OU researchers win prestigious EDEN Best Research Paper Award

Researchers from The Open University’s Institute of Educational Technology (IET) have received international recognition at the 2026 EDEN Annual Conference in Porto, with two papers shortlisted for the prestigious EDEN Best Research Paper Award and one selected as the overall winner.

The winning paper, Before the First Prompt: Understanding Students’ Pre-Use Perceptions of an AI Digital Assistant in Higher Education, was authored by Chris Edwards, Denise Whitelock, Felipe Tessarolo, Duygu Bektik, Emily Coughlan, Christothea Herodotou and Thomas Ullmann. The study explores how students perceive AI-powered digital assistants before using them, providing valuable insights into trust, expectations and the responsible adoption of AI in higher education.

The paper was selected from five finalists by an international jury, which praised the research for its timely focus, robust mixed-methods approach and practical implications for the design of inclusive, student-centred AI systems in higher education.

IET also celebrated a second paper being named among the five finalists. Co-Creating Open Learning Materials for the Digitalisation of Energy: A Collaborative Model for Public and Expert Engagement, authored by Denise Whitelock, Irina Rets, Beck Pitt, Chris Edwards and Leigh-Anne Perryman, highlights innovative approaches to co-creation, public engagement and open educational practice.

The dual success reflects IET’s leadership in research that is shaping the future of AI-enhanced learning and open education, and underscores The Open University’s growing international impact in these fields.