From June 30 to July 4, 2025, the 18th PhD Summer School "Education & Technology (E&T)" successfully took place at EPOKA University in Tirana, Albania. Under the guiding theme "Sustainable Higher Education: Virtual Collaboration, AI and Digital Transformation", the event was jointly organized by the Center for Open Digital Innovation and Participation(CODIP) of TU Dresden and the Center for Lifelong Learning of EPOKA University - in cooperation with an international university consortium.

This inspiring academic event brought together 30 international doctoral candidates and 20 experienced academic supervisors from Europe, Asia and South America and provided a unique platform for knowledge exchange, international networking and interdisciplinary collaboration. Key partner institutions included DHBW (Germany), UFRJ (Brazil), University of Bergen (Norway), PHDL (Austria), Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (Indonesia), University of Strasbourg (France) and the host EPOKA University (Albania).

The opening ceremony of the 18th E&T PhD Summer School took place in the conference hall of EPOKA University. On behalf of EPOKA University, Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Öztas and Dr. Armando Demaj warmly welcomed all participants. They conveyed their sincere greetings to the professors and doctoral candidates who had come to Albania for a week of academic exchange and cooperation.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Köhler, Head of CODIP at TU Dresden, emphasized the urgency of rethinking academic institutions in the face of technological upheavals and changing expectations of learners. In his speech on the doctoral program "Education and Technology (E&T)", he set the thematic framework for the week and focused on the development of modern educational structures in the context of rapid technological developments and cross-university cooperation.

Prof. Dr. Eric Schoop, Senior Consultant at CODIP and head of the COWEB research project, has maintained a close and productive collaboration with EPOKA University for many years. As one of the key drivers of this event, Prof. Schoop emphasized the strong partnership between the two institutions in the field of academic exchange and researcher mobility in the past. In particular, this event provided an extended platform for doctoral students to develop intellectually, network internationally and gain valuable academic experience. He expressed the hope that all participants would gain new inspiration for future research projects and further strengthen the effective integration of education and technology.

The week-long program offered a high-caliber academic curriculum that addressed the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in higher education. It focused on pressing questions about the role of artificial intelligence (AI), virtual collaboration and future skills in the context of doctoral education.

Highlights of the academic program included keynote speeches by leading academics:

• Prof. Eric Schoop, Mattis Altmann and Nelli Ukhova on Collaborative Online International Learning
• Prof. Ulf-Daniel Ehlers on Future Skills in a world shaped by AI
• Prof. Helge Fischer on gamified learning strategies as part of the EU-funded Game4Change project
• Prof. Thomas Schöftner on attitudes of digital natives in the age of artificial intelligence
• Prof. Thomas Köhler and Prof. Xiaohan Zhang on AI literacy frameworks for vocational training
• Prof. Petra Traxler on children and media interaction in a mediatized world

Interactive workshops addressing on Quantitative research methods, Inclusion and accessibility, Triangulation in educational research, Action research and systematic literature reviews, Academic integrity and ethics in referencing.

A particular highlight of the program was the focus on "Virtual Collaborative Learning (VCL)" and "Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)", which stood out as one of the core topics of the 18th PhD Summer School. This topic was addressed in a keynote entitled "Collaborative Online International Learning", delivered by Prof. Dr. Eric Schoop from TU Dresden in collaboration with the two PhD students Mattis Altmann and Nelli Ukhova. The session formed a central part of the COWEB research project and provided participants with valuable insights and conceptual frameworks to better understand and apply VCL and COIL approaches in higher education.

A central element of the Summer School was the PhD poster exhibition, which took place over three days. All 30 PhD students presented their current research projects on a wide range of topics, including AI in curriculum development, digital equal opportunities, technology-enhanced language learning and digital examination tools. The organizing team set up three award categories for the poster exhibition, which were voted on by all professors based on the quality of the doctoral students' presentations.

Hongsu Yin from TU Dresden was awarded the "Award for Excellence in Scientific Communication" for her outstanding clarity and engaging demeanor during the poster session. David Koslowski, also from TU Dresden, received the "Award for Innovation and Originality in Research" in recognition of his creative and forward-looking approach to research. The "Award for Excellence in Visual Scientific Presentation" was awarded jointly to Ajsela Toci from EPOKA University and Hongsu Yin from TU Dresden for their clear and colorful visual design for communicating scientific content.

The remaining doctoral candidates received a certificate of participation in recognition of their contributions and active participation throughout the Summer School. This activity provided space for direct feedback, scientific discussion and peer learning.

A significant diplomatic moment occurred on June 30, when H.E. Ambassador Karl Bergner and First Secretary Jan Maibom from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Tirana visited the Summer School. Ambassador Bergner praised the event as an outstanding example of German-Albanian science diplomacy and emphasized its role in promoting scientific cooperation and innovation in the Western Balkans.

In addition to the formal academic sessions, participants took part in a series of carefully crafted intercultural experiences, including a guided campus tour at EPOKA University and a cultural excursion to Kruja, one of Albania's oldest historical cities. These activities strengthened the sense of community, fostered long-term research partnerships and contributed to a deeper sense of belonging to the global scientific community.

The week ended with a feedback and evaluation session, the ceremonial presentation of the certificates of participation and closing remarks by the organizers Dr. Armando Demaj and Mattis Altmann. The participants expressed great gratitude for the opportunity to network across cultures, disciplines and institutions.

"This Summer School has not only advanced our academic paths - it has also broadened our understanding of the global challenges facing higher education," remarked one participant in the closing remarks.

As digitalization continues to fundamentally transform the higher education sector, the CODIP research center reaffirms its commitment to inclusive, international and digitally supported doctoral education. The successful implementation of the 18th Summer School underlines the value of strategic partnerships and the central role of structured doctoral programs in building sustainable academic ecosystems.

Stay tuned for 2026 - the 19th E&T PhD Summer School could take place at TU Dresden in Germany!