Venue: Online and in-person at the Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Organiser: Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester
Generative AI (GenAI) is transforming higher education, from personalised learning and assessment design to new forms of collaboration and creativity. Yet, as adoption accelerates, critical questions remain: Can AI truly make education more equitable and accessible? Or does it risk widening existing digital divides?
This international conference, hosted by the School of Environment, Education, and Development, will bring together researchers, educators, students, and policymakers to explore how GenAI can advance (or potentially hinder) equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in higher education. Through dialogue, collaboration, and shared research, participants will examine how these technologies can be designed and implemented to support all learners, especially those from underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.
A call for interest is open now for lightning talks and the submission deadline is Saturday, 20 December 2025 at 23:59pm (GMT). Decisions will be announced by 31 January 2026.
Why attend?
While research has showcased the benefits of GenAI, such as improving learning efficiency, personalising instruction, and empowering educators, growing evidence also points to concerns around ethics, data privacy, academic integrity, and technology dependence.
Despite this growing body of work, there remains a significant gap in understanding how GenAI can support equality and inclusion in higher education.
Recent reports from the United Nations (2024) and UNESCO (2024) emphasise the urgent need to make AI in education more inclusive. Without intentional focus, GenAI could deepen existing inequities rather than bridge them. This conference aims to fill that gap by creating a platform for critical discussion, evidence sharing, and collaborative innovation.
Aims and objectives
This conference will foster interdisciplinary dialogue and exchange across research, policy, and practice. It welcomes both early-stage ideas and fully developed projects that contribute to the understanding of GenAI and its impact on equitable education.
Objectives:
- Explore how GenAI impacts traditionally disadvantaged learners.
- Share innovative pedagogical and technological designs that support diverse learner needs.
- Address ethical and policy challenges to reduce disparities in AI adoption.
- Identify and disseminate practical strategies for integrating GenAI into accessibility and inclusion practices in higher education.
Key themes
Participants are invited to submit contributions aligned with the following themes:
- Stakeholder Perspectives on GenAI for Equality and Inclusion
- Inclusive Design and Implementation of GenAI Tools
- Pedagogical Innovation with GenAI for Diverse Learners
- Policy Studies on GenAI for Inclusive Education
- Student and Staff Voices on GenAI for Equity and Inclusion
This conference offers a first-of-its-kind focus on how Generative AI intersects with equity, diversity, and inclusion in higher education. While many discussions around AI emphasise technological innovation, few address its broader societal implications for marginalised learners.
By elevating underrepresented voices, including students, educators, and accessibility specialists, this event will create a collaborative space for shaping the next generation of inclusive educational technologies and practices.
Participants will gain:
- Opportunities for networking and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Feedback on emerging research ideas.
- A foundation for future multi-partner and large-scale projects exploring AI for inclusive education.
Format
The conference will be held in a hybrid format, with both in-person (Whitworth Gallery) and online sessions, to ensure accessibility for participants worldwide.
We welcome contributions from:
- Researchers and practitioners in higher education
- Policymakers and institutional leaders
- Students and accessibility advocates
- Technology developers and instructional designers
Together, we will explore how GenAI can help bridge digital divides, amplify underrepresented voices, and build a more inclusive future for higher education.
For more information, please contact Dr Skye Zhao, Organiser: skye.zhao@manchester.ac.uk.
