Hosted by Shanghai Open University in collaboration with the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education and the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, the 2025 International Conference on Digital Lifelong Learning: Innovation·Intelligence·Integration was held on October 18–19, 2025, in Shanghai, China. The conference aimed at bringing together global expertise to explore how digital innovation can advance lifelong learning for all. Particular attention was given to critical issues such as educational equity in an ageing society, the recognition and certification of learning outcomes, and the application of artificial intelligence. The conference focused on providing practical solutions for building inclusive and sustainable learning societies.
The conference featured keynote speeches, academic parallel sessions and plenary discussions on new applications and practices of AI in education and the deep integration of technology and education. Over 200 experts, scholars, policymakers, and researchers from 40 countries gathered to explore strategies and directions for advancing lifelong learning in the digital era. Key themes included empowering aging societies through lifelong learning, AI-enabled education, inclusive lifelong learning systems, and recognition of lifelong learning outcomes.
During the conference, a Roundtable on the Global Network for Digital Lifelong Learning was held to review progress of 2025 and discuss future directions. The Global Network, jointly launched in 2024 by 18 global institutions, including UNESCO IITE, serves as a collaborative platform to advance digital lifelong learning worldwide. In this year’s session, the Global Network members and enterprise partners reunited in Shanghai to hear reports on the Global Network’s achievements and debate future collaboration. Discussions centered on open educational resources, AI literacy training, lifelong learning opportunities for senior adults in the era of AI, collaborative research and flagship initiatives, with participants sharing insights and recommendations for future work.
UNESCO IITE team took an active part in the conference. Mr. Tao Zhan, Director of the Institute, shared his messages on the opening and closing sessions, as well as co-chaired the Global Network for Digital Lifelong Learning meeting. Ms. Natalia Amelina, Chief of the UNESCO IITE Unit of Teacher Professional Development and Networking, presented outcomes of the UNESCO IITE-Shanghai Open University joint project on “Promoting ICT Capacity Building and Open Education in the Era of AI and Digital Technologies” and presented in the themed seminar “Lifelong Learning Empowers Aging Societies”. Ms. Tatiana Murovana, Project Officer in Education at UNESCO IITE, participated in the themed seminar “AI Empowers Education” as a discussant and shared her comments during the Roundtable on the Global Network for Digital Lifelong Learning.
The conference participants had the opportunity to attend the Shanghai Exhibition of Courses for the Senior, taking place from 18 to 20 October in Shanghai.
