DeL Team at EDEN 2025 Annual Conference: EDEN Senior Fellow Award for Vlad Mihăescu. Presentations of the Accelerate Future HEI, Erasmus+ LECTURE and Talk Tech projects

Dr. Diana Andone and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Vlad Mihăescu – Department of ID/IFR and Digital Education of UPT – participated in EDEN Digital Learning Europe Annual Conference 2025, Shaping the Future of Education in the age of AI, in Bologna, representing The Politehnica University of Timișoara. 

One of the most special moments of the conference was the award ceremony. EDEN Senior Fellow Award our colleague Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Vlad Mihăescu, recognition that highlights his valuable and long-standing contribution to the development of open, distance and e-learning education in Europe, as well as his support and commitment to the evolution and progress of EDEN.

 "Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Vlad Mihăescu, Vice-President of the UPT Senate and a prolific researcher with over 50 publications, he is active in European eLearning and digital entrepreneurship projects, having previously been Chair of the EDEN NAP Steering Committee and currently a member of the EDEN Board of Directors. He has also played a key role as Local Manager for EDEN Annual Conference 2020", he states EDEN official website.

The distinction was presented by Prof. Wim Van Petegem, president of EDEN DLE during the Opening Ceremony on June 15.

"Joining the very select group of approximately 50 experts from around the world who have received this distinction in the last 20 years is not only a great honor, but also a profound responsibility for the future — there is still much to be done and I am committed to continuing this important work for EDEN, responsibly representing Politehnica University Timișoara within the organization.", said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Vlad Mihăescu, vice president of the UPT Senate.

Throughout the 3 days of the conference, Dr. Eng. Diana Andone and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Vlad Mihăescu held a series of presentations, highlighting the expertise and results of the projects in which UPT is a partner. They presented the results of the project Erasmus+ LECTURES and the project Accelerate Future HEIs within an Action Lab event. Also, Dr. Eng. Diana Andone had a presentation dedicated to the project  Talk Tech, a successful initiative that has been running for more than 15 years.

Dr. ing. Diana Andone presented the works Bridging the Competency Gap in Ukrainian Teacher Training: Developing a Skills Toolbox for Future Educators, authors Prof. Antonella Poce, Prof. Diana Andone, Prof. Olha Hurenko, Dr. Gemma Tur; and Enhancing Skills, Transforming Worlds: Personalized Learning and Global Learning with the TalkTech Project, authors Mr. Mark Frydenberg, Prof. Diana Andone. She also co-organized Action Lab: Shaping the Future of Teacher Training: Digitalization and Inclusion in Secondary Education, together with Prof. Antonella Poce, Prof. Oleksandra Golovko, Dr. Gemma Tur and Prof. Inna Zabuzhanska

Conf.dr.ing. Vlad Mihăescu co-organized Action Lab EDEN NAP: Building Community Amongst Digital Education Academics and Practitioners alongside Dr. Fiona Aiken, Dr. Inés Gil Jaurena, Dr. Giedre Tamoliune and Dr. Carlo De Medio and moderated the plenary session The Bologna Process Reimagined: Equity, Quality, and Innovation in the AI Era – discussion dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Bologna Process, celebrated in June 2024. The panel included experts such as Prof. Alfredo Soeiro (University of Porto), Carmen Royo (Executive Director EUCEN), Ruben Castro (Coimbra Group) and Alex Hinojo (The Open EU University Alliance).

Organized by EDEN Digital Learning Europe, The EDEN 2025 Annual Conference took place from June 15-17 at the Università di Bologna, Italy, with the central theme “Shaping the Future of Education in the age of AI: Empowering inclusion, innovation and ethical growth” and brought together over 300 delegates from over 150 institutions and over 40 countries.