June 15–17, 2025, the EDEN Bologna Annual Conference brought together educators, researchers, and policymakers from around the world to explore the future of digital education in a time of rapid transformation. Held in the historical University of Bologna, the oldest university of the Western world, the event welcomed 302 participants representing 167 organisations across 42 countries and 6 continents, offering a strong platform for international exchange, critical dialogue, and collaborative reflection.

This year’s programme featured three plenary sessions and 19 parallel sessions, shaped by the contributions of a diverse and engaged community. A total of 189 submissions were received – 62 full papers, 86 concise papers, 14 posters, 15 synopsis papers, and 12 action labs – reflecting the broad range of innovation and inquiry across the field. The much-awaited EDEN PhD Symposium brought together 15 PhD researchers focusing on technologies in education. Throughout the event, panels of esteemed professors from various countries provided valuable insights and an international perspective, enriching the participants’ research and encouraging cross-border academic dialogue.

The conference opened with a welcome address by Magnifico Rettore Professor Giovanni Molari, the Rector of the University of Bologna, delivered in the Cortile dell’Ercole (Hercules Courtyard) at Palazzo Poggi. During the welcome reception, EDEN President Wim Van Petegem congratulated participants on their engagement and contributions to EDEN Bologna AC 2025. In cooperation with the UNESCO Chair in Education and Technology for Social Change, the EDEN 2025 Best Research Paper Award was presented to: “GenAI as an Educational Gatekeeper: Balancing Personalisation and Standardisation in Higher Education” by Felipe Tessarolo, Chris Edwards, Duygu Bektik, and Denise Whitelock from The Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, United Kingdom. We congratulate the authors on this timely and thoughtful contribution to the evolving conversation on AI in education.

The conference also featured two impactful keynote addresses: Professor Gianluigi Greco (University of Calabria, Italy) delivered “AI for Innovation in Higher Education – New Essential Skills Required!”, exploring the implications of artificial intelligence for the future of academic and professional skill development. Dr. Stephen Murgatroyd (Contact North, Ontario, Canada) presented “AI As A Disruptive Force At A Time Of Uncertainty”, offering a critical examination of AI’s influence on institutional resilience and transformation.

In addition, five spotlight speakers offered sharp expert insights on key challenges and innovations in education:

· Dana Verbal (European Commission) – “Connecting Policy to Practice: Advancing Digital Education and Skills in Europe”

· Professor Ulf Daniel Ehlers (Germany) – “Higher Education and Human Competence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”

· Dr. Mychelle Pride (United Kingdom) – “Harnessing AI for Equitable, Inclusive and Personalised Education”

· Professor Illona Buchem (Germany) – “AI-Driven Social Robots in Education: Scenarios, Opportunities and Challenges”

· Dr. Janika Leoste (Estonia) – “Integrating Robot Assistants and Knowledge Transfer in Education”

We are grateful to all keynote and spotlight speakers for their inspiring contributions, which advanced shared understanding of the evolving educational landscape. This event would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of many contributors. We extend our sincere appreciation to Professor Antonella Poce, EDEN Management Board Member, for her leadership throughout the organisation of the conference, and to Professor Sabrina Luccarini, General Manager at the University of Bologna, for her continuous support during the event.

We are grateful to our partners and colleagues for their participation,engagement and synergies: Torunn Gjelsvik and Sophia Javaid (ICDE, International Council for Open and Distance Education), Ruben Castro (Coimbra Group), Alex Hinojo (The Open EU University Alliance), Carme Royo (EUCEN), and Stephanie Oberheidt (DAAD). Their involvement strengthened the collaborative spirit of the conference and supported its success.

EDEN continues to lead in digital innovation in education by awarding speakers and presenters not only Digital Badges but also official Digital Credentials – issued through the Europass Digital Credentials Infrastructure! This is another big step in boosting trust, transparency, and recognition in digital learning across Europe.

The EDEN Bologna Annual Conference 2025 reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing education through critical exchange, research, and partnership. We thank every participant, speaker, and supporter who contributed to this year’s programme, and we look forward to continuing this important work together.