societies that are just, inclusive, and sustainable. The theme Learning for Democracy/Democracy for Learning not only reaffirms the enduring significance of democratic values but also calls for their critical rethinking and their concrete realization in everyday educational and social practices. In a global landscape marked by democratic backsliding, widening inequalities, and accelerated digital transformation, it has become imperative to reconsider how education and democracy can be reconnected to cultivate conscious, critical, and actively engaged citizens. The Conference brings together Italian and international scholars and researchers in a broad, multidisciplinary conversation aimed at reimagining education and training as instruments of emancipation and as living practices of democratic citizenship—rooted in the present, yet responsibly oriented toward the future.


Sep
7–
10
09:00
Graz, Austria
Forum

Save the date: Forum on Vocational Excellence 2026

Community of Practice of CoVEs; FH Joanneum

From 7 till 10 September 2026 the Community of Practice of CoVEs will gather in Graz, Austria, for the fifth edition of the Forum on Vocational Excellence. If you want to be part of this inspiring and energetic event full of sharing best practices, lessons learned and finding creative solutions by working together between VET providers, companies and governments, make sure to put these dates in your calendar. More information about this event will follow in early 2026. Keep an eye on the CoP CoVEs linkedin page and their website (below) for further announcements.


Sep
7–
9
09:00
EHB, Kirchlindachstrasse 79, 3052 Zollikofen
Conference

Social Aims of Vocational Education and Training

33rd annual VET & Culture Meeting 2026

VET & Culture Network

Across diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts, vocational education and training (VET) systems pursue a complex balance of aims.  While the economic aim of providing a skilled workforce for the labour market often dominates policy discourse, VET also serves important social aims. These aims, and the ways they are prioritized, are shaped by different political cultures, conflicting values and specific conceptions about education, work, and citizenship.

The 33rd VET & Culture meeting will provide an opportunity to examine from a comparative perspective, how social aims are understood and implemented in VET across different political and cultural contexts.

Call for papers open until 15 February 2026