What is the Fun Learning Conference?
The Invitation Only Fun Learning Conference focuses on early childhood education and care, bringing together teachers and caregivers, school leaders, policymakers, researchers, and education innovators to explore how learning can be joyful, practical, effective, and deeply human.
The conference highlights real-world approaches to play-based, creative, and hybrid learning across diverse settings from early childhood classrooms to teacher training at universities and lifelong learning programs. Through hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, and engaging dialogue, early childhood educators will discover practical strategies and innovative ideas they can immediately apply in their work.
Who Will Benefit?
Teachers
Teachers will gain practical tools and strategies they can use immediately in the classroom. Through interactive workshops and demonstrations, you will learn how to design lessons that support language, numeracy, emotional wellbeing, assessment, student agency, and creative use of everyday materials and technology, including a glimpse into AI. You will leave with ready-to-use ideas, resources, and approaches to communicate the value of Fun Learning to parents and school leaders, while connecting with peers and experts who understand classroom realities.
Policymakers
Policymakers will gain insights into evidence-based approaches that make education more engaging, inclusive, and effective. Through dialogue with teachers, researchers, and international experts, you will explore how play-based, creative, and hybrid learning models improve outcomes. The conference provides concrete examples of programs and strategies that can inform policy design, curriculum development, teacher training, and resource allocation, supporting decisions that enable meaningful learning for all children.
Researchers and Academia
Researchers and academics help connect theory to practice and have the opportunity to co-design new research programs. You will engage with teachers, policymakers, and international experts to observe innovative practices, discuss research priorities, explore funding and resourcing opportunities, and foster collaborations that strengthen both scholarship and practical impact.
Why Bringing Everyone Together Matters
The true strength of the Fun Learning Conference lies in bringing teachers, policymakers, and researchers together. Cross-sector dialogue ensures that innovative ideas are informed by classroom realities, supported by policy, and strengthened by research.
Program
The program includes
A Day of keynotes, policy dialogues, and research themes
A Day of interactive teacher workshops
AI in education demos and platform showcases
Networking sessions and cultural visits in Kigali
The final schedule will be released in January 2026.
Speakers
Boaz Ntimugura, Pedagogical Lead, Fun Learning Campus Kigali; School Director, Imanzi School, Rwanda
Bonfils, Artist Educator, Niyo Arts Center/Independent Artist, Rwanda
Dr. Estefanía Lema-Moreira, Researcher; Expert in Emotional Intelligence & Educational Leadership, Independent, Spain
Dr. James O’Meara, Dean; Global Chair of Educational Policy, Texas A & M International, US
Dr. Robert Woodward, Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence and Innvotaive Teaching Faculty Fellow, Texas A&M International University, US
Dr. Sai Väyrynen, Adjunct Professor & Senior Lecturer (Special Needs Education); Global Chair of Educational Exchange, University of Helsinki, Finland
Evigane Taylore Academic & Education Advocate, African Leadership University (ALU), Rwanda, Gabon
Ilja Riekki, Education Innovation Specialist, HAUS, Finland
Janet E. Brown, Education Trainer, Founder of TEACH Rwanda, President Emerita
Jouni Kangasniemi, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
Joseph Nsengimana, Minister of Education, Rwanda
Laura Nevanlinna, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, The Campus Company Finland, Rwanda
Mignone Niyoniringye, Fun Learning Mentor, Campus Company, Rwanda
Ms. Trang, Fun Learning Trainer, Educator, Tan Thoi Dai, Vietnam
Pinja Tuominen, Researcher, University of Helsinki, Finland
Saara Viteli, Global Master Trainer of Fun Learning; Kindergarten Owner & Principal, Fun Learning / Metsäpirtti Kindergarten, Finland
Sanna Lukander, Founder & Chief Content Officer; Fun Learning Ambassador, The campus Company, Finland, Rwanda
Dr. Aimable Sibomana, Director of Quality Assurance; Head of Quality Assurance, Fun Learning Campus Huye, Catholic University of Rwanda
Organising Partners
Sponsors
Fedu.ai