European Distance and E-learning Network - EDEN

🏆 EDEN Best Research Paper Award 2026 announced!

At the 2026 Annual EDEN Conference in Porto, Portugal (14–16 June 2026), the EDEN Digital Learning Europe Best Research Paper Award was presented, recognising outstanding research contributions in open, distance and digital learning.

👏 Congratulations to the winners:
“Before the First Prompt: Understanding Students’ Pre-Use Perceptions of an AI Digital Assistant in Higher Education”
by Chris Edwards, Denise Whitelock, Felipe Tessarolo, Duygu Bektik, Emily Coughlan, Christothea Herodotou & Thomas Ullmann

Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, UK
The Jury highlighted the paper’s timely contribution to understanding students’ perceptions of AI assistants in Higher Education, its robust mixed-methods approach, and its relevance to the EDEN 2026 theme “Beyond Technology: Human-AI Collaboration for Learning and Teaching.”

🙏 Our thanks to the EDEN BRPA Jury:
• Teresa Romeu — Associate Professor of Digital Education, UOC, Spain (Chair)
• Amélia Veiga — Associate Professor, University of Porto, Portugal
• Ilona Buchem — Professor for Media and Communication, Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Germany

Congratulations to all finalists for their excellent research contributions and commitment to advancing digital education! 🎓✨

Read more: https://eden-europe.eu/eden-best-research-paper-award-granted-at-the-2026-annual-eden-conference-porto-portugal-14-16-june-2026/

✨ EDEN PORTO AC 2026: Welcome Reception & EDEN Fellow Awards 2026 ✨

The first day of EDEN Porto AC 2026 started with a warm Welcome Reception, bringing together the EDEN community to celebrate collaboration, innovation, and the shared mission of advancing digital education.

A special moment of the evening was the presentation of the EDEN Fellow and EDEN Senior Fellow Awards 2026. Following an open consultation with the EDEN Fellows Council and the EDEN Digital Learning Europe Management Board vote of 18 February 2026, we are delighted to announce this year’s award recipients:

🏆 EDEN Fellow Awards 2026
• Carlo De Medio (University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy)
• Ronan Bree (Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland)

🌟 EDEN Senior Fellow Award 2026
• Sally Reynolds (Media & Learning Association, Belgium)

Read more: https://eden-europe.eu/eden-porto-ac-2026-opens-with-welcome-reception-and-eden-fellow-and-senior-fellow-awards/

Congratulations to all awardees for their outstanding contributions and continued commitment to the EDEN community and the future of digital learning! 👏

🌍✨ EDEN Porto AC 2026 is shaping up to be truly global!

We’re excited to welcome 300 participants from 223 organizations across 49 countries—representing every continent, from Canada and Brazil to South Africa, Nepal, New Zealand, and China.

📊 This year’s conference saw an incredible 205 submissions

🤝 We’re also honoured to host representatives from key partner networks, including Contact North, EUCEN, and ICDE.

🎤 The programme promises rich discussions and insights, featuring:
• 3 plenary sessions
• 2 keynote speeches
• 5 spotlight presentations
• 10 parallel sessions
• The highly anticipated Grand EDEN Debate

🔗 Learn more about the conference:
https://eden-europe.eu/event/eden-2026-annual-conference/

🎉 EDEN Porto AC 2026 has officially started!
Today marks the beginning of our conference journey in Porto! 🇵🇹✨

The Registration Desk is now open till Sunday 16:00 – we’re excited to welcome participants to the EDEN Digital Learning Europe Annual Conference.

The PhD Symposium opens the conference for PhD students
We are excited to welcome participants from across Europe and beyond as we begin several days of inspiring discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.

🌙 Join us this evening for the Welcome Reception!
All participants are warmly invited to meet, network, and celebrate the start of EDEN Porto AC 2026 together.

📍 Welcome Reception venue:
ICBAS – Edifício Abel Salazar
https://www.google.com/maps/place/ICBAS+-+Edif%C3%ADcio+Abel+Salazar/@41.1478435,-8.6177735,862m/data=!3m2!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0xd2465005148f7bf:0x86586adc659380c6!8m2!3d41.1478435!4d-8.6177735!16s%2Fg%2F11x2wwrm9j?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYxMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

We can’t wait to welcome you and officially start this inspiring week together! 💙

🎤 EDEN Porto AC 2026 Spotlight Speaker Announcement

We are delighted to announce another spotlight speaker for the EDEN Annual Conference 2026 in Porto:

✨ Francesca Maltauro
Acting Head of Unit “Digital Education, STEM and AI Literacy” at the European Commission, where she leads key initiatives shaping the future of digital education, STEM learning, and AI literacy across Europe.

