Welcome
The Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) invites all who are involved with higher education to the Higher Education Conference International (HECI) 2026. HECI 2026 will take place on 9 December 2026 (Wednesday) at the Stephen Riady Centre, University Town (UTown), National University of Singapore (NUS).
This year’s conference theme is “The Future of Learning: Technology, Connections, and Global Pedagogies”
The HECI 2026 Conference Co-Chairs warmly welcome colleagues to the conference.
The Future of Learning: Technology, Connections, and Global Pedagogies
As higher education and lifelong learning landscapes undergo profound transformation, The Future of Learning conference invites educators, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to critically explore emerging directions in teaching and learning. This conference provides a platform to examine how innovation, global interconnectedness, and human-centred pedagogies are reshaping educational practice across contexts.
Sub-Themes
The conference is organised around four interconnected themes.
1. Technology-enabled Learning and Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities
The rapid integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) into education raises fundamental questions about pedagogy, ethics, equity, and the role of educators. This theme explores how technology can enhance teaching and learning while critically examining issues such as data governance, algorithmic bias, academic integrity, and the evolving identities of learners and teachers in AI-infused environments.
2. Transnational Collaboration in Teaching and Learning: Difference-oriented Pedagogies
In an increasingly interconnected world, cross-border collaborations are redefining knowledge production and educational practice. This theme focuses on transnational partnerships that embrace cultural, epistemological, and linguistic diversity. It highlights pedagogies that are responsive to difference, foregrounding inclusivity, decoloniality, and mutual learning across contexts.
3. Continuing Education: Andragogy and Learner Relevance
As the demand for lifelong learning intensifies, continuing education must remain responsive to shifting professional, social, and personal needs. This theme examines adult learning principles (andragogy), flexible learning pathways, and the alignment between educational offerings and real-world relevance. It considers how institutions can design meaningful, accessible, and future-ready learning experiences for diverse adult learners.
4. Care and Relationality in Teaching and Learning: Human Connections
Amid technological advancement and globalisation, the relational dimensions of education remain central. This theme foregrounds the importance of care, empathy, and trust in teaching and learning environments. It explores how human connections—between educators, learners, and communities—can be cultivated to support wellbeing, belonging, and transformative educational experiences.
Together, these themes invite participants to reimagine the future of learning as a space where innovation and humanity intersect—where technology enables, but does not replace, meaningful relationships and inclusive pedagogical practices.
HECI 2026 Keynote Speaker

Dr Anu Selva-Thomson
Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), National University of Singapore (NUS)
Dr Anu Selva-Thomson is from the Department of Philosophy at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She joined NUS in 2023 following lecturing and teaching posts at NTU and the University of York, UK.
Dr Selva-Thomson received her PhD from the University of York (UK). She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the National Institute of Education, Singapore, as well as certifications in inclusive classrooms, teaching neurodivergent students, and counselling support for ADHD and autism.
She has received several research and teaching grants, including nationally funded awards, and actively seeks opportunities to advance diversity, inclusion, and public engagement. She currently trains faculty and staff and advises schools on inclusive learning strategies. She has also served as a member of the Athena Swan Award advisory committee, mentor for Minorities and Philosophy (MAP) UK, and the Philosophy for Children (P4C) exploratory committee at the University of York, and as a board member of The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts. In 2015, she was recognised as one of Scotland’s Future Leaders in the Arts by Creative Scotland, the national public body supporting the arts, screen, and creative industries across Scotland.
Watch this space for details about Dr Selva-Thomson’s keynote!
Signature Pedagogy Session
The Signature and Innovative Pedagogy Workshop
[Details to be confirmed]
|
AUs |
Workshop Title |
|
SIT |
Empowering Student Success: An Introduction to Solution-Focused Coaching in Higher Education |
|
SUTD |
Hands-on, interdisciplinary and human centric design thinking |
|
SMU, SUSS, NTU |
Details being refined |
Call for Submissions
CTLT invites you to submit your extended abstracts, on the conference theme and sub-themes, to be considered for inclusion in the conference programme.
The submission portal will close on 8 July 2026 (Wednesday) at 11.59 pm (2359).
Presentation Formats
Three formats are available for you to present your work:
- Paper Presentation – 20-minute talk with 10-minute question-and-answer
- Poster Presentation
Please indicate your preferred presentation format in the submission portal
Extended Abstract Template
One common template is used for all the three presentation formats. Please download and use the extended abstract template for your submissions.
Please contact the HECI 2026 Conference Secretariat at hecisec@nus.edu.sg for conference-related queries.