Courses
ATU to host national DigitalEd26 conference on future-ready universities
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) will host its annual DigitalEd Conference (DigitalEd26) on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, at its Galway campus and online, bringing together educators, researchers and digital learning leaders from across Ireland and beyond.
Delivered in partnership with the GenAI:N3 academic network, this year’s conference will explore the opportunities and challenges presented by generative AI in higher education.
Under the theme ‘Future-Ready Universities: Sustainable Digital Practices and Pedagogical Uses of AI in Teaching and Learning,’ the conference will examine how higher education can evolve responsibly in an increasingly digital and AI-enabled world.
Key themes include:
- Sustainable digital practices
- Inclusive and accessible learning design
- Education for sustainability
- Ethical uses of artificial intelligence
- The evolving role of AI in teaching and learning
Coordinated by the ATU Teaching and Learning Centre, DigitalEd26 attracts over 300 participants annually and will feature more than 40 presentations, including keynote speakers, parallel sessions, a Gasta session and an expert panel discussion.
Dr Carina Ginty, DigitalEd Conference Chair and Head of Teaching and Learning at ATU, said:
ATU DigitalEd26 annual conference is an important national forum for bringing educators, researchers, and digital education leaders together to share innovative practice and to discuss the future of higher education. The conference explores how sustainable digital practices and responsible uses of AI can enhance learning, foster inclusion, and ensure our universities remain human-centred, future-ready, and deeply connected to societal needs.
Dr Hazel Farrell, GenAI:N3 Chair and AI lead at SETU, said:
“This conference highlights the significance of working collaboratively across the higher education sector to address the challenges and opportunities of AI technologies. The sharing of learning and resources is fundamental to shaping a meaningful response as AI continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Having a platform such as this for conversations and to stimulate thinking and problem-solving is exactly what’s needed at this critical time.”
DigitalEd26 will bring together presenters from across ATU and the wider sector, including Munster Technological University, South East Technological University, Technological University Dublin, University of Galway, Ulster University, Mary Immaculate College, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the University of York, Edinburgh Napier University, Heriot-Watt University and American University in Cairo, alongside international partners in the EU GREEN Alliance.
Registration is now open for both in-person and online attendance, with limited on-site places and unlimited online access.
To register, visit: https://www.digitaled.ie/webinars-events/atu-digitaled-conference-2026/
View the full programme: https://www.digitaled.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DigitalEd-2026-Conference-Programme-V10-1.pdf
Photo caption: Last year’s DigitalEd25 conference at ATU.
For media enquiries, contact:
Aidan Haughey
Communications Manager
Tel: 086 086 6913
E: aidan.haughey@atu.ie
