Translation 2026

Designing Education

The second edition of BeLEARN’s “Translation” conference took place on 9 September 2026 amid the inspiring industrial architecture of the Bernapark Campus of the School of Design Bern and Biel. More than 160 participants from twelve cantons gathered to discuss current issues surrounding digital transformation in education from the perspectives of educational practice, research, politics, public administration and the EdTech sector.

The conference was opened by Christina Opper, Vice Director of the School of Design Bern and Biel; Fritz Sager, President of BeLEARN and Vice-Rector for Teaching at the University of Bern; and Jean-Daniel Roth, CEO of BeLEARN. Fritz Sager highlighted BeLEARN’s importance as a connecting force that builds bridges between people from educational practice, research, politics, public administration and industry, thereby fostering direct exchange and collaboration.

Shaping Learning Environments with Scepticism, Courage and Tenderness

In her keynote, “Lernen mit Style.”, Charlotte Axelsson, Head of the Digital Learning Centre at Zurich University of Teacher Education, took the participants on a thought-provoking journey into the future of learning environments. She demonstrated that designing digital learning environments goes far beyond aesthetics and has a direct impact on learning.

Three attitudes shape her vision for the future of education: scepticism, which critically questions technological promises; courage, which enables us to explore new paths; and tenderness, which creates connections, preserves what matters and ensures that “Homo digitalis” – the human being in an increasingly digital world – remains human. Charlotte Axelsson thus placed people and their learning processes, rather than technology, at the centre.

To conclude the main programme, Bernese Government Councillor Reto Müller addressed the audience. He emphasised the importance of approaching digital transformation in education actively and responsibly. He also recognised BeLEARN’s role as an institution that brings together different stakeholders and fosters exchange between research, practice, public administration and industry.

From Vibe Coding and Virtual Reality to AI and Inclusion

A total of 16 interactive sessions provided opportunities to discuss current challenges, reflect on research findings and directly test practical tools. The wide range of topics covered artificial intelligence, virtual and extended reality, EdTech, self-directed learning, smartphone-free schools, inclusion, co-creation and the transfer of educational innovations.

The session on “Vibe Coding in Vocational Education and Training”, for example, demonstrated how emerging technologies can be used in an accessible way to solve specific problems. During the “Inside ADHD” session, participants used a virtual reality simulation to experience the attention and perception challenges that people with ADHD may face in a learning situation. The “Viagg-io” VR application also demonstrated the potential of immersive learning environments: learners of Italian travelled virtually to Italian-speaking Switzerland and practised their language skills in realistic conversations.

Other sessions explored the use of smartphones in schools, AI-supported conversation simulations with “XaraEdu” and BeLEARN’s translation model for vocational education and training. They focused on different perspectives from school practice, the development of communication skills and the transfer of research findings into practical innovations.

A Diverse Programme Across Institutional and Linguistic Boundaries

The conference was made possible by contributions from experts representing various universities and educational institutions. Participants included representatives from the University of Bern, Bern University of Applied Sciences, PHBern, Zurich University of Teacher Education, Lucerne University of Teacher Education, the PH Institute NMS Bern, EPFL and its LEARN Centre, and the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons. These perspectives were complemented by contributions from schools, vocational education and training institutions such as EB Zürich and ICT Vocational Training, EdTech start-ups and other partners from the field.

This diversity of institutional and professional perspectives defined the character of “Translation 2026”: educational innovation emerges when different experiences come together, are jointly reflected upon and translated into concrete solutions.

The reception that followed provided an opportunity to continue the conversations from the sessions and make new connections. “Translation 2026” fostered dialogue across institutional and professional boundaries and encouraged participants to reflect together on the current challenges of digital transformation in education. True to the conference motto, education was designed – together.