edSummit Dongguan 2026
Description
Join educators, school leaders, and education partners in Dongguan for a dynamic half-day professional learning event exploring the future of education.
Hosted by EdEvents in partnership with the International School of Dongguan, this gathering brings together the international school community to explore the ideas, technologies, and practices shaping the next phase of learning.
The event will feature a featured workshop led by Dr. Justin Zhang, exploring the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence in education. As AI rapidly transforms how students learn and teachers work, the session will focus on how schools can thoughtfully adapt and prepare for the future.
Alongside the workshop, industry partners will share short insight sessions, highlighting emerging trends, tools, and innovations influencing international schools across the region.
Designed as an engaging and collaborative community event, the morning combines professional learning, discussion, and networking in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
What to expect
A featured workshop with Dr. Justin Zhang on the future of education and AI
Short insights from education industry partners
Opportunities to connect with fellow educators and school leaders
A relaxed networking lunch to continue the conversation
Whether you are a teacher, technology leader, or school administrator, this event offers a chance to step back, explore what’s coming next in education, and share ideas with peers across the community.
📅 Saturday 16 May 2026
🕣 8:30am – 12:00pm, followed by lunch and networking
💰 200 RMB ($30 USD)
Featured Workshop
Helping Students Think, Reflect, and Thrive in the Age of AI
with Dr. Justin Zhang
As Generative AI becomes deeply integrated into our educational landscapes, teaching students how to use the technology is no longer enough. To truly empower our learners, we must nurture the underlying psychological and cognitive frameworks that allow them to thrive alongside AI. This interactive, half-day workshop explores the critical intersection of EdTech and pedagogy, focusing on how we can develop students' cognitive (information processing), metacognitive (thinking about thinking), and affective (emotional and ethical) skills in an AI-driven world.
Designed for teachers, school leaders, and engaged parents, this session will shift the focus from the tool itself to the human using it, providing actionable strategies to transform students from passive AI consumers into confident, critical, and mindful co-creators.
Format & Language Support
Taking advantage of our cabaret-style setup, this workshop is highly collaborative and discussion-based. It is designed as an inclusive, translanguaging environment. The primary instruction will be in English, but activities will feature Chinese keywords, structured group support, and an open, welcoming atmosphere for both English and Chinese speakers to share their insights.
Workshop Structure
Session 1: The Thinking Learner – Cognitive & Metacognitive Strategies (50 Minutes)
Session 2: The Resilient Learner – Affective Factors & Empowerment (50 Minutes)
Key Takeaways
A clear framework for understanding the psychological impact of GenAI on student learning.
Practical pedagogical strategies to foster deep thinking and self-regulation during AI use.
Tools to support the emotional well-being and ethical development of students navigating an AI-saturated world.
Agenda
8:30 AM Refreshments on arrival
9:00 AM Welcome & framing: The Future of Learning - Mark McCallum, David Burke
9:07 AM Industry Insight - upGrad
9:20 AM AI Workshop Part 1 — Dr Justin Zhang
10:10 AM Morning tea
10:30 AM Industry Insight - Otus
10:43 AM AI Workshop Part 2 — Dr Justin Zhang
11:32 AM Industry Insight - Beyond Classrooms
11:45 AM International School of Dongguan Spotlight Initiatives
11:55 AM EdEvents closing reflections & next steps
12:00 PM Lunch → social networking & drinks
All are invited to continue to socialise beyond the event, we'll announce a nearby venue during lunch.
Lunch & Social
Lunch will be provided for attendees, followed by a relaxed social gathering where guests can enjoy drinks supported by Yumbles, including Mixed Berries and Pineapple kombucha, as well as gin and vodka.
Speakers
Dr Justin Zhang
International educator and university professor with expertise in curriculum design, instruction, and assessment. Experienced in China, Spain, Hong Kong, and South Korea, with a strong background in educational technology and international education. Passionate about advancing innovative and effective pedagogical practices.
Shruti Sundararaman
Program Advisor for upGrad International (Singapore), Shruti is passionate about inspiring professionals to up-skill in an ever-evolving digital economy.
Dan Rosenberg
Director Of Business Operations at Otus
Haena Seongsin Kim
Founding CEO of Beyond Classrooms, a visionary in educational program design, she is deeply committed to impactful, sustainable service learning—her motto being “learning outside the classroom.” Her passion began at 16, designing experiential programs for private kindergartens in Korea. Today, she serves hundreds of schools and tens of thousands of students annually through transformative programs in the world. Haena is a frequent speaker, engaged with think tanks like the Asian Institute and Jane Goodall Institute, on the Education Committee for the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, and a board member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Shanghai chapter.
David Burke
Founder of EdEvents and a long-time educator working across international schools in Asia. David focuses on connecting educators, school leaders, and partners through professional learning events that explore the future of education. With experience across Australia and Asia, he is passionate about building communities of practice that help schools share ideas, collaborate, and adapt to emerging trends in teaching, learning, and educational technology.
Accommodation
Preferred hotel information for attendees, including discounted options arranged for the event, will be shared in the post-registration email.
Supported by
International School of Dongguan
ISD provides a rigorous well-rounded education while fostering the unique gifts and aspirations of each child.
upGrad International
upGrad is a community of 2 million learners from 85+ countries (think international network!) all on a mission to rewrite their success stories.
Otus
Otus combines data, assessment, progress monitoring, and grading to maximize student performance and save educators time.
Beyond Classrooms
For over 25 years, we have partnered with schools worldwide to deliver curriculum-aligned, experiential learning programs that extend far beyond traditional tourism.
Yumbles
Yumbles is a Young, Dynamic, Hong Kong based company dedicated to creating high-quality, health-supporting, fermented beverages & delivering them in the most affordable and convenient fashion possible to our discerning, health conscious customers.
Payment options
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China based payment: After making payment, please email info@ed.events
with your payment confirmation and the name(s) of attendees.
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