• Dr Charles CHEN Yidan, Founder, Yidan Prize

The only thing that’s certain in this world is that change is inevitable. We need to equip education systems to thrive and adapt in the face of change. In this keynote, we will explore the need for building resilience in today’s world and how resilience can propel us forward in uncertain futures.

• Alicia Herbert, Director of Education, Gender and Equality and Special Envoy for Gender Equality, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom

The future is unpredictable, but one thing is clear: learners need the right tools to navigate it. With crises disrupting education and technology transforming the working world, how do we prepare the next generation to continue to thrive? Our panel will discuss the opportunities and challenges and share their lived experience.

Speakers:

• Dr Vee Kativhu, Girls Education Activist and Founder, Empowered by Vee
• Arshdeep (Arsh) Singh Randhawa, Student, The Education University of Hong Kong
• Shakila Rehman, Student of Master of Philosophy, University of Peshawar; former DAFI and current DAAD scholar

Moderator:

• Angeline (Angie) Murimirwa, 2020 Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate; CEO, CAMFED 

Educators play a crucial role in fostering resilience among students. It’s a responsibility that needs large reserves of resilience. But schools across the globe are facing severe staff shortages, putting a strain on the work and overall well-being of our educators. This panel will look at how we can safeguard teachers’ mental health and build a supportive environment to help them thrive in an ever-changing world.

Speakers:

• Angele Law, Director of Strategy & Programs, CATALYST Education Lab
• Lauren Minnie, English Teacher, Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong
• Hon Adrian Piccoli, former New South Wales (Australia) Minister for Education
• Dr Dennis Sinyolo, Regional Director for Africa, Education International

Moderator:

• Liz Willen, Editor-in-chief, The Hechinger Report

Technology is transforming our lives faster than ever, presenting both challenges and opportunities for learners, educators, and systems. Generative AI offers promises of personalization with the potential to transform teaching and learning today. How can we go beyond adapting to new technologies — and harness the power of AI in higher education? With extensive work in both theoretical research and technological development, Professor Yang Zongkai will share his experience and insights on building resilience in universities. 

• Professor Yang Zongkai, President, Wuhan University of Technology

In the context of multiple crises, global education systems must adapt to change. How can we ensure they not only withstand challenges but also thrive through collaboration and innovation? This panel will respond to prior discussions with different actors in education, and explore how to situate education resilience in different cultures and contexts. They will also discuss effective strategies and the critical role of stakeholders — including governments, communities, and schools — in fostering a resilient education system. 

Speakers:

• Professor Sultan Barakat, Professor of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University
• Dr Javier González, Director, SUMMA
• Dr Becky Telford, Chief, Education Section: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Moderator:

• Andrew Jack, Global Education Editor, Financial Times

Few people have done more to put education front and center in demography than Professor Wolfgang Lutz. His work reconstructing and forecasting population data from 1950 to 2100 deepens our understanding of how education underpins human progress. In this fireside chat, Wolfgang will discuss why universal education is so central to global development — from health to well-being, economic growth, and equity. And how it’ll help us tackle one of the most critical challenges of our time: building resilience to climate change.

Speaker:

• Professor Wolfgang Lutz, 2024 Yidan Prize for Education Research Laureate; Distinguished Emeritus Scholar, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

Moderator:

• Dr Christopher Thomas, Director of Partnerships, Yidan Prize Foundation

Resilience is essential for children living in conflict-affected and resource-constrained areas. In this fireside chat, we will hear from the team behind War Child Alliance’s ‘Can’t Wait to Learn’ evidence-based intervention: Professor Mark Jordans, Marwa Zahr, and Luke Stannard. They will discuss how they use technology to create an engaging, culturally relevant, and effective way for marginalized learners to build crucial skills in reading and mathematics.

Speakers:

• Professor Mark Jordans, 2024 Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate; Director — Research and Development, War Child Alliance
• Marwa Zahr, 2024 Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate; Implementation and Practitioner Lead — Can’t Wait to Learn, War Child Alliance
• Luke Stannard, 2024 Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate; Program Director — Can’t Wait to Learn, War Child Alliance

Moderator:

• Fred de Sam Lazaro, Executive Director, Under-Told Stories Project; Special Correspondent, PBS News Hour

• Lucy Lake, Director of Global Engagement, Yidan Prize Foundation; 2020 Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate