Riyadh, 28-30 June 2025. The International Conference on Education and Innovation in Museums (ICEIM) focused this year on expanding the frameworks of education within museums, through major international partnerships for postgraduate academic degrees, a globally available artificial-intelligence platform serving different audiences, and competitions and innovative educational formats designed to boost engagement.

The conference builds on its first edition, which began in June 2024, cementing ICEIM's role as an annual platform that is turning museums into hubs of creativity and leadership, responsive to the demands of the modern era.

Among the conference's strategic themes were the use of technology and virtual reality to create immersive experiences, integrating sustainability practices with heritage archiving, and supporting mobile museums while employing technologies such as the metaverse to strengthen cultural preservation.

The event drew participation from prominent institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum, the National University of Ireland, and Johns Hopkins University, along with numerous experts from SOAS University of London, Oxford and Effat University, among others.

The Event's Impact on the Kingdom's Museum Landscape

ICEIM marks a turning point toward transforming museums into educational and social hubs with a digital, innovation-driven orientation, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Academic cooperation with international universities, alongside an AI-powered digital education model, is paving the way for developing specialized national expertise in the museum field.

The launch of postgraduate programs and comprehensive training is positioning the Kingdom to advance as a leading regional hub in the smart-museum and museum-education sector.

In a landmark strategic partnership, the Saudi Museums Commission joined with the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and Effat University in Jeddah to launch the Kingdom's first joint postgraduate program in museum studies, combining academic grounding with applied practice.

The conference also saw the official launch of the Museum Training Academy (MTA), a professional AI-based educational platform described as the first of its kind globally, serving children, students, the general public and specialists alike.

Organizers also held the "Museum-A-Thon" competition, focused on developing innovative digital solutions to enhance the visitor experience; the winning team was awarded a week-long trip to London's renowned museums.