Shanghai conference explores digital lifelong learning amid AI era

The 2026 International Conference on Digital Lifelong Learning, themed Intelligent, Innovative, Inclusive, wrapped up in Shanghai on Saturday.

The two-day event, co-hosted by Shanghai Open University and two UNESCO institutes, brought together education experts from multiple countries to discuss the transformation trends of lifelong learning amid the AI wave. They explored a fairer and more inclusive future for technology-enabled lifelong learning and advanced the deep integration of global experience with local practices.

Raul Valdes Cotera, senior programme coordinator at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), noted that digital technologies have reshaped learning patterns, yet hundreds of millions of adults worldwide still lack basic literacy.

"Lifelong learning is not a luxury — it is a prerequisite for building an inclusive and sustainable society," he emphasized.

During the conference, the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) and Shanghai Open University released the core outcomes of their 2025 to 2026 cooperation. Focusing on upgrading teachers' digital competencies and developing intelligent education tools, the deliverables included two analytical reports, four cutting-edge courses, four intelligent education tools, and two assessment guidelines. These resources cover the full teaching spectrum from literacy evaluation to course development and in-class support, providing systematic support for digital transformation in education.