At the Global Smart Education Conference 2026 in Beijing, GSENetand the Smart Learning Institute of Beijing Normal University launched a new report on the digital transformation of education.

Drawing on global perspectives, it examines how AI and digital technologies are being adopted across education systems. It also highlights the policies, capacities, and support structures needed to ensure that these innovations contribute to equitable and inclusive learning opportunities.

The chapter on Europe, Future Pathways for Smart Education in Europe: from Emerging Trends to Strategic Action, was written on behalf of ICDE by George Ubachs and Piet Henderikx of ICDE member EADTU (European Association of Distance Teaching Universities).

Drawing on examples from higher education, schools and national systems, it sets out recommendations for moving from experimentation towards human-centred, system-wide AI integration.