I've just returned from attending two major international conferences where I had an opportunity to influence the future of education and connect with innovators and thought leaders in business, academia, media, government and civil society. I have left feeling invigorated by the best practices shared and the intense debates about how to shape education policies. My mission was to advocate for inclusive policies that truly enable each new generation of youth to have opportunities to be empowered as actively engaged citizens with common values based on dignity and respect for oneself, humanity and our planet.
The first event was the World Innovation Summit for Education in Doha, Qatar (www.wise-qatar.org), an initiative led by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned. I joined 1000 decision-makers, opinion leaders from over 120 countries in a conference program focused on Global Education: Working Together for Sustainable Achievements". I enjoyed hearing the range of plenary presentations including Irina Bakova, the incoming Director General of UNESCO, who advocated the Global Education for All Movement and talked about the need to promote international cooperation in an effort towards peace, dignity, just and sustainable societies. A great achievement for TakingITGlobal was to be included and part of a case study referenced by Alex Wong, Head of Global Education Initiative of the World Economic Forum.
There was extensive discussion on the need for quality education and how it requires significant investment. "Education costs money...then again so does ignorance" was a comment expressed and sentiment shared by the delegates. In some of the break-out sessions I attended, there was discussion on the shift in how the workforce is changing and that people no longer have careers for life, but rather a lifetime of careers. As a result, our education systems need to prepare youth for broad based roles with critical thinking skills and ability to learn how to learn. Preparing students for the global economy is no easy task.
We had passionate discussions on values and what was most impactful for me was the presentation on how education has played a role both in preventing conflict, but also in perpetuating conflict through inherent biases and promotion of hatred within curriculums. A presenter quoted "Nothing is more dangerous than the world view of those who have never viewed the world". I felt a renewed sense of motivation for the important work that we do with TakingITGlobal and the opportunity we allow when youth in our community exchange their life experiences, ideas, attitudes and perspectives through our global platform. "Change by Exchange" was another motto expressed that is very much in line with the spirit if what we are working towards at TIG. I was encouraged by the shared desire for classrooms to integrate an international context into the classroom.
My personal highlights were moments of one-on-one interaction with some of the very dynamic conference delegates, many who were from universities based in Italy, Palestine, Argentina, Guyana, South Africa and Latvia! I also met someone who works at an oil company and focuses on their education initiatives, as well as colleagues from Microsoft, Arab Foundation Forum and Qatar Foundation International. The best part of all was attending sessions with Jenny Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Council for Educational Leaders who we have been working with for years. It was fun to spend time with another 'Jen' who also has a lot of energy and knows a lot of people! The two of us were referred to by some as the 'Jen-erators' because of the wave of ideas we generate together!
Key Conclusions from the conference in Doha are as follows:
1) Access to “quality” education
2) A fully integrated approach
3) Global citizenship
4) Education embedded in the local community
5) Protecting education and educators
6) Reconciliation
7) “WISE pioneers” to monitor progress
8) Innovating new ways to learn
9) Pursuing sustainable development
10) A future built on multi-stakeholder partnerships
As soon as the WISE Conference was over, I headed off to Dubai to take part in the World Economic Forum Summit on the Global Agenda! http://www.weforum.org/en/events/SummitontheGlobalAgenda2009 The Summit brought together over 700 experts and thought leaders from business, academia, civil society and government putting forward their ideas. "This is really the blueprint of the future direction of the global well-being," said Summit Co-Chair Mohamed Alabbar in the closing plenary. As part of this Summit, 76 Global Agenda Councils convened and developed solutions to some of the world's most pressing issues that will then be considered at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
I was invited to take on a few roles within the process, and learned a great deal through my participation!
YGL Education and Youth Cluster Focal Point
Earlier this year, together with Nancy Lublin from Do Something, I co-developed the Youth Task Force as an initiative of the Young Global Leaders (YGL) which emerged from a meeting we hosted in Jordan at the YGL Meeting. The overall objective of our Task Force is to include the voices of youth (under the age of 25) in the Global Redesign Initiative. We launched a website for online discussions (http://taskforce.tigweb.org/ygl_youth/) as well as a facilitators guide for Town Hall meetings that YGLs are organizing in over 14 countries (http://taskforce.tigweb.org/ygl_youth/wiki/)
Given my active role with this effort, I was also asked to be the focal point for the overall Education and Youth Cluster, involving other initiatives with a similar focus. While in Dubai I had an opportunity to present the progress with our efforts, solicit feedback and generate further momentum. Two additional Task Forces were also formed, one on entrepreneurship education and the other on conflict negotiation education.
It was inspiring to learn about other YGL Task Force initiatives and the insightful approaches people are taking to systems change.
Education Systems Council
As part of the official Global Agenda Council, I joined the group on Education Systems. My particular inputs focused on the need for education to become more student-centered and driven by the natural curiosities and capabilities of each learner. It is quite challenging to think about how systems and policies at the macro level can become so customized and tailored, though I believe that if we combine this approach with utilizing innovative technologies, innovative solutions can be generated. My inputs also focused on ensuring that we provide all students with opportunities for empowerment, where they are able to transform their ideas and dreams into realities and tackle community issues.
Healthy Next Generation Council
I was also asked to join the Council on Healthy Next Generation which took a focus on how to promote healthy behaviours from an early age and prevent diseases that may arise at a later stage in life. We talked about the need for youth activists to come together with business leaders in order to form a common agenda and campaign. I felt that my participation in this group allowed me to highlight the countless examples of leadership demonstrated by youth globally on health promotion efforts and the fact that prevention programs are often most effective when they are peer-to-peer and led by youth. My major message that contributed to an important outcome of our group was the need for funding to be allocated towards youth-led initiatives.
As a Young Global Leader
Overall, my participation in these global 'agenda shaping' discussions is through my role as a selected Young Global Leader through the World Economic Forum. I want to conclude this little reflection by saying what an incredible honour and privilege it is for me to be among a group of influential individuals who participate with open minds and hearts, combined with a commitment for a better world. I feel that as I age out of my 'youth' I am starting to see a role for myself as an important 'intergenerational' link between younger voices and established leadership. I look forward to forging future connections and linkages that help to solve some of our world's complex challenges. While some days can be discouraging or perhaps daunting, momentum is carried forward when active minds converge and convene with a common vision and sense of hope.
