CONFERENCE

DIGITAL EDUCATION

2026

Call for Speakers

The EdTech Center Western Balkans and the Conference Programme Partners invite you to become one of the speakers at the Digital Education 2026 Conference.

If you are an educator, researcher, policymaker, or education professional working in the field of educational technologies, Digital Education 2026 offers an excellent opportunity to present your work, share your experience, and engage with a diverse audience of educators, researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers from Serbia, the Western Balkans, and beyond.

The transformative potential of digital technologies in education is still far from being fully realized. In a time of rapid technological advancement—particularly in the field of artificial intelligence—we believe the focus should be on identifying meaningful, pedagogically sound, and responsible ways of integrating technology into teaching and learning. The conference aims to bring together practitioners and researchers who are committed to exchanging ideas, showcasing innovative practices, and contributing to the development of high-quality, inclusive, and future-oriented education.

The conference also provides a platform for discussing key developments in education policy and presenting relevant findings from national and international research.

The deadline for submitting proposals is 4 October 2026 at 23:59 (CET).

You may submit your proposal under one or more educational levels, or within the Inclusive Education track. Suggested topics for each conference track are listed below. If your proposal does not fit into any of the suggested themes, we encourage you to contact the Programme Committee with your ideas at hello@edtech.center.

Suggested Topics by Educational Level

Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)

Building a Culture of Digital Technologies and AI in Early Childhood Education and Care

How can digital technologies and artificial intelligence support educators and professional associates in fostering values and relationships, strengthening learning communities, promoting reflective practice and self-evaluation, co-constructing educational programmes with children, and gaining deeper insights into children’s learning?

Suggested topics and possible areas of focus

Digital Technologies and AI for Building Values and Relationships in Early Childhood Settings

  • Using digital technologies to strengthen relationships within early childhood settings;
  • Values that are nurtured and developed through everyday digital practices;
  • Technology-supported relationships between children, between children and adults, and among adults.

Digital Technologies and AI for Strengthening Learning Communities and Team Collaboration

  • Connecting different teams and stakeholders within the institution;
  • Digital tools that support collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective learning;
  • Strengthening the institution as a coherent learning community.

Documentation, Reflection, and Self-Evaluation through Digital Technologies and AI

  • Digital documentation as a tool for understanding educational practice;
  • Linking documentation, reflection, and self-evaluation;
  • Using digital records to support professional dialogue and continuous improvement.

Digital Technologies and AI for Co-Constructing Educational Programmes with Children

  • Using digital technologies to consult and collaborate with children;
  • Documenting children’s inquiries, ideas, and initiatives to inform future planning;
  • Extending, scaffolding, and enriching children’s learning through digital technologies.

Understanding Children’s Learning in Digitally Supported Experiences

  • How digital technologies help educators better understand children’s learning processes;
  • The role of digital technologies in play, everyday experiences, and project-based learning;
  • Connecting digital and non-digital experiences to support holistic child development;
  • Fostering a culture of meaningful and responsible use of digital technologies among young children.

Primary and Secondary Education

Digital Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Digital tools and the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy: What really works in practice?
  • Media literacy
  • Student well-being in digital environments
  • Online safety and digital citizenship
  • Open Educational Resources (OER)
  • Digital pedagogy
  • Artificial intelligence in teaching and learning
  • Hybrid learning: challenges and good practices
  • Assessment in the digital age
  • Teachers’ digital competence
  • Ethics, academic integrity, and the responsible use of AI in education
  • Supporting teachers throughout the digital transformation process
  • Learning analytics and monitoring student progress
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emerging approaches to collaborative learning and cross-curricular competencies
  • Research on the use of artificial intelligence in education
  • Online professional learning communities
  • Professional development: identifying current needs and effective practices
  • Homework in the era of widely accessible AI
  • Advancing digital education in schools: Where do we go next?

Higher Education

Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Citizens’ digital competence
  • EdTech solutions and innovative practice
  • Microlearning
  • Artificial intelligence: opportunities and risks for higher education
  • The impact of artificial intelligence on the labour market and higher education curricula
  • Artificial intelligence and assessment
  • Research on the use of artificial intelligence in education
  • Practical examples of AI integration in higher education teaching
  • Hybrid teaching and learning
  • Digital tools for teaching and learning
  • Online teaching and learning
  • Collaboration with the EdTech ecosystem
  • Leadership in digital education
  • Learning analytics and monitoring student progress
  • Virtual laboratories
  • Integrated digital university services
  • Students’ digital competence and AI literacy

Inclusive Education

Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

Accessibility and Equity in Education

  • The use of appropriate digital and assistive technologies;
  • Selecting tools that meet the diverse needs of learners;
  • Professional development for teachers to support inclusive practice;
  • Programmes and initiatives that promote inclusion and gender equality.

Supporting Learning and Skills Development through Educational Technologies

  • Distance and hybrid learning;
  • Differentiated and personalised learning;
  • Peer support and collaborative learning;
  • Fostering learner autonomy while recognising diverse needs, abilities, and experiences.

Artificial Intelligence in Support of Inclusive Education

  • Adapting learning materials to individual needs;
  • Supporting different learning styles and learning pace;
  • AI-powered assistive and communication technologies;
  • Understanding and addressing potential gender and other biases in AI systems.

Monitoring Learner Progress through Digital Technologies and AI

  • Formative assessment and feedback;
  • Individualised approaches to teaching and learning;
  • Learning analytics to support student achievement;
  • Ensuring equality, fairness, and inclusion in educational decision-making.

Safety, Ethics, and Fairness in the Use of Technology and Artificial Intelligence

  • Protecting learners’ personal data and privacy;
  • Responsible and ethical use of digital technologies;
  • Identifying and mitigating bias in AI systems;
  • Ensuring safe, equitable, and inclusive access to technology for all learners.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below you will find answers to the questions most frequently asked by speakers at previous editions of the conference. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please feel free to contact us.

All applicants will be notified of the selection results by email no later than Monday, 13 October 2026.

If your proposal is accepted, you will receive an email from the EdTech Center Western Balkans with detailed instructions regarding the rehearsal schedule, your session coordinator, technical requirements, and the support available before and during the conference.

In line with the values of the EdTech Center Western Balkans, proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Relevance of the topic and alignment with the conference objectives;
  • Clear pedagogical value and contribution to teaching and learning;
  • Demonstration of meaningful and effective use of digital technologies in education;
  • Positive and measurable impact on learning outcomes;
  • Long-term sustainability of the proposed approach or solution;
  • Potential for further development and implementation in different educational contexts;
  • Responsible, ethical, and inclusive use of technology;
  • The proposal is not primarily commercial in nature;
  • The topic has not been presented at previous editions of the Digital Education Conference.

All submitted proposals are reviewed by the Conference Programme Committee, composed of representatives of the EdTech Center Western Balkans, the Ministry of Education, the Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation, and the Petlja Foundation.

Each selected speaker will have approximately 15 minutes for their presentation, including time for questions and answers.

Speakers

The International Online Conference “Digital Education 2026” is organized by the Center for Educational Technologies Western Balkans in collaboration with partners for the seventh consecutive year.

We continue the tradition of gathering with the desire to exchange knowledge and experiences, to learn from examples of best practices, and to discover the most effective ways of connecting education and modern technologies.