From April 21 to 23, 2026, the 10th International Conference on Learning and Teaching (ICLT 2026) was held at the Tai Po Campus of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK). The conference attracted more than 300 education scholars and professionals from around the world. Distinguished scholars from China, the UK, the United States, Australia, Singapore, and Brunei shared the latest trends in teacher education with on-site audiences and engaged in in-depth discussions on the challenges and innovative opportunities of educational transformation.

Professor Song Huan, Deputy Director of Center for Teacher Education at Beijing Normal University, was invited to deliver a keynote speech titled: "Evidence-based Teaching Research as Epistemological Practice: Reconsidering Teacher Development, Agency, and Practical Knowledge."

In his report, Professor Song Huan deeply explored the core issues of teacher professional development—specifically, the formation of professional judgment and the concept of "unity of knowledge and action." He pointed out that true teacher development is not simply the addition of technology and experience, but a non-dualistic cognitive practice.

Addressing the current trend of artificial intelligence-enhanced education, Professor Song Huan's research findings revealed that evidence and data are not merely external tools, but serve as critical "boundary objects" connecting practice, research, and technology. He emphasized that evidence-oriented teaching research should be regarded as an "epistemological practice," whose value does not lie in providing standardized answers, but in "creating the conditions for epistemology and practice, enabling the co-generation of practical knowledge and professional wisdom." This perspective offers a new theoretical approach for understanding teacher agency and reconstructing practical knowledge.

In addition, two representatives from CTER sub-centers also had representatives attending the conference and actively participated in academic exchanges.

Professor Zhao Ying, Dean of the School of Educational Science at Shanxi Normal University, and Associate Professor Sun Caixia, Head of the Preschool Education Department at the School of Teacher Education, Huzhou University, attended the "Navigating Transformation — Reshaping Educator Roles in the Innovation Era" roundtable forum held on the afternoon of April 22. The forum was chaired by Professor Li Zijian, President of the Education University of Hong Kong, and focused on teacher role transformation, professional identity reconstruction, and institutional reform.

Together with several other education scholars, Professor Zhao Ying and Associate Professor Sun Caixia discussed how to support teachers in transforming from knowledge transmitters to lifelong learners and academic guides, as well as how to reconstruct professional agency amidst technological waves. They shared practices and reflections from different regions and institutions.

As the tenth edition of this conference series, the event was themed "Normal Education and Teaching in Transformation: Embracing Innovation and Change." A total of 13 keynote speeches and 2 special forums were arranged, covering six core topics:

1. Teacher Education and Teaching

2. Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse, and STEAM Education

3. Virtual and Hybrid Teaching and Learning

4. Digital Humanities

5. Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Training

6. Other Related Topics on Learning, Teaching, and Assessment

This conference provided a high-level dialogue platform for educators worldwide. Professor Song Huan's keynote presentation and the sharing by our sub center representatives promoted international colleagues' understanding of Chinese teacher education research, particularly in the fields of evidence-based teaching research and teacher agency, and enhanced cooperation and exchange on topics such as teacher education transformation and AI-enabled teaching.