The Call for Papers and Case Studies is now open for the special academic session “AI-Empowered Smart Learning Ecosystems: Integrated Development,” to be held as part of the 2026 Digital Lifelong Learning International Conference (DTALL 2026).
Original research papers and case studies are invited from academics, educators, policymakers, practitioners, graduate students, higher education institutions, international organizations, NGOs, and industry partners.
Jointly hosted by Shanghai Open University (SOU), the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE) and the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), DTALL 2026 will be held on 16–17 October 2026 at Shanghai Open University in Shanghai, China. The Conference will bring together researchers, educators, policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders from around the world to exchange research findings, innovative practices, and practical experiences that advance the responsible and inclusive use of artificial intelligence in lifelong learning and smart learning ecosystems.
About the Academic Session
The special academic session “AI-Empowered Smart Learning Ecosystems: Integrated Development” will focus on the deep integration of artificial intelligence into smart learning ecosystems and explore how technology, human-centred principles, and social values can be harmonized across diverse learning scenarios for learners of all ages. Aligned with the global goal of building lifelong learning societies, the session aims to advance inclusive, equitable, and sustainable educational technology ecosystems and provide an international platform for sharing the latest research findings, innovative practices, and exemplary experiences.
Scope of Topics
Submissions are encouraged on a broad range of topics, including:
- AI-driven innovation in lifelong learning and learning societies
- Human-centred, inclusive, and sustainable educational AI
- Personalized and adaptive learning supported by AI
- Governance, quality assurance, and ethical issues in AI-enabled smart learning ecosystems
- Innovative practices and case studies of AI-enabled smart learning ecosystems
- Equity in the use of AI across education systems
- AI agents for enhancing teaching, learning, and learner support
Submission Categories
The session welcomes two categories of submissions:
- Research papers: abstracts, full papers, and poster papers, submitted in English.
- Case studies: demonstration and industry application cases, submitted in English or Chinese.
Submission and review timeline
The submission period is open until 30 August 2026. Following peer review in September 2026, selected papers and case studies will be presented during the Conference. Outstanding contributions will receive recognition and may be recommended for publication, subject to the review and publication requirements of the respective publishers.
Detailed submission requirements are available on the Conference website.