The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) participated in the “Digital Lifelong Learning International Conference 2026: Intelligence, Innovation and Inclusion,” held in Shanghai, China, from 15 to 17 October 2026.
The Conference was jointly organized by Shanghai Open University, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE), with the participation of leading experts, researchers, officials, and representatives of international and academic institutions from around the world.
ALECSO was represented by Dr. Mohamed Jemni, Director of ICT, who delivered a keynote address entitled “Advancing AI in Education in the Arab Region: ALECSO’s Vision, Practices and Future Directions.”
The keynote address highlighted the rapid transformations taking place worldwide in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and their implications for the future of education and lifelong learning. It explored the opportunities AI offers to develop smarter, more resilient, and more inclusive education systems, while also addressing challenges related to ethics, governance, digital equity, and capacity-building.
Dr. Jemni presented ALECSO’s vision, efforts, and initiatives in artificial intelligence and digital transformation in education, particularly those aimed at promoting the responsible and ethical use of AI, developing digital competencies, and supporting innovation and Arab and international cooperation. He also emphasized the importance of moving beyond the adoption of Generative AI to explore the new possibilities offered by Agentic AI in shaping the future of education.
ALECSO’s participation underscored the importance of developing a comprehensive Arab vision for artificial intelligence in education, grounded in the Arab region’s cultural and linguistic priorities and specificities, while remaining open to global developments and emerging trends. This approach aims to ensure that these technologies contribute to more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable quality education.
The Conference provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and exchange expertise with participating international institutions, universities, and research centers, while exploring new avenues for partnership in artificial intelligence, smart education, digital lifelong learning, and digital transformation. These efforts support ALECSO’s mission to advance education systems across Arab countries and keep pace with rapid technological developments worldwide.
