About the symposium
Artificial intelligence is no longer emerging. It is embedded in how we teach, assess, and support learning. The question is no longer whether we engage with AI, but how we design education that remains deeply human.
Higher Education Horizons 2026 brings together educators, researchers, learning designers, and institutional leaders from across the Asia-Pacific to explore The Human Edge - what humans uniquely contribute to learning, and how education systems can amplify this in an AI-enabled world.
This symposium focuses on three interconnected themes:
- Agency: Empowering learners and educators in decision-making and co-creation
- Authenticity: Rethinking assessment, integrity, and identity in the age of AI
- Architecture: Designing inclusive, data-informed, and future-ready learning systems
Aligned with RMIT’s commitment to applied, inclusive, and future-focused education, the symposium aims to surface both research and practice that shape the future of higher education.
Themes and topics
We invite submissions aligned with (but not limited to):
Agency
- Learner autonomy and self-directed learning
- Educator decision-making and professional autonomy
- Student voice and co-design
Authencity
- Assessment design and integrity in the age of GenAI
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
- Educator identity and professional learning in the age of AI
Architecture
- Learning design and course design
- Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning
- Learning analytics and data-informed practice
Abstract guidelines
We welcome submissions that are:
- Research-based (empirical or theoretical)
- Practice-based or case studies
- Innovation showcases or pilots
- Policy or institutional design perspectives
Submissions should demonstrate clear insight, relevance, and contribution to higher education practice.
To support diverse forms of engagement and knowledge sharing, accepted submissions will be allocated to one of the following formats:
Oral Presentation
- 20-minute presentation + 5-minute Q&A
- Suitable for research findings, case studies, or conceptual work
- Delivered within themed parallel sessions
Visual Poster
- Poster display during the Always-on Showcase (8:00 am - 4:00 pm)
- Ideal for early-stage work, exploratory ideas, or visual frameworks
Interactive Demonstration/Workshop
- 30-minute facilitated session
- Hands-on, participatory format
- Suitable for tools, pedagogical approaches, or co-design activities
The program committee will assign formats based on submission type, reviewer recommendations, and program balance.
You are invited to submit an extended abstract (maximum 800 words, excluding references).
Context and problem
Briefly describe the higher education context. Clearly state the problem, gap, or challenge your work addresses.
Theoretical framework
Identify the key concepts or theories that inform your work. Explain how they shape your approach or analysis.
Research questions or Aims
State your main research question(s) or purpose. Show how they connect to the problem you have identified.
Methodology or Approach
Describe how you carried out the work. Include your research design, methods, data sources, or type of inquiry (for example, empirical, conceptual, or practice-based).
Findings or Argument
Present your main findings or central argument. Focus on the key insights you will share.
Contribution to Knowledge and Practice
Explain how your work adds value to higher education research, policy, or practice. Be clear about why it matters.
Keywords
Provide 3-5 keywords that reflect the main themes, concepts, or methods of your submission.
Important dates
| Extended abstracts submission deadline | 10 July 2026 |
| Notification of outcomes | 20 July 2026 |
| Public registration open | 30 July 2026 |
| Presenter registration deadline | 15 August 2026 |
| Event date | 25 September 2026 |
Contact us
For enquiries, please contact: learningfutures@rmit.edu.vn