Computing Research Student wins Best Poster Award at the AI+ Conference 2026

On 14th and 15th of August 2026, Rashmi Perera, candidate for PhD in Computing, attended the AI+ Conference 2026 at the University of Cambridge as an Invited Scholar. The two-day conference brought together academics, researchers, experts and students to explore the real-world applications of artificial intelligence and its growing impact on society.

Rashmi presented her PhD research, “Empirical Evaluation of AI-Based Viva-voce Question Generation within Higher Education,” as a poster and received the Best Poster Award in the Invited Scholar category, which was a wonderful recognition of her work.

Reflecting on the two-day conference, Rashmi said:

“What made the conference especially rewarding was the breadth of topics discussed. With my own research being in the field of AI in Education, it was fascinating to listen to how the field is redefining learning and education systems globally, with several speakers at the conferences adding their insights, experience and research in the field”.

The conference explored the integration of AI into curricula and pedagogy, personalised learning, adaptive learning pathways and intelligent tutoring systems that can provide tailored support to diverse learners. Rashmi added:

“I was also interested to learn about university-led AI-in-education initiatives across the UK, as well as applications such as AI-supported autism interventions, adaptive learning platforms and low-bandwidth solutions designed to improve access to quality education in underserved communities. Although my own research focuses on AI in higher education, I learned a great deal from exploring how AI is being applied across many other areas. Some include the importance of ethics and responsible AI in education, discussions around transparency, explainability, inclusivity, equity, and developing AI systems that align with human values.”

A highlight of the conference was the traditional Cambridge formal dinner and the opportunity to explore the beautiful city and the prestigious university as well.

Rashmi’s PhD is supervised by Professor Harin Sellahewa, and it is part-funded by the University’s Royal Charter 40th Anniversary Scholarship.