DEMOcon Summer School (PhD/Master/educators/researchers)
June 21–24, 2026, Timisoara, Romania
Organized in collaboration with IEEE Education Society, EMOOCs and Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania
And in parallel with the IEEE DEMOcon 2026 International Conference on Digital Education and MOOCs (June 24–26, 2026)
Subject
Experiences and developments in digital education ecosystems: leveraging MOOCs, artificial intelligence and microcertifications
Summer School "„Experiences and developments in digital education ecosystems: leveraging MOOCs, AI and microcertifications” invites PhD students, master's students, teachers, researchers and leaders in the field of digital education to explore cutting-edge developments in the field of digital education, online learning, MOOCs, artificial intelligence and microcertifications within higher education ecosystems.
An intensive program offers interactive workshops, expert-led sessions, theoretical foundations and practical experimentation with AI tools, MOOC design, digital education, and verified microcredentials through blockchain technology.
If you want to expand your academic and professional network, especially among IEEE members, benefit from the support of mentors in the field, gain practical experience with AI and digital accreditation tools, and help shape the future of higher education ecosystems – this is the place to be this summer!
term
3 days, June 21-24, 2026, in Timisoara, Romania
Organized in Timisoara, Romania, at the UPT Conference Center, this modular program combines lectures and practical activities, providing early-career researchers with the practical knowledge and skills needed to advance their careers.
Intended for:
- Doctoral students (education, technology, computer science and information sciences, public policy, social sciences, STEM, etc.)
- Master's students
- Academic staff and instructional designers
- Researchers and project managers in EU-funded initiatives
- Policy advisors and digital transformation managers
Participants will receive:
- Graduation certificate issued by IEEE Education Society
- Graduation certificate issued by the Polytechnic University of Timișoara with ECTS credits
- Digital badge (aligned with micro-certification)
Opportunity to publish in the conference proceedings – The deadline for submitting abstracts is February 28, 2026 – see the Call for Papers https://democon-conference.org/2026/authors/call-for-papers
Registration
Costs
Summer School registration fee, June 21-24:
- 200 euros for non-members
- 150 euros for IEEE Education Society members
This covers lunches, coffee breaks, participation in sessions, and access to materials and mentors.
Funding for travel and accommodation is available through the Erasmus+ mobility programme for training students and staff from your institution.
Participation in IEEE DEMOcon 2026 International Conference on digital education and MOOCs (June 24-26, 2026) is possible at the student rate; see https://democon-conference.org/2026/registration
data
Application submission date: May 1, 2026
Confirmation date: May 8, 2026
Deadline for payment of the registration fee: May 25, 2026
Summer school: June 21 – 24, 2026
The registration form will be available starting March 1, 2026.
Accommodation
Accommodation in UPT dormitories can be arranged at a reasonable price (details in the registration form). Please also see the conference information regarding travel and accommodation: https://democon-conference.org/2026/travel
UPT Conference Center
It is located on Vasile Pârvan Boulevard No. 2 B, right next to the UPT Central Library.
The Summer School for doctoral students will be organized in two of UPT's spaces: K1 amphitheater and room C401.
The K1 Amphitheater has:
- 89 audience seats;
- 4 seats in the presidium;
- 16:9 video projection system (projector + projection screen);
- Sound system (4 microphones for the presidium, 2 mobile microphones, 2 lavalieres);
Room C401 is located on the 4th floor of the building, where the Digital & Digital Education Department is also located.
Timisoara
We are excited to have you here this summer and we hope you have a wonderful time exploring our beautiful city. Timișoara, also known as the "Little Vienna" due to its architecture, is a culturally rich city with a long history, with lots of public squares and lush green retreats.
There are many things to see and do in Timișoara, so here are some suggestions to enjoy during your stay:
- Visit the Union Square – This is the central square of Timișoara and a great place to start your exploration of the city. The Union Square (Domplatz) had unusually large dimensions, compared to the size of the fortress, which served to highlight the baroque aspect of this space.
- Brück Palace (also in Union Square) – On the southern side of the Union Square, in the immediate vicinity of the Baroque Palace, stands one of the most recognizable buildings of Timisoara – the Salamon Brück Palace. Built according to the plans of the Timisoara architect László Székely, in the Secession style, the palace was completed in the summer of 1911.
- The National Theater and Opera House (Victory Square) – The building was built between 1872 and 1875 in the intra muros area of the fortress, according to the plans of the architects Ferdinand Fellner Jr. and Hermann Helmer, in an eclectic historical style.
- Maria Theresia Bastion –The Theresia Bastion, also known as the "Bastion of the Fortress", is the largest surviving part of Timișoara's former bastioned fortress. It also houses the National Museum of Banat.
- Explore the Roses Park – Rozelor Park, formerly called the Rose Park, Rosarium, Ștefan Plavăț Culture, and Leisure Park is one of the parks in Timișoara, arranged in the Cetate neighborhood.
- The "Holy Three Hierarchs" Metropolitan Cathedral – The Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral impresses both by its size and by the artistic value of the monument, it combines the elements of Byzantine architecture with those of old Romanian architecture.
- Bega Canal – And last but not least, if you are in Timișoara you must visit and take a vaporetto boat trip on the Bega Canal. The canal runs through the entire city, connecting neighborhoods and historic areas.
>>> Discover more places to visit in Timisoara at Spotlight Heritage Timisoara official website.
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