AED in international conference “Transforming Youth and Adult Learning and Education in the Era of Digitalization, Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence”
On 24–26 November, an international conference titled “Transforming Youth and Adult Learning and Education in the Era of Digitalization, Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence” was held in Vientiane, Laos.
Organized by ASPBAE, DVV International, ICAE and representatives of UNESCO, the event brought together participants from across the Asia–Pacific region to discuss how digitalization and algorithmic platforms are reshaping education, employment, and people’s skills.
For AED, such platforms are part of systematic, long-term work: they help not only to follow global trends in adult education, but also to represent Kyrgyzstan’s perspective in discussions where future approaches to digital literacy, ALE policies and 21st-century skills are being shaped.
One of the key moments of the conference was the session “Youth Voices from the Asia–Pacific on the Use of AI in Education.”
This year, AED decided to bring a youth perspective to the panel and nominated Semyon Rogozhin, a volunteer of the Association.
Semyon supports AED in various digital tasks—video editing, layout, design and other tech-related work. He is currently studying game design at HSE University, speaks fluent English, and his participation in the conference became a natural continuation of his contribution to AED’s development.
AED’s Executive Director, Masuma Bashirova, explained the value of involvement in the youth component:
“When education concerns youth or adults, it is essential to understand the needs of both groups — their voices must be heard. We nominated Semyon because AED wants to stay aware of global developments and keep its compass aligned. Today’s challenges are similar across countries, and for young people to participate in international discussions, they need language skills, digital literacy, communication abilities, and the capacity to analyze and clearly formulate issues.”
Speaking at the youth panel, Semyon shared several observations about the situation in Kyrgyzstan:
“Digitalization came to Kyrgyzstan very rapidly — so fast that older generations did not have time to adapt properly. Young people adjusted much better, but another challenge emerged: digital literacy. A lack of critical thinking makes people vulnerable to fake information, and digital inequality widens gaps in opportunities — including in education.”
He also emphasized the role of AI and the importance of thoughtful use:
“Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with school and university programs and start offloading what they consider ‘boring tasks’ onto AI. As a result, some invest minimal effort, do no research, and ultimately learn nothing. Added to this is the lack of high-quality educational resources in Kyrgyz language.
AI can be a useful tool, but only when a person stays actively involved. There is a spectrum in how AI is used: on one end — you do everything yourself, which takes time; on the other — AI does everything for you, and your skills stop developing. It’s important to find a balance so that technology helps rather than replaces us.”
The topics raised during the youth session were closely aligned with the overall agenda of the conference, where UNESCO and ICAE experts discussed algorithmic risks, the threat of homogenized thinking, the deepening of digital inequality, and the growing importance of critical and media literacy among both youth and adults.
For AED, participation in such discussions has practical value. It helps strengthen professional networks, understand which competencies will be in demand in the coming years, and design programs that make adult education in Kyrgyzstan more resilient, modern and truly responsive to people’s needs.
The Association will continue working to ensure that digitalization and artificial intelligence become tools for access and development — not barriers. In this mission, young people who are ready to speak on equal footing with the global community are an essential pillar for AED.
