Event Details

Inspired by the theme of the recent UNESCO International Forum on the Futures of Education the Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI) with the Digital Intelligence International Development Education Alliance (DI-IDEA) and Peking University invites you to our in-person annual event.


Bringing together academics, practitioners and EdTech companies from around the world, we are planning a positive, future focused event to energise and inspire attendees with enthusiasm for a shared vision of education and human flourishing, as well as an awareness of the challenges.


Respected keynote speakers in the morning will set the themes. The afternoon will start with showcases of brilliant EdTech start-ups and research work. This will be followed by one of DEFI's well known interactive workshops to synthesise the knowledge and experience of all attendees to creatively discuss and explore future-oriented visions of education.

May 16, 2025

09:00 - 17:00 GMT+1

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Storey's Field Centre
Eddington Avenue
Cambridge
CB3 1AA

United Kingdom

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Agenda

  • 09:00 - 09:30Venue opens
    Teas, coffees and pastries available whilst you meet other attendees
    09:30 - 10:00Welcome and setting the scene

    Sun Hua

    Professor at Peking University

    Rupert Wegerif

    Founder and Academic Director of the Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI) at University of Cambridge

    10:05 - 10:25Keynote 1 - Dr Sobhi Tawil

    Sobhi Tawil

    Director of the Future of Learning and Innovation Division at UNESCO

    10:25 - 10:45Keynote 2 - Dr Catherine Appiah-Pinkrah

    Catherine Appiah-Pinkrah

    Executive Director of Complementary Education Agency

    10:45 - 11:15Coffee break and poster display
    11:15 - 11:35Keynote 3 - Dr May Al Taee

    May Al Taee

    Vice-Chancellor at Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE)

    11:35 - 11:55Keynote 4 - Dr Rupert Wegerif

    Rupert Wegerif

    Founder and Academic Director of the Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI) at University of Cambridge

    11:55 - 12:10Video presentation from Prof Tshilidzi Marwala
    12:10 - 12:30Q & A session with keynote speakers

    Sobhi Tawil

    Director of the Future of Learning and Innovation Division at UNESCO

    Catherine Appiah-Pinkrah

    Executive Director of Complementary Education Agency

    May Al Taee

    Vice-Chancellor at Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE)

    Rupert Wegerif

    Founder and Academic Director of the Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI) at University of Cambridge

    12:30 - 13:30LUNCH
    13:30 - 14:15EdTech showcase
    5 minute sessions from a range of innovative EdTech developers.

    Piyush Ahuja

    Founder of Cambridge Innovation Labs

    Alan Tang

    Co-Founder of Collaboration Laboratory

    14:20 - 15:05Research showcase
    5 minute sessions showcasing innovative EdTech research
    15:05 - 15:20Q and A with researchers and EdTech developers
    15:20 - 15:50Coffee break & poster display
    15:50 - 16:35Futures workshop
    Theme to be confirmed

    Fawaz Abu Sitta

    UNESCO Chair in Anticipatory Systems and Futures Research Director of Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI)

    Imogen Casebourne

    Innovation Lab Research Director of Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI)

    16:35 - 16:50Closing remarks
    17:30 - 19:00Drinks at Hyatt Hotel Bar
    The Hyatt Hotel is just opposite the conference venue - please join the DEFI team and our co-hosts Peking University for drinks and to carry on the conversations.

Speakers

  • Mark Anderson (Quondam Fellow at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge)

    Mark Anderson

    Quondam Fellow at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge

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  • Sobhi Tawil (Director of the Future of Learning and Innovation Division at UNESCO)

    Sobhi Tawil

    Director of the Future of Learning and Innovation Division at UNESCO

    Read Bio
  • Catherine Appiah-Pinkrah (Executive Director of Complementary Education Agency)

    Catherine Appiah-Pinkrah

    Executive Director of Complementary Education Agency

    Read Bio
  • May Al Taee (Vice-Chancellor at Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE))

    May Al Taee

    Vice-Chancellor at Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE)

    Read Bio
  • Rupert Wegerif (Founder and Academic Director of the Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI) at University of Cambridge)

    Rupert Wegerif

    Founder and Academic Director of the Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI) at University of Cambridge

    Read Bio
  • Fawaz Abu Sitta (UNESCO Chair in Anticipatory Systems and Futures Research Director of Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI))

    Fawaz Abu Sitta

    UNESCO Chair in Anticipatory Systems and Futures Research Director of Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI)

    Read Bio
  • Imogen Casebourne (Innovation Lab Research Director of Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI))

    Imogen Casebourne

    Innovation Lab Research Director of Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI)

    Read Bio
  • Sun Hua (Professor at Peking University)

    Sun Hua

    Professor at Peking University

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  • Xingkun Liang (Associate Professor and Department for Information Management at Peking University)

    Xingkun Liang

    Associate Professor and Department for Information Management at Peking University

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  • Ma Yinghua (Professor of the Institute of Child and Adolescent Health at Peking University)

    Ma Yinghua

    Professor of the Institute of Child and Adolescent Health at Peking University

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  • Junbo Song (Founder & CEO of ClassIn)

    Junbo Song

    Founder & CEO of ClassIn

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  • Jie Song (Professor in School of Engineering at Peking University)

    Jie Song

    Professor in School of Engineering at Peking University

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  • Piyush Ahuja (Founder of Cambridge Innovation Labs)

    Piyush Ahuja

    Founder of Cambridge Innovation Labs

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  • Alan Tang (Co-Founder of Collaboration Laboratory)

    Alan Tang

    Co-Founder of Collaboration Laboratory

    Read Bio
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