The third Research Workshop on learning analytics of the Trustworthy Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence for Sound Learning Design (TRUELA) project was held on 15 September 2026 at the Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb, in Varaždin. The workshop was organised in a hybrid format as part of the pre-conference programme of the CECIIS 2026 conference. It connected research conducted within TRUELA with activities of the Streamlining AI in Learning Reimagination (SAILeR) project. The workshop also included focus group sessions on comprehensive learning analytics systems, highlighting synergies with the Learning Analytics Ecosystem Supported by Artificial Intelligence (LAS) project.
The event, hosted by Professor Blaženka Divjak, was attended by researchers and experts from Croatia, Finland, Germany, Spain, North Macedonia, Australia and South Africa.
During the morning session, researchers presented their ongoing work on using learning patterns to support the quality of learning design, design patterns in higher education courses, methods for identifying learning patterns in LMS data, modelling predictors of student performance, and the use of trace data to inform AI-assisted learning design. Participants reflected on the presented research, considered promising methodological approaches and case studies, and discussed key challenges and priorities for further research.
The afternoon session connected research conducted within the TRUELA, SAILeR and LAS projects. Participants presented research and development activities focused on integrating learning design, learning analytics and AI, including an AI assistant for learning design and a literature review of comprehensive learning analytics systems.
Finally, two focus groups dedicated to the development of a comprehensive learning analytics system were held as part of the LAS project. Participants discussed the types of insights such a system should provide in higher education and enterprise contexts, as well as the information and support that would be useful to students and employees. The discussion also examined areas in which AI assistance could be particularly valuable and addressed key issues concerning the trustworthiness and ethical use of learning analytics and AI.
The event strengthened collaboration and synergies between the three projects, implemented by the Learning Analytics Laboratory and led by Professor Blaženka Divjak.
The TRUELA project is funded by the Croatian Science Foundation, the SAILeR project is funded through the Erasmus+ programme, and the LAS project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Collaborative Scientific Research call.