Vlad Mihaescu, PhD
The Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Romania
Vlad Mihaescu has a Ph.D. in educational and technological models of MOOCs and has more than 20 years of experience as a trainer and teacher in areas like multimedia technologies, social media, e-tourism, e-learning, usability, entrepreneurship, programming, soft skills, leadership, and project management. Author of over 50 scientific papers and book chapters published in international conferences and journals, Vlad is involved in several European research projects in the field of eLearning, digital culture, digital entrepreneurship, innovation and tech transfer. He is also an associate professor for UPT. He is also an associate professor for UPT. For 15 years, Vlad has been part of the technical support team of the UPT Virtual Campus (Moodle). Since 2020, Vlad has served as a member of EDEN’s NAP (Network of Academics and Professionals), holding the position of Chair of the Steering Committee between 2020-2023. He was an ex-officio member of the Executive Board of EDEN UK from 2020-2022, then being elected as a member of EDEN DLE‘s Management Board from 2022. In these capacities he has been organizing several workshops, webinars, and participating as a speaker or moderator in EDEN events. Vlad was also the director of the Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer at UPT (2021-2024) and is currently serving as the Vice-President of the UPT Senate.
Keynote speech: Digital Pathways to Empowerment: Fostering Future Skills Through Microlearning and MOOC Platforms
In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, education must adapt to equip learners with future-ready skills. This presentation will explore how digital education platforms can empower youth, women, and vulnerable groups by providing flexible, accessible, and scalable learning opportunities.
We’ll discuss the critical role of microlearning—delivering bite-sized, targeted content to foster continuous skill development—and its potential to meet diverse learning needs. MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) will be examined as key tools for democratizing education, enabling global collaboration, and expanding entrepreneurial and innovation opportunities. The presentation will highlight how these digital pathways can be tailored to support lifelong learning, upskilling, and reskilling across various socio-economic contexts.
Additionally, we’ll explore the role of emerging technologies like AI in enhancing personalized learning and content delivery, making education more inclusive and learner-centric. Practical strategies, case studies, and best practices from international cooperation initiatives will be shared to showcase the transformative impact of digital learning
Zoltán Loboda
Educational consultant, Educational Development Ltd., Hungary
He is a senior expert and consultatnt in education policy, digital transformation and strategic planning, with more than two decades of experience in national and European contexts. He currently works as a professional lead and consultant for large-scale digital competence development projects in Hungary, supporting strategic design and implementation aligned with the European DigComp framework.
As a former head of the Digital Competence Division at the Digital Success Nonprofit Ltd., he took aprt in the implementation of Hungary’s digital education strategies. His policy work included developing digital maturity assessment tools, supporting institutional digitalisation, and contributing to the creation of a national-level framework and quality assurance systems for digital competence development.
He has played a expert role in various Erasmus+ and other international projects, From 2012 to 2017, he led the International Department of the Hungarian Educational Authority, coordinating national qualifications framework and lifelong learning strategies. Earlier, he held senior positions at the Ministry of Education, directing EU affairs and representing Hungary in education-related international organisations. He was a member of the OECD Education Policy Committee and in the EU Education Committee for several years. As Chair of the ASEM Lifelong Learning Hub Advisory Board, he contributed to interregional policy dialogue on lifelong learning. He chaired the EU Education Committee during Hungary’s 2011 presidency.
Beyond policy development, he has been actively engaged in professional training, delivering EU policy and strategic planning courses for public officials, educators, and higher education stakeholders.
He holds a degree in history and literature, as well as postgraduate studies in sociology. In 2015, he received the Ágoston Trefort Award in recognition of his contributions to higher education development.
Keynote speech: Can AI Buy Equity? Unlocking the promise of reframing inclusion through personalised learning and lifelong learning pathways in a new learning ecosystem.
The narrative of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education and learning holds the potential to reshape the promises of equity by enhancing personalisation, efficiency, and effectiveness of learning process. The keynote explores what is needed to unlock this promise, particularly for youth, women, and other structurally disadvantaged groups.
The presentation begins with a critical review of current AI narratives in education, which often present AI as a solution for optimizing learning. However, such discourses tend to overlook the complexity of inclusion. It is not merely about access or digital infrastructure, but about learners‘ dispositions, competences, empowerment, learning recognition and participation fully in digital learning ecosystems. These dimensions interact with labour market opportunities to produce positive inclusive impact.
Reframing inclusion involves a shift towards systemic change that recognises the interdependence of tools, actors and structures. Using key EU policy frameworks, guidelines, and strategic opportunity windows, the keynote offers an evidence-based, policy-informed perspective on how AI can support inclusive learning. It presents selected tools, frameworks, and guidance that support more relevant, responsive, and relational learning.
Special attention is given to how micro-credentials, digital recognition, and blockchain technologies can support lifelong learning pathways. These systems enable flexible and modular learning journeys across different contexts, provided they are supported by trust frameworks and quality standards.
The keynote concludes by outlining the contours of a new learning ecosystem, shaped by new actors (edtech providers, AI developers, credentialing bodies), evolving roles traditional players, and networks of interdependence. In such an ecosystem, equity is not a by-product of innovation but its deliberate and measurable goal. AI alone cannot ‘buy’ equity — but when used thoughtfully, it can help build inclusive, flexible, and fair learning systems that meet the needs of diverse learners.
