Global Smart Education Conference 2026 held in Beijing

(ECNS) -- The Global Smart Education Conference 2026 themed “Reimagining Education in the Age of AI: Equity, Quality and Sustainability” was held in Beijing from Tuesday through Thursday, gathering representatives from over 60 countries.

Co-hosted by Beijing Normal University and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, the threeday event focused on building inclusive, technologydriven education systems. It featured forums covering all stages of education, from early childhood to lifelong learning.

A key highlight was the launch of the Global Smart Schools Program. This initiative aims to foster international cooperation by sharing best practices and case studies from countries including China, the Netherlands, Singapore, Canada, and Kenya. The program outlines five pillars of smart schooling, centering on AI‑driven learning experiences, digital training for teachers, and strong home‑community collaboration.

Vice Minister of Education Ren Youqun announced the nation's "AI Plus Education" action plan, which integrates digital resources across all levels of education. Tang Qian, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, emphasized sustainable, fair, and human‑centered technology integration, as well as joint resource sharing.

(By Intern Lin Qiaochu, Zhang Dongfang)