The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) hosted, on 9–10 July 2026, the "NextGen'26 – Africa EdTech & Innovation Hub" event, organized at the initiative of the AcaROBOTICS Foundation. The event formed part of efforts to support regional initiatives aimed at advancing educational technology, accelerating digital transformation in education and training systems, and strengthening human capacity as a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development and building knowledge-based economies.
The event opened with remarks by Eng. Ziad Maazawi, delivered on behalf of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO. He conveyed the Director-General's greetings to all participants, reaffirming ALECSO's commitment to supporting high-impact initiatives that combine education, technology, and innovation, empower young people, strengthen Arab-African partnerships, and help shape the future of education in light of rapid digital transformation. He also commended the leading role of the AcaROBOTICS Foundation in organizing this significant initiative, which provides a platform for dialogue, expertise-sharing, and partnership-building among stakeholders in educational technology.
The event featured a wide range of parallel scientific and practical activities, including seminars exploring the latest trends in educational technology and innovation, specialized training workshops, and a student innovation exhibition showcasing projects by participants aged 6 to 17. Students presented creative solutions in programming, artificial intelligence, and robotics. The programme also included a robotics competition that attracted broad participation from student teams and educational institutions.
The second day's activities were opened by Dr. Mohamed Jemni, Director of ICT at ALECSO. He commended the outstanding quality of the projects presented and commended the creativity and excellence demonstrated by students in applying modern technologies to advance education and innovation.
The event brought together leading technology companies from Tunisia, universities and national institutions, as well as international organizations, experts, and specialists in digital education and innovation. This broad participation provided an important platform for exchanging expertise, showcasing successful experiences, and strengthening opportunities for collaboration and partnership among all stakeholders.
ALECSO's hosting of this event forms part of its strategic vision to promote innovation, equip young people with future-ready skills, and strengthen Arab-African cooperation in educational technology. These efforts contribute to building more innovative, inclusive, and resilient education systems that meet the demands of the digital age while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and supporting the development of knowledge-based economies.
