We are delighted to share the experience of the 19th Education & Technology Doctoral Summer School, held in Dresden, Germany, from 14–18 September 2026, under the theme:

“Global Strands in Digital Participation Research”

This year’s Summer School on Education & Technology brought together around 60 researchers from 10 countries across three continents – including approximately 35 PhD students and 25 professors and postdocs. Among them, from August 24 to September 18, 2026,  two PhD students Ms.Ardita Dorti, Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Business Administration and Ms. Sabrina Begaj Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Computer Engineering from EPOKA University had an one month academic exchange for the summer school preparation and knowledge transformation between the two institutions, TU Dresden and Epoka University. 

Hosted by IU Internationale Hochschule and Technische Universität Dresden, the Summer School focused on current and future trends in education brought together doctoral students, researchers and academics from an international community to explore emerging developments in education, technology, artificial intelligence, digital participation and future skills. The summer school is supported by the DAAD funding program “Higher Education Dialogue with the Countries of the Western Balkans” and, more specifically, by the Hy-PER project.

The programme combined academic exchange with practical and collaborative activities, including keynote lectures, interactive workshops, doctoral research presentations, poster sessions, networking opportunities and cultural activities.The programme addressed some of the most relevant questions currently shaping higher education, including AI literacy and competence, AI-supported learning, AI and assessment, responsible use of AI, digital ecosystems and education in an increasingly hybrid world.

Among the keynote topics were AI and personal growth, AI literacy and competence, AI fabrication and bias, digital ecosystems in higher education, and education from non-Eurocentric perspectives.

🔬 Research, Methods & Academic Development

Doctoral researchers had the opportunity to present and discuss their research through dedicated poster sessions, while workshops addressed topics including the Delphi method, publication ethics, statistical analysis with AI and JASP, empirical research, instructional design and academic proposal writing.

🌍 What makes the week particularly special is its truly international character, bringing together colleagues and doctoral researchers connected to institutions including TU Dresden, IU International University, DHBW & NextEducation, Yogyakarta State University, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the University of Strasbourg, the University of Bergen, Private Pädagogische Hochschule der Diözese Linz and EPOKA University – and many more perspectives from around the world.

A distinctive feature of this year’s Summer School was the integration of the entire Summer School community into the GeNeMe conference and networking activities. Rather than limiting the Summer School experience to a dedicated programme of lectures, workshops, and poster presentations, participants had the opportunity to engage with a broader international academic and professional community through the GeNeMe conference and panel activities. This created an additional platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and exposure to current discussions in digitalisation, education, technology, and digital participation. The programme explicitly included a Conference & Networking activity and a GeNeMe Panel as part of the Summer School programme.

🌍 EPOKA University’s Contribution

As part of this international initiative, EPOKA University served as the organiser of the online phase of the Summer School, contributing to the programme’s international learning and research community and supporting the connection between researchers across institutions and countries.

The online phase complemented the in-person activities in Dresden by creating additional opportunities for knowledge exchange, research interaction and international collaboration.

One of the strengths of the Summer School was precisely this combination of physical and online academic engagement, allowing participants to connect beyond geographical boundaries.

🤝 Research Beyond Presentations

The Summer School was not only about presenting research. It created opportunities to exchange ideas, receive feedback, discover complementary research interests and build relationships for future collaboration.

🌍 Academic Exchange Meets Cultural Exchange

The programme also recognised that international academic communities are built through informal interaction and shared experiences. City tours, cultural visits, welcome and farewell dinners, and networking activities provided space for participants to connect beyond the classroom.

For EPOKA University, being part of this international experience represents an important opportunity to strengthen internationalization, academic networking and research collaboration, while contributing to conversations about the future of education and technology.

We are proud to have contributed to an international community that brings together research, technology, education and human connection.

Research connects us. Technology expands the possibilities. Collaboration creates the future.

📍 Dresden, Germany – Onsite Phase
💻 EPOKA University – Online Phase
🌍 International | Interdisciplinary | Research-driven