Quality Assurance 5.0 Conference 2026 is an international higher education conference focused on AI-powered teaching, learning, assessment, and examination integrity. The event brings together university leaders, quality assurance professionals, researchers, policymakers, and technology experts to examine how institutions can maintain academic quality while adopting artificial intelligence in education.
Focus and theme
The conference is built around the theme “Assessing the Quality of AI-Powered Teaching, Learning and Examination Integrity.” Its program emphasizes developing quality assurance frameworks that respond to the growing use of generative AI in higher education while preserving academic standards, trust, and fairness. Topics include responsible AI adoption, innovative assessment methods, institutional governance, accreditation, and examination integrity.
Event details
According to the organizers, the conference is scheduled for 15–16 September 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch in Durban, South Africa. The event is organized by Nexus and Nexus, with registration available through the organizer’s conference website. Early-bird registration tiers have been announced, alongside a preliminary conference programme.
Speakers and audience
The published speaker lineup includes academics and industry professionals with expertise in higher education, AI, digital transformation, and quality assurance. Announced speakers include Kevin Govender (former Executive Partner at IBM Consulting), Dr. Francis Fabian Akpa-Inyang, Dr. Simon N. Simon, Dr. Raessa Jabar, and keynote speaker Waqar M. Naqvi, among others. The intended audience includes:
-
University executives and academic leaders
-
Quality assurance practitioners
-
Accreditation and regulatory professionals
-
Teaching and learning specialists
-
Educational technology professionals
-
Researchers and policymakers interested in AI in higher education
Why it matters
As generative AI becomes embedded in higher education, universities are rethinking how they evaluate learning while maintaining credibility and academic integrity. This conference addresses practical and policy questions around designing trustworthy assessments, ensuring quality in AI-assisted teaching, and creating governance frameworks that support innovation without compromising educational standards. These issues are also reflected in broader international discussions on AI-enabled assessment in higher education.