The "Investment in the Future" Foundation participated in the Global Smart Education Conference in Beijing

The Global Smart Education Conference is a worldwide platform for sharing research, fostering dialogue, building capacity, and driving innovation in smart education. The key mission of the conference is to promote advanced research, develop international dialogue and exchange successful experiences in the field of smart education.

In 2026, the conference focused on the theme "Reimagining Education in the Age of AI: Equity, Quality and Sustainability" and brought together researchers, educational institution leaders, practitioners and scholars from more than 60 countries around the world.

At the special invitation of Beijing Normal University, a delegation from the "Investment in the Future" Charitable Foundation, comprising its Executive Director Peter Polozhevets and the Head of International Program Ekaterina Khaustova, participated in the conference.

At the plenary session "Personalized Learning on a Mass Scale", Peter Polozhevets presented a report titled "AI Literacy as a Resource for Future Readiness" and spoke about a new international study launched by the Foundation in 2026 in partnership with HSE University. It focuses on AI literacy as a new infrastructure of trust and the human potential development. Broadly speaking, the study expands on a core theme for the Foundation: what and how to teach children today to ensure their success and well-being tomorrow. The authors will seek to answer the timely question of how to develop and assess not only knowledge about AI but also the quality of interaction with it.

The previous study in the field of education initiated by the Foundation was carried out in 2018-2020 by a team of experts from eight countries. They analyzed the educational frameworks of different countries and proposed practical strategies for schools to develop personal potential. This study introduced universal competences and new literacies that were highly relevant at the time.

However, the world is moving forward quickly, and we must not just keep pace, but stay a step ahead.

"The new study shifts the discussion on AI literacy from general principles and declarations to the realm of manageable solutions," said Mr. Polozhevets. "The core question is how to assess not only knowledge about AI, but also the quality of interaction with it. The concept of 'calibrated trust' in AI takes center stage. This is the ability to rely on AI outputs precisely to the extent justified by the reliability of the answer, the nature of the task, and the potential consequences of an error. AI is reshaping our understanding of what constitutes proof of human competence. We aim to develop a concept that will help education systems assess and enhance literacies and competences in this area".

The topic of Ekaterina Khaustova's report was "The New Educational Environment: Driving Changes to Support Children's Development and Well-Being". She spoke about the development of an educational environment well-being index for schools - an initiative launched by the Foundation. "We cannot predict what changes lie ahead. However, we can help children develop the ability to live and thrive in uncertainty, leveraging new opportunities as a resource for growth while maintaining their well-being," said Ekaterina. "Our Foundation has initiated the development of an educational environment well-being index for schools. The index is designed to translate the conversation on development and well-being into a data-driven language, enabling us to operationalize scientific knowledge for educational purposes."

The conference also hosted a meeting of the Global Smart Education Network (GSENet), which the Foundation joined as a partner in 2026. GSENet is an international alliance established with the support of Beijing Normal University and the UNESCO IITE, bringing together over 50 educational organizations and institutes from around the world. The network is engaged in the development of digital transformation of education, joint research on strategies for "smart" learning and holding global conferences. The Foundation became a partner of GSENet in 2026. Membership in GSENet opens up vast opportunities for promoting the Foundation’s practices and programs on the global stage.

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