2026 World Digital Education Conference Opens in Hangzhou
AET Joins the World Digital Education Alliance
HANGZHOU — From 11 to 13 May 2026, the 2026 World Digital Education Conference was held in Hangzhou, China, jointly organised by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province. Under the theme “AI + Education: Transformation, Development and Governance”, the conference brought together education ministers, representatives of international organisations, leading universities, industry experts and global technology enterprises to discuss the future of education in the era of artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
During the conference, The Association of Education and Technology (AET) officially joined the World Digital Education Alliance as a new member organisation. Representing AET at the invitation of the organising committee, Ms Wuyinxia Wu, Executive Chair of AET China, participated in the World Digital Education Alliance 2026 General Assembly, plenary sessions of the World Digital Education Conference, thematic forums, the “Digital Education in Hangzhou” study visits and the closing ceremony.
A major highlight of the conference was the meeting between Huai Jinpeng, Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China, and Olivia Bailey, the United Kingdom's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. Discussions focused on international cooperation in digital education, educational transformation in the age of artificial intelligence and youth exchange initiatives, further strengthening dialogue and collaboration between China and the United Kingdom in digital and international education.
Olivia Bailey highlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence and educational technology in shaping future learning, promoting educational equity and advancing digital literacy. She noted that developments in AI and EdTech would create new opportunities for talent development, inclusive education and global educational collaboration. The United Kingdom, she stated, remains committed to deepening international cooperation in educational technology and jointly exploring new approaches to governance and innovation in the AI era.
The plenary sessions gathered diverse stakeholders to discuss new paradigms for global education. The conference systematically showcased China’s significant achievements, particularly the development of the National Smart Education Platform, the implementation of national strategic actions for educational digitalization, and the innovative integration of "AI+ Education," highlighting the openness and global influence of China’s digital education landscape.
As part of the "Cultivating Future Talent Building a New Educational Ecosystem " module of the "Digital Education Hangzhou Tour," the delegation visited Hangzhou Chovan Experimental School. The school showcased future-oriented scenarios including digital health, AI-driven science innovation, digital growth portfolios, and interdisciplinary fusion curricula. Utilizing AI, big data, and multi-modal technology, the school has built an ecosystem covering the entire "teach, learn, evaluate, and nurture" process, reflecting China's innovative practices in primary education transformation.
At Unitree Robotics, delegates explored the frontiers of embodied intelligence. They observed live demonstrations of robotic interactions and intelligent application scenarios. The deep integration of AI with physical hardware further demonstrated the rapid development and practical potential of China’s technological innovation in education-related fields.
Under the theme "AI for Science—Cultivating Future Talent" the delegation also visited Zhejiang University and Alibaba Group. Discussions focused on Large Language Models (LLMs) and the construction of future learning spaces, fostering dialogue between academic research and industrial application to accelerate the cultivation of digital talent.
As the 2026 World Digital Education Conference concluded successfully, the future roadmap for global education digitalisation has become increasingly clear. The deep integration of artificial intelligence, large language models, multimodal technologies and educational applications is rapidly reshaping learning models and approaches to future talent development.
Looking ahead, AET will continue to strengthen its role as a bridge for educational exchange and cooperation between China and the United Kingdom. The Association will further expand collaboration with Chinese schools, educational institutions and technology enterprises in areas including digital education exchange, AI applications in education, digital literacy development for young people and teacher digital capability enhancement.
AET will also continue to focus on basic education and international talent development, actively exploring new models for future classrooms, cross-cultural digital learning and global collaborative education under the framework of “AI + Education”, contributing to the continued advancement of global digital education through UK–China cooperation.
Also attending the conference on behalf of AET were Ms Pan Li, Director Director of International Affairs Liaison, and Mr Guan Hao, Director of Curriculum and Training.