Eaquals, a leading association in language education, has concluded another fruitful international conference in Lisbon from 11th to 13th April. Witnessing a notable increase in attendance reminiscent of pre-COVID times, the event gathered over 270 participants from over 33 countries across 6 continents, reflecting its diverse and inclusive nature. Notably, a significant portion of attendees were first-time participants, signalling the conference's continued appeal to newcomers.

The conference showcased a diverse program, spanning management training in language education and inspector training on the first day, followed by the official opening on the second day. Lou McLaughlin, Executive Director of Eaquals, alongside Thom Kiddle, Chair of the Eaquals Board of Trustees, warmly welcomed attendees during the opening ceremony.

A highlight of the event was the recognition of outstanding contributions within the field of language education. The Eaquals Teacher Award was presented to Mohsen Askari, honoring his exemplary dedication and impact in the classroom. Additionally, the conference celebrated recipients of the Eaquals Scholarship, which supports institutions facing challenging business environments, unfavorable exchange rates, and local political issues. This year's deserving recipients include Serpil Oz, Mehtap Ozer Isovic, Nursel Cetinkaya, Vladlena Tcherkachina, and Ilkem Kayican Dipcin.

The themes of this year's Eaquals Conference were thoughtfully curated to address key areas

 in language education. From best practices in teaching and learning to course design, CEFR & assessment, leadership & management, CPD, and the buzz-worthy topic of AI developments in language education, attendees were treated to a comprehensive program. Professionals from the language industry shared valuable insights, expertise, and practical examples, equipping participants with actionable strategies to implement upon their return.

Furthermore, the Language Assessment Professionalisation Programme (LAPP), developed in collaboration with ALTE was launched at the conference. This innovative course focuses on fundamental assessment principles, introducing best practices and key considerations sourced from the European Profiling Grid (EPG) and the ALTE Principles of Good Practice 2020. Designed to be engaging, diverse, and goal-oriented, the LAPP offers participants a valuable opportunity to enhance their skills in evaluating students' language competencies—all at no cost!

The conference wrapped up with closing remarks from Thom Kiddle, who also unveiled exciting news for the future. Save the date for this year's Eaquals Online Conference from 11th to 12th October and mark your calendars for next year's Eaquals Annual Conference in Malta from 27th to 29th March 2025.

Lou McLaughlin, Eaquals’ Executive Director said “we were absolutely thrilled to welcome so many attendees from within the industry and were delighted with the quality of the presentations delivered by both members and non-members. It really was a vibrant hub where best practice was shared and emerging trends such as AI delved into in-depth showcasing the knowledge and expertise within the network.”

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our valued sponsors, including Macmillan Education as our

Platinum Sponsors for the second year running, as well as our Gold sponsors Avallain, LanguageCert, Trinity College London, Guided E-Learning, and National Geographic, along with Silver Sponsors Sensations English and Oxford University Press. We extend our gratitude to all participants for their invaluable contributions to the success of the event.

We invite you to click here for the conference programme. The album of the official conference photographs will be added to the Eaquals Facebook page.