💡 Spotlight title:
“European Policies and Initiatives to Empower Learners in the Age of AI”

📍
https://eden-europe.eu/event/eden-2026-annual-conference/

🚨 Registration is closing on June 1 — and this is your LAST chance to join us at EDEN PORTO AC 2026! 🇵🇹✨

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with educators, researchers, and innovators shaping the future of digital education and human-AI collaboration.

📍 Porto, Portugal
📅 14–16 June 2026

Secure your spot now before registration closes!
EDEN PORTO AC 2026 Registration & Info: https://eden-europe.eu/event/eden-2026-annual-conference/

🎤 EDEN Porto AC 2026 Spotlight Speaker Announcement

We are pleased to announce another spotlight speaker for the EDEN Annual Conference 2026 in Porto:
✨ Colin Lowry
Senior Manager for Teaching and Learning, Enhancement and Digital Innovation at Ireland’s Higher Education Authority (HEA).

💡 Spotlight title:
“Supporting Higher Education Readiness for Generative AI in Teaching and Learning”

In this spotlight session, Colin Lowry will share insights from Ireland’s national approach to supporting higher education institutions in responding to the rapid emergence of Generative AI in teaching, learning, and assessment.

The session will explore how the Irish Higher Education Authority has worked collaboratively with students, educators, institutional leaders, and wider stakeholders to move beyond immediate reactions toward a more shared and evidence-informed understanding of GenAI’s implications for higher education.
The presentation will highlight how national dialogue, sectoral engagement, and practical guidance can support institutions in addressing questions related to assessment, academic integrity, inclusion, and educational values — while respecting institutional diversity and autonomy.

Drawing on Ireland’s experience, the session will offer a practical example of how collaborative approaches can help higher education institutions engage with AI in ways that are ethical, thoughtful, and responsive to local contexts.

📍 Join us in Porto for EDEN Annual Conference 2026.
⏳ Registration closes on June 1st.

https://eden-europe.eu/event/eden-2026-annual-conference/

✨ Turnitin! 🚀 Meet the EDEN Porto AC 2026 Platinum Sponsor!

We are proud to welcome Turnitin as a Platinum Sponsor of the EDEN Annual Conference 2026 in Porto.

As a global leader in academic integrity, assessment, and responsible use of AI in education, Turnitin continues to support institutions and educators in navigating the evolving landscape of digital learning and assessment.

Learn more about Turnitin here:
https://go.turnitin.com/l/45292/2026-05-19/cpyrkc

📍 Join us in Porto for EDEN Annual Conference 2026.
⏳ Registration closes on June 1st.

🎤 EDEN Porto AC 2026 Spotlight Speaker Announcement

We are delighted to announce another spotlight speaker for the EDEN Annual Conference 2026 in Porto:

✨ Cristina Díaz de la Cruz
Academic Vice-Rector at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), Ecuador, Full Professor in Business Sciences, and researcher in business ethics, organizational behavior, and digital humanism.

💡 Spotlight title:
“Human AI Collaboration in Higher Education: A Human-Centered Educational Model for the AI Era”

In this spotlight session, Cristina Díaz de la Cruz will explore how higher education can move beyond technology-driven approaches toward meaningful and responsible human–AI collaboration.

The presentation will introduce a human-centered educational framework grounded in transformative learning, competency development, and human wellbeing. It will highlight the importance of cultivating uniquely human capacities — including critical thinking, ethical judgment, creativity, and relational intelligence — in a world increasingly shaped by Artificial Intelligence.
Drawing on an integrated vision of learning focused on knowing, doing, being, and living together, the session will examine how universities can create inclusive and engaging learning environments that strengthen student agency and prepare learners for complex AI-mediated futures.

With extensive expertise in digital transformation, competency-based education, and ethical approaches to emerging technologies, Cristina Díaz de la Cruz brings a valuable perspective on the future role of higher education in the AI era.

📍 Join us in Porto for EDEN Annual Conference 2026.
⏳ Registration closes on June 1st.

https://eden-europe.eu/event/eden-2026-annual-conference/