Dear Educational Researchers,

We are entering a transformative era where the boundaries between technical trades, digital innovation, and creative problem-solving are rapidly dissolving. The global shift toward a net-zero future and the integration of artificial intelligence into the workplace have created a "twin transition." To thrive in this landscape, technical mastery must be paired with the practical wisdom to apply digital and green tools innovatively. Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) stands at the core of this economic and social evolution.

The Eighteenth International Congress of Educational Research invites educational researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and VTE practitioners to Bartın University to explore the future of the new skills economy. The congress will be organized by Bartın University, International Association of
Educators, Turkish Educational Research Association, Azerbaijan Educational Research Association, Kazakhstan Educational Research Association, and Kosovo Educational Research Association. The congress is further supported by the Turkish Ministry of National Education, European Educational
Research Association, and World Education Research Association.

We are actively seeking submissions that bridge theoretical research with actionable policy, focusing on how transitioning and rapidly developing economies across Eurasia and beyond can lead the way in cultivating an adaptable, future-ready workforce.

We welcome empirical research papers, theoretical explorations, and applied policy case studies acrossvthe following four pillars:

1. Digitalization and the AI-Driven Workplace: Research on the integration of artificial intelligence, big data, and multimodal learning analytics into VTE curricula. Submissions may explore digital twins in technical training, AI-supported instructional coaching, and the
modernization of traditional trades.

2. Sustainability and Green Skills: Pedagogical strategies designed to rapidly scale the "green- collar" workforce. Topics include curriculum redesign for the circular economy, eco-auditing in technical disciplines, and training models for the renewable energy transition. 

3. The Creative Economies in Vocational Contexts: Explorations of how non-routine cognitive skills and creative agency drive technical innovation. Submissions may focus on design thinking in engineering, the "maker movement," micro-manufacturing, and the establishment of formal
competencies for emerging digital media trades.

4. Transnational Policy, Governance, and Labor Mobility: Action-oriented research on aligning institutional VTE frameworks with shifting regional labor markets. Topics include the harmonization of technical standards, cross-border micro-credentials, and innovative public- private funding models for sustainable VTE infrastructure.

Join us in Bartın to translate cutting-edge educational inquiry into the frameworks and policies that will define the future of work.