The Faculty of Education, Khon Kaen University, together with domestic and international academic networks, co-hosted the 19th International Conference on Educational Research (ICER 2026), themed “Innovating for Equity and Inclusion: Pathways to Quality Education.” The conference ran jointly with the 6th National Teacher Induction Expo (NTIE 2026), themed “AI for All Education: Empowering New Teachers for the Future of Learning.” The event was convened from 27 to 28 July 2026 at the Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre, Khon Kaen Province, to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, build academic networks, and present educational innovations.
Now in its 19th year, ICER 2026 focused on encouraging global educators and researchers to reflect on the role of learning theories, pedagogical strategies, and educational tools and technologies in jointly responding to a disrupted society. Meanwhile, the 6th NTIE aimed to develop teachers for local development within the Upper Northeastern Region network, giving participating teachers the opportunity to exchange research and knowledge and helping raise the teaching profession to a national standard.
Keynote speeches were delivered by renowned experts, including Prof. Kerry Lee, President and Chair Professor of Child Development at Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education, Hong Kong, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Montree Yamkasikorn from the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Subcommittee Member for the Teacher Production for Local Development Project (Phase 2), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI). The programme featured workshops and showcases by experts and network partners, alongside oral and poster presentations from conference participants.
This academic conference drew strong collaboration from leading network organisations and institutions, including the Thailand Association for Educational Communication and Technology, Central University of Technology, Free State (South Africa), Southwest University (China), Universitas Negeri Surabaya (Indonesia), Association of Professional Development of Educational Administration of Thailand, IEEE Education Society Thailand, Educational Measurement, Evaluation and Research Association of Thailand, and a network of 19 teacher education institutions in the Upper Northeastern Region. The event welcomed more than 600 participants, with over 200 research works presented in oral and poster formats by experts and scholars from countries including Japan, South Africa, China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. Local development teachers and educational institutions from across Thailand also took part.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, highlighted the significance of this academic gathering, stating that it was a great opportunity for Khon Kaen University to serve as a hub uniting academics and researchers from Thailand and abroad to share and create new knowledge leading to sustainable societal development.
“The participation of everyone here reflects a strong commitment to improving education and society for the future. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all network partners and co-hosting institutions from various countries for effectively supporting this event. I truly hope that the outcomes of this conference will help build strong networks and foster continued projects beneficial to all member countries.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Issara Kanjug, Dean of the Faculty of Education, reported on the objectives of the event, stating that the 19th ICER aimed to create an international platform for educators to exchange ideas and establish research networks beneficial to future generations. Meanwhile, the 6th NTIE aimed to produce and develop teachers for local development in the Upper Northeastern network, concretely elevating the teaching profession to a national level.
“This year, we are delighted to welcome researchers and scholars from 8 countries, including Japan, South Africa, China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. The presentations focused key attention on reflecting the roles of learning theories, instructional strategies, and the application of technological tools to address challenges in a disrupted society and build sustainable professional collaboration.”
Hosting ICER 2026 and NTIE 2026 reflected the potential of the Faculty of Education, Khon Kaen University, as a key driver of regional educational innovation, marking a step toward academic excellence and global research standards, and reinforcing the university’s role in advancing equity and inclusion in Thai education internationally.
