Awards

Key Information About the ICOIE 2026 Paper Awards

A Selection Panel for the awards will be established by the Organizing Committee of ICOIE 2026. This panel will consist of experts from relevant fields.
Each paper being considered for the awards will be first evaluated by the Programme Committee of ICOIE 2026 and then by the Selection Panel.
The winner will receive a certificate.
The winning author(s) will be invited to extend their papers and submit them for publication in an edited book or a special issue of a refereed journal.
Financial support will be provided to sponsor paper awardees to publish papers in a special issue of a refereed journal.

For more information, please see the overview of each award provided below.

Best/Excellent Paper Awards

ICOIE 2026 will be attended by academics, professional experts and practitioners. As we are receiving notable contributions from international academicians, researchers, professionals and practitioners, we would like to recognize the best contributions to open and innovative education.

Evaluation Criteria

The paper (75%)
- Significance: The contribution of the paper to the field with an emphasis on theoretical development and/or educational practices.
- Methodology: The extent to which the methods and approach are appropriate.
- Originality: The extent to which the paper is innovative in terms of its sources of information, design, analysis and/or discussion approach.
Oral presentation (25%)
- The quality of the presentation in terms of the content and effectiveness.

Best/Excellent Student Paper Awards

In addition to academics, professional experts and practitioners, ICOIE 2026 will be attended by students who are potential contributors in the field. We would like to recognize their contributions to the open and innovative education.

Evaluation Criteria

The paper (75%)
- Significance: The contribution of the paper to the field with an emphasis on theoretical development and/or educational practices.
- Methodology: The extent to which the methods and approach are appropriate.
- Originality: The extent to which the paper is innovative in terms of its sources of information, design, analysis and/or discussion approach.
Oral presentation (25%)
- The quality of the presentation in terms of the content and effectiveness.

*The author must be a full-time student who is pursuing a postgraduate programme at a recognized academic institution.

AI Innovation in Education Award

This award directly aligns with the ICOIE 2026 theme. It aims to recognize and celebrate the most groundbreaking and impactful use of artificial intelligence to enhance teaching and learning.

Evaluation Criteria

Innovation and Originality: The submission demonstrates a novel application of AI in an educational context.
Impact on Learning: There is clear evidence or strong potential for the AI application to significantly improve learning outcomes, enhance student engagement, or increase access to education.
Ethical Considerations: The submission thoughtfully addresses potential ethical issues related to the use of AI in education, such as bias, privacy, and transparency.
Scalability and Replicability: The innovation has the potential to be scaled and adapted for use in different educational settings.

Outstanding Open Educational Practice Award

This award emphasizes the “Open” aspect of the conference, recognizing outstanding contributions to the open education. It will honor innovative practices that promote the creation, use, and reuse of Open Educational Resources (OER) and open pedagogies.

Evaluation Criteria

Contribution to Openness: The practice significantly contributes to the advancement of open education, whether through developing high-quality OER, implementing open pedagogies, or promoting open education policies.
Community Engagement and Collaboration: The practice fosters collaboration and sharing within and between educational communities.
Impact and Sustainability: There is evidence of the practice’s positive impact on learners and educators, and a clear plan for its long-term sustainability.
Inclusivity and Equity: The practice promotes inclusivity and equity by making education more accessible to diverse learners.

Emerging Scholar Award

This award recognizes and encourages the work of promising early-career researchers. This award will help attract new talent to the ICOIE community and support the next generation of leaders in the field.

Evaluation Criteria

Quality of Research: The scholar’s submitted paper demonstrates high-quality research with the potential to make a significant contribution to the field.
Potential for Impact: The scholar’s research agenda shows promise for future impact on the theory or practice of open and innovative education.
Contribution to the Community: The scholar has demonstrated a commitment to the academic community through service, collaboration, or other activities.

*Only PhD graduates from the past five years are eligible for this award.

Outstanding Reviewer Award

This award acknowledges and rewards the crucial, yet often unrecognized, contribution of peer reviewers in maintaining the high quality of the conference. This award will incentivize timely, thorough, and constructive reviews, enhancing the overall academic rigor of ICOIE.

Evaluation Criteria

Quality of Reviews: The reviewer consistently provides high-quality, insightful, and constructive feedback to authors.
Timeliness: The reviewer consistently submits reviews on time.
Contribution to the Review Process: The reviewer provides a significant number of high-quality reviews for the conference.

Online Submission

Abstracts/papers must be submitted through the online system (i.e. Easychair system) below, by following the instructions in the page of “New Submission”.

For details concerning submission formats and requirements, please refer to the page of 'Abstracts and Papers Submissions'.