About

In 2022, world leaders, young people, and other civil society members met for the United Nations Transforming Education Summit. Since then, there have been encouraging signs, in terms of dialogue, engagement and intention, from a diverse range of countries that are pursuing system transformation. This represents an important shift away from a focus on reform or incremental improvement. However, to stop and reverse unsustainable economic, ecological, and social developments, including inequality, climate change, societal divisions, and learning poverty, we need transformed education systems.

Yet, while there is strong rhetoric and signs of reality, as many countries and contexts are in the initial stages, efforts must be nurtured and supported by a global ecosystem that offers space and time for collective learning. The Salzburg Global Center for Education Transformation, together with its partners, is shaping an opportunity to deepen the global dialogue and accelerate action to transform education, and specifically to enable intergenerational leadership and collaboration.

The 2023 program will act as Year 0 and set up a continuous learning loop for what is anticipated to become an annual initiative from 2024 to 2026. It will be designed around the overarching framework of the three drivers for transforming education systems