We are currently witnessing a significant transformation in the development of education on all levels and especially in post-secondary education. To face these challenges, higher education must find innovative and effective ways to respond in a proper way. The pandemic period left us with profound changes in the way we teach and learn, including the massive use of new means of communication, such as videoconferencing and other technological tools. Moreover, the current explosion of artificial intelligence tools, mainly used by students, is challenging teaching practices maintained for centuries. Scientifically based statements as well as excellent best practice examples are absolutely necessary.The 26^th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning (ICL2023), which will take place in Madrid, Spain, between 26^th and 30^th September 2023, will be the perfect place where to present and discuss current trends in Higher Education. Since its beginning in 1998 this conference is devoted to new approaches in learning with a focus on collaborative learning in Higher Education. Nowadays the ICL conferences are a forum of the exchange of relevant trends and research results as well as the presentation of practical experiences in Learning and Engineering Pedagogy. In this way we try to bridge the gap between ‘pure’ scientific research and the everyday work of educators.