Special Issue

Education in Quantum Computing and Related Technologies: State of the Art and Development Perspectives in Ibero-America

Guest Editors:

Jose Garcia-Alonso, SpiLab, University of Extremadura, Spain, jgaralo@unex.es, 0000-0002-6819-0299

Alejandro Fernandez, LIFIA Research Center, School of Computer Science, National University of La Plata, alejandro.fernandez@lifia.info.unlp.edu.ar, 0000-0002-7968-6871

Brief Description of the Special Issue:

The journal IEEE-RITA Ibero-American Journal of Learning Technologies, an official publication of the IEEE Education Society, invites article submissions for a special issue titled “Education in Quantum Computing and Related Technologies: State of the Art and Development Perspectives in Ibero-America.”

The advancement of quantum computing presents unprecedented educational challenges for academic systems, particularly in the fields of engineering, computer science, electronics, and telecommunications. Establishing a solid and sustainable educational ecosystem in quantum education, capable of addressing emerging technological and societal demands, is a strategic priority for the Ibero-American region.

This special issue of IEEE-RITA, in synergy with the goals of the Ibero-American Network for the Advancement of Quantum Software Engineering (RIPAISC), aims to gather academic contributions that analyze, design, or evaluate educational strategies, teaching resources, pedagogical methodologies, and technological infrastructures oriented toward the teaching and learning of quantum computing and related technologies.

Recognizing the need to prepare future generations to actively participate in the development of this disruptive technology, contributions proposing inclusive, collaborative, and open approaches will be especially valued. Relevant topics include (but are not limited to) teaching and learning in quantum computing and associated technologies such as quantum simulation, communication, or sensing:

Topics:

  • Development of educational resources and interactive environments: simulators, virtual labs, games, platforms, and other technologies aimed at teaching quantum content.
  • Active and student-centered teaching methodologies applied to quantum computing education.
  • Teacher training and competence development for teaching quantum-related content at various educational levels.
  • Integration of quantum computing topics into technical and higher education programs.
  • Assessment of learning and competencies related to quantum technologies, and their impact in real educational settings.
  • Gender inclusion and diversity in educational initiatives related to quantum computing.
  • Academia-industry partnerships to design educational pathways based on real use cases.
  • Open education and citizen science as strategies to broaden access to training in this field.
  • Critical and systematic analysis of the use of artificial intelligence tools in quantum computing education, including their pedagogical potential, limitations, and risks.
  • Educational use of paradigmatic examples, use cases, or potential applications of quantum computing to contextualize and motivate learning.
  • Design and application of quantum software engineering tools (such as development, testing, or visualization environments) for educational purposes.
  • Teaching of different quantum development models (circuits, variational algorithms, adiabatic computing, among others) and their incorporation into training proposals.

This special issue will contribute to building a shared and plural vision of the challenges and opportunities of quantum education in Ibero-America, consolidating an academic space that promotes regional cooperation and the generation of useful knowledge for the sustainable implementation of this technology.

Keywords:
Quantum technologies, Quantum computing, Quantum software engineering, Specialized training, Curriculum in emerging technologies, Teaching quantum computing, Educational tools for quantum topics, Active learning in engineering, Virtual quantum labs, Educational best practices, STEM education, Open science, Academia-industry collaboration, Educational innovation, Inclusion and gender perspective, Educational ecosystems, Quantum simulation, Workshops and MOOCs in quantum computing, Quantum competence assessment, Technological knowledge transfer.

Publication and Deadline:
IEEE-RITA Ibero-American Journal of Learning Technologies is now accepting article submissions for the special issue Quantum Education in Ibero-America, under a continuous publication model. This means that accepted papers will be published immediately upon completion of the peer review and final editing process, without waiting for the special issue’s official closing.

The submission deadline is June 30, 2026. Until then, the call remains open, and the academic, research, and professional community is invited to contribute original work addressing quantum computing and engineering education from pedagogical, technological, and collaborative perspectives.

This special issue aligns with the objectives of the Ibero-American Network for the Advancement of Quantum Software Engineering (RIPAISC), fostering the creation of an inclusive and sustainable educational ecosystem aligned with the challenges of the new quantum paradigm in the region.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Articles must be submitted in English. At the end of the evaluation process, each accepted article will be published in English (on IEEE Xplore) and also made freely available in Spanish or Portuguese on the VAEP-RITA.
  • Todos los artículos son gratis si no excedan las 10 páginas.
  • All articles are free of charge if they do not exceed 10 pages.

Submissions must be made through the IEEE Author portal.
The special issue allows submissions of extended versions of papers previously presented at conferences. In such cases, authors must include the published conference paper as an additional file and explicitly state in the new article’s introduction that it is an extension of the previous one, including the reference and clearly identifying the new contributions (with at least 30% new significant content, a different title, and abstract).
As this is a special issue, papers accepted in the first round with major revisions will be rejected in the second round if the required changes are not properly addressed.