The EDvance Summit 2026 is built around a deliberately structured argument across three days. Most conferences organise by discipline or format. EDvance is organised by logic: we begin where every learner must begin — with access — and move through the quality of what is learned to where learning ultimately needs to lead: dignified, recognised, economically meaningful work. Access & Equity, Learning & Teaching, and Competences & Economy are not three separate topics. They are three interdependent dimensions of a single challenge.
What makes EDvance distinctive is how this argument is advanced. Each parallel workshop opens with three short research presentations that bring current evidence directly to the table — and then turns that evidence into action: participants work together on a core question, developing ideas and solutions in real time. Research does not stay on the stage. It enters the room and gets put to work. This co-creation format, combined with keynote symposia, peer-reviewed paper sessions, and poster presentations, makes EDvance as relevant to a practitioner or policymaker as to an academic researcher.
The full programme with all accepted contributions will be available for download once the review process is complete.
Day 1 — Reaching Every Learner: Access & Equity
Tuesday, 7 October 2026 · Nairobi, Kenya
► Keynote Speaches (3 × 10 min): Infrastructure & connectivity · Community Ownership & Participation · Voices from the Field
â–º Moderated Synthesis Dialogue (30 min) + Audience Q&A (10 min)
Day 2 — From Digital Transformation to Quality Learning: Learning & Teaching
Wednesday, 8 October 2026 · Nairobi, Kenya
► Innovation Spotlights (3 × 10 min): Evidence-Based Pedagogy · AI as Educational Support · Teacher Capacity Building (DEVISE4KE – Rongo University)
â–º Moderated Synthesis Dialogue (30 min) + Audience Q&A (10 min)
Day 3 — Pathways to Employment: Competences & Economy
Thursday, 9 October 2026 · Nairobi, Kenya
► Innovation Spotlights (3 × 10 min): VET for the Digital Economy · Global Digital Work & African Participation · Recognition of Prior Learning & Competency Frameworks
â–º Moderated Synthesis Dialogue (30 min) + Audience Q&A (10 min)
► Three Days in 9 Insights — moderated synthesis across all three themes (10 min)
â–º Open discussion: The hard truth and open questions (15 min)
► Best Paper Award & Best Poster Award (10 min) · Voices from the Room (10 min) · Official Closing (5 min)