The Graduate School of Education (GSE) at the American University in Dubai (AUD) hosted the TESOL Conferences’ 30th International Conference and Exhibition, themed “Enhancing ELT: Empowering Learners in an AI Inclusive Era.”

This marked the first time the conference was held in Dubai, with GSE serving as a long-term partner and home for TESOL’s annual conference, as part of its commitment to advancing professional development and global engagement in English Language Teaching (ELT).

The event brought together over 350 teachers, researchers, and university professors from more than 26 countries, who participated in 176 concurrent sessions covering topics ranging from multimodal translanguaging and AI-inclusive classrooms to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approaches, thought-provoking panels on knowledge and the knower in the age of AI, and a focus on innovation in pedagogy, teacher wellbeing, inclusivity, and multilingualism.

Participants engaged deeply with these emerging trends, exploring the intersection of AI, educational research, and global best practices, reflecting a shared commitment to academic rigor and the continuous professional development of educators worldwide.

Dr. Kyle Long, President of AUD, welcomed participants during the opening ceremony and highlighted AUD’s shared milestone with TESOL Conferences. He also emphasized the unique challenges educators face today:

“You are working at the intersection of extraordinary technological acceleration, shifting student expectations, rising anxiety, and widening inequality. You are teaching in classrooms shaped by AI, social media, by instantaneous translation and shortened attention spans, by students who are hyper-connected yet socially distant.”

Dr. Nadera Alborno, Dean of the Graduate School of Education (GSE), Professor of Education, and conference co-chair, added: “GSE is proud to host the 2026 TESOL Conference, bringing together educators and researchers from around the world to discuss and explore language learning in a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence”.

Dr. Christine Coombe – Associate Professor of General Studies, Higher Colleges of Technology & Former President of TESOL International Association, said: “It’s been an amazing two days of professional development in the area of English language teaching. This event is especially meaningful because it celebrates 30 years of supporting English language teachers in the Gulf, UAE, and across the world.”

Dr. Lana Hiasat – Senior Lecturer, Higher Colleges of Technology, highlighted: “This is one of the most important professional development trainings that I always put on my calendar and would not miss for anything. I really appreciated the diverse formats of sessions like PechaKucha, debates, and group sessions.”

Rana Khan – Assistant Professor, Canadian College of Kuwait, stressed: “The conference provided outstanding opportunities for networking, meaningful collaboration, and highly engaging sessions such as the PechaKucha. For me, the key takeaway is the role of artificial intelligence and how we must learn, grow, and work together in this evolving landscape.”

The TESOL Conference offered educators and researchers an opportunity to share expertise, explore emerging trends, and reflect on the evolving role of technology in language education, reflecting AUD and GSE’s ongoing commitment to educational research and inclusiveness.