I-HE2026 is EADTU’s annual conference on Innovating Higher Education, this year hosted by Open Universiteit in The Hague.

As one of Europe’s leading international forums on online, open, and distance education, I-HE brings together university leaders, researchers, practitioners, policy makers, educational technologists, and innovators shaping the future of higher education.

With approximately 250 participants from Europe and beyond, the conference provides a dynamic platform to explore emerging trends, exchange forward-looking practices, and advance strategic transformation across institutions and systems.

Under the theme “From Innovation to Impact: Transforming Higher Education at Scale,” I-HE2026 examines how emerging developments are reshaping higher education across Europe and beyond. As institutions rethink learning design, student and staff support, and cross-border collaboration within increasingly digital ecosystems, the key challenge is moving from innovation to structural, systemic impact — delivering accessible, high-quality, and sustainable education at scale.

The programme will address online, blended, and hybrid education, the growing role of Generative AI and Large Language Models in teaching and institutional strategy, micro-credentials and personalised learning pathways, and leadership for digital transformation. It will also explore diversity and inclusion in open and online education, interoperability and cross-institutional collaboration, and sustainability within the smart green campus.