DEFIA to Hold First General Event at the University of Coimbra on Guardrails for AGI

On 15 October 2026, the Digital Education for Impact Alliance (DEFIA) will convene its first general event at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, under the theme “Guardrails for AGI: the Crucial Role of Universities.” 

Hosted in person, with online access and recording, the meeting will bring together DEFIA members, academic leaders, private-sector representatives and international organisations to examine how universities can help shape appropriate guardrails for increasingly advanced AI systems. 

As AI continues to evolve at a rapid pace, questions around trust, safety, skills, values and institutional responsibility are becoming increasingly urgent. The Coimbra meeting is grounded in a clear premise: guardrails for AGI are not merely technical or regulatory. They are also educational, institutional and societal. 

Universities occupy a unique position as educators of future generations, generators of independent knowledge and stewards of public value. At the same time, the global nature of AI development requires stronger cooperation between academia, industry, international organisations and public institutions. 

Co-founded by GeSI, the University of Coimbra and Huanghe Science and Technology University, DEFIA is designed as a thought-and-do platform for education and lifelong learning. Its mission is to catalyse concrete action in response to digital transformation, evolving skills needs and shared values challenges. 

The programme is expected to include a high-level opening session, a DEFIA plenary reviewing progress and strategic priorities, and thematic working groups to help shape DEFIA’s workstreams for 2027 and beyond. 

This first general event marks an important milestone in DEFIA’s initial development phase and will lay the groundwork for sustained, multi-stakeholder collaboration beyond 2026. 

Further updates on the programme, speakers and participation will be announced in due course.