INTRODUCTION

ABOUT

The 5th International Conference on Youth (ICYOUTH) 2026, hosted by the Institute for Social Science Studies (IPSAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), will be held under the theme "AI and Youth for Societal Impact: Transforming Communities and Advancing Wellbeing." The conference will serve as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange on critical youth-related issues from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Since its inauguration in 2011, ICYOUTH has evolved into a premier forum for addressing pivotal youth concerns, each edition shaped by a distinctive theme: "Nurturing Youth–Adult Relationships for Healthy Youth Development" (2011), "Engaging Youth for Nation Building" (2013), "Youth as Global Leaders Today for a Better Tomorrow" (2016), and "Healthy Youth Development in the Digital Era" (2023). In 2026, the conference will build upon this legacy, exploring how artificial intelligence can empower youth to drive transformative societal change and advance holistic wellbeing.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of ICYOUTH 2026 are to: 

• Present the latest research findings related to youth, AI, and community wellbeing.
  
  

• Facilitate discussions on the issues, challenges, and opportunities in applying AI for social benefit.
  
  

• Engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including researchers, academia, industry, NGOs, policymakers, and youth communities.
  
  

• Establish collaborative networks among academia, industry, and non-governmental organisations to foster AI-driven, community-focused development.