The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) participated in the activities of the Global Smart Education Conference 2026 (Global Smart Education Conference – GSE 2026) held in the Chinese capital Beijing from 18 to 20 August 2026, with the participation of a select group of decision-makers, experts, researchers and representatives of international organizations and academic and technological institutions from various countries of the world.

ALECSO's participation in this conference comes within the framework of its continuous engagement in the international efforts aimed at developing smart education and employing artificial intelligence in the service of education, as well as in its capacity as a founding member of the Global Smart Education Network (GSENet), which brings together a number of international institutions, organizations and universities with the aim of enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise in the field of digital transformation and the future of education.

ALECSO was represented at the conference by Professor Mohamed Jemni, Director of the Information and Communication Technology Department, who delivered during the plenary session of the conference a keynote lecture entitled:

“From Artificial Intelligence to Collective Intelligence: Shaping the Future of Education”

«From Artificial Intelligence to Collective Intelligence: Shaping the Future of Education».

In his lecture, Dr. Jemni addressed the accelerating transformations that education is witnessing in light of the great development of artificial intelligence, affirming that the challenge is no longer limited to developing more capable artificial intelligence systems, but has become how to employ these capabilities to build a collective intelligence that combines human intelligence, artificial intelligence, institutional intelligence and international cooperation.

He also reviewed a number of ALECSO's efforts and initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence and digital transformation, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence governance and ethics, capacity building, smart education, and digital solidarity, affirming the importance of moving from merely adopting modern technologies to building the capacities of institutions and states to employ and govern them responsibly.

The lecture also highlighted the need to enhance digital solidarity and international cooperation in the age of artificial intelligence, in a way that enables countries, especially developing ones, to benefit from the opportunities offered by these technologies and to participate effectively in shaping their future, instead of settling for the role of consumer of them.

Dr. Jemni called for transcending the concept of «Smart Education» towards a more comprehensive concept represented in «Wise Education», so that the success of employing artificial intelligence is not measured only by the extent of the development of the technology, but by its ability to empower the human being, improve learning, and enhance equity, inclusion and responsibility.

He concluded his lecture by affirming that the question that should guide the global debate on the future of artificial intelligence and education is not only: «To what extent will artificial intelligence become smarter?», but also: «How can artificial intelligence help humanity become collectively wiser?»

ALECSO's participation in GSE 2026 and its founding membership in GSENet affirm the Organization's keenness to enhance the Arab presence in the international debate on the future of education and artificial intelligence, and to build international partnerships that contribute to developing more innovative, equitable and inclusive educational systems.