Reimagining the Future of Higher Education in Africa
Overview
The University of Kigali is pleased to announce the International Conference on Digital Innovation and Higher Education (ICDIHE 2026), taking place from 7–11 December 2026 at the University of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda.
The opening ceremony will be held on Tuesday, 8 December 2026.
ICDIHE 2026 will bring together academics, researchers, university leaders, policymakers, regulators, technology professionals, innovators, development partners, postgraduate students and early-career scholars to explore how digital innovation can transform higher education in Africa.
Conference Theme
Bridging the Digital Divide: Reimagining Future-Ready Higher Education Ecosystems in Africa
Digital transformation presents significant opportunities for improving educational access, teaching quality, research, institutional governance and international collaboration. However, considerable gaps remain in digital infrastructure, affordability, literacy, policy development and equitable access.
ICDIHE 2026 provides an international platform for presenting original research, exchanging practical experiences, developing institutional partnerships and identifying sustainable solutions for the future of higher education in Africa.
Conference objectives
The conference seeks to:
- Promote research and knowledge exchange in digital innovation and higher education.
- Examine the role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in teaching, learning and research.
- Strengthen collaboration among universities, governments, industries and development partners.
- Identify practical approaches to reducing the digital divide in Africa.
- Support inclusive and equitable access to digitally enabled education.
- Encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and university–industry partnerships.
- Develop recommendations for future-ready higher education institutions.
Call for abstracts
The Scientific Committee invites academics, researchers, postgraduate students, policymakers, practitioners, industry professionals and development partners to submit original abstracts for presentation at ICDIHE 2026.
Submissions may include:
- Original research
- Conceptual papers
- Policy analyses
- Case studies
- Innovative institutional practices
- Technology demonstrations
- Research in progress
- Industry and community-based projects
Accepted contributions will be presented during plenary, panel or parallel breakout sessions. Selected high-quality papers may be considered for publication in conference proceedings or partner journals, subject to the applicable peer-review and editorial requirements.
Conference Sub-Themes
Submissions are invited in areas including, but not limited to:
1. Artificial Intelligence, Emerging Technologies and Future Learning
- Artificial intelligence in education
- Generative AI and higher education
- Virtual and augmented reality
- Robotics and intelligent learning systems
- Ethical and responsible AI
- Technology-enhanced teaching and assessment
- Learning analytics and personalised learning
2. Digital Pedagogy and Teaching Innovation
- Technology-enhanced learning
- Blended and online education
- Student-centred learning
- Learning analytics
- Assessment in digital environments
3. Digital Transformation in Higher Education
- Institutional digital-transformation strategies
- Smart campuses
- Digital governance and administration
- Educational technology adoption
- Digital infrastructure and cybersecurity
- Online and blended learning
- Digital leadership in universities
4. Inclusion, Equity and Digital Access
- Bridging the digital divide
- Inclusive and accessible education
- Gender and technology
- Digital literacy
- Universal design for learning
- Technology access for underserved communities
- Policy frameworks for equitable digital education
5. Research, Innovation and Knowledge Ecosystems
- Research collaboration and knowledge exchange
- Innovation management
- Technology transfer and commercialisation
- Entrepreneurship and university innovation hubs
- University–industry partnerships
- Open science and digital research platforms
- Research capacity development
6. Sustainability and the Future of Higher Education
- Higher education and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Green and smart campuses
- Digital sustainability
- Climate action and education
- Future-ready universities
- Preparing graduates for the future of work
Who should participate?
ICDIHE 2026 welcomes:
- Academics and researchers
- University leaders and administrators
- Policymakers and regulators
- Industry and technology professionals
- EdTech innovators
- Development partners and NGOs
- Quality-assurance professionals
- Postgraduate students
- Early-career scholars
- Institutional and corporate representatives
Why attend ICDIHE 2026?
Participants will have opportunities to:
- Present original research to an international audience.
- Learn from scholars, policymakers and industry leaders.
- Explore current developments in artificial intelligence and educational technology.
- Build international research and institutional partnerships.
- Exchange practical experiences and ideas.
- Connect with universities, government agencies, technology organisations and development partners.
- Contribute to shaping the future of higher education in Africa.
Registration and abstract submission
All participants must register through the official ICDIHE 2026 Indico platform. Participants submitting abstracts should create an Indico Global account and use the same email address for conference registration and abstract submission.
After submitting an abstract, participants should confirm that the abstract title, author and co-author names, email addresses, institutional affiliations, country, presenting author, conference sub-theme and abstract content are correct.
Participants should not submit the same abstract more than once. Authors who need to correct an existing submission should contact the Conference Secretariat.
Full papers should be emailed to aiconference@uok.ac.rw by 30 October 2026.
Important Dates
Activity | Date |
|---|---|
Abstract submission deadline | 20 September 2026 |
Notification of acceptance | 30 September 2026 |
Full-paper submission deadline | 30 October 2026 |
Conference dates | 7–11 December 2026 |
Participation fees
Participant category | Fee |
|---|---|
International participant | USD 500 |
East African participant | RWF 150,000 |
Group discounts | Available |
Payment instructions | Through Indico registration |
Payment instructions
Registered participants can access the approved payment instructions and bank-account details through their ICDIHE 2026 Indico registration.
After making payment, participants must upload clear proof of payment through their Indico registration. The document should show the participant’s name, amount paid, currency, payment date, sending bank, beneficiary and transaction or payment-reference number.
Uploading payment evidence does not automatically confirm payment. The Conference Secretariat will verify that the full conference fee has reached the beneficiary account. The status will remain pending or partially paid if less than the required fee is received, and Indico will notify the participant of any outstanding balance.
Participants should use only the official bank details available through the ICDIHE 2026 Indico registration platform.
Payment confirmation
Following successful verification:
- The participant’s payment will be marked as confirmed.
- An official payment confirmation will be issued.
- An invitation letter may be issued where required.
- Conference accreditation and badge preparation will proceed.
Conference administration
Invitation letters
Invitation letters will be issued after:
- The participant has completed conference registration.
- The participant’s personal and institutional details have been confirmed.
- The participant’s abstract information has been reviewed, where applicable.
- The full conference payment has been received and verified.
An invitation letter supports conference participation and travel arrangements but does not guarantee approval of a visa or entry permit.
Conference identification card and badge
Each registered participant will receive a unique conference registration ID. Conference identification cards and badges will use the information submitted through Indico and carry the official University of Kigali and ICDIHE 2026 branding.
Participants may be required to upload a clear passport-style photograph or identification information for conference accreditation. The information will be used for conference administration, identification, invitation processing and access control.
Names and institutional details must be entered exactly as they should appear on the conference badge, participation certificate, payment confirmation, invitation letter and conference records.
Contact the conference secretariat
For enquiries about registration, abstract submission, full papers, payment verification, invitation letters and conference participation, contact:
ICDIHE 2026 Conference Secretariat
University of Kigali
Email: aiconference@uok.ac.rw
Participants should include their full name, registration ID and abstract ID in all correspondence.
Together, let us build future-ready higher education ecosystems for Africa.
