Pre-conference workshop

16 Jun 2026, 13:30 – 17:00 CEST

This pre-conference workshop explores how higher education can prepare graduates for future professions and integrate AI to enhance teaching and learning. Participants will examine the skills and competencies needed in future roles, discuss strategies for embedding AI into institutional planning, staff development, and curricula, and explore the Hybrid Collaborative Classroom at KU Leuven. The workshop includes interactive exercises, idea exchange, and opportunities for reflection.

AGENDA

13:00 Welcome

13:30 How can we prepare the future workforce? led by Steven Verjans, UCLL Belgium

In the age of Generative AI it is not enough for higher education to make sure that staff and students become AI-literate. In some cases, we need to prepare our students for jobs that will be fundamentally changed by the omnipresence of generative AI. For example, how do we train future software developers, or creative media professionals? In this part of the workshop, the participants will participate in a scenario exercise in which we try do identify the core professional competencies of our future graduates and which level of self-reliance (without AI) is needed in their future jobs.

14:25 From isolated initiatives towards sustainable integration led by Sonia Hetzner, FAU, Germany

Participants of the workshop will be invited to examine and discuss how universities can move beyond isolated AI initiatives toward sustainable integration in teaching. Drawing on the KI-Komp project at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Sonia will introduce a stepwise model for advancing AI in higher education. The approach highlights three key dimensions: (1) institutional strategy and governance, (2) capacity building for teaching staff, and (3) curricular integration supported by tools, resources, and peer exchange.

15:20 Creating educational apps led by Julian van der Kraats , Leiden University, The Netherlands

Platforms like Cogniti are enabling us to easily and safely create and share educational apps with AI, allowing for new educational experiences like the ones discussed here. In this workshop, we will be using publicly available tools to test out your ideas. So bring a laptop and a Google account, and maybe already try out https://aistudio.google.com/apps before the workshop!

16:30 Hybrid room at KU Leuven led by Thy Tran Khanh, KU Leuven, Belgium

Participants are invited to explore Synchronous Hybrid Education and its potential research opportunities via a simulation in the Hybrid Collaborative Classroom, where the Pre-conference takes place. The session will also introduce key technical strengths and limitations of this classroom, followed by a group discussion to improve the classroom’s design and operations.

17:00 End of official programme

Participants interested in the hybrid room’s functionalities are welcome to further discuss on research and technical aspects with a colleague, Michiel Spaepen from Didactic Equipment team of KU Leuven. 

The pre-conference event will be moderated by Andy Thys, KU Leuven, Belgium

This on-site event will take place in Leuven, Belgium. Participation in the pre-conference workshop is open to registered conference participants only. To attend, you have to first register for Media & Learning 2026: Co-Creating the Future of Learning. Don’t miss out! Seats are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note that the schedule might still be adjusted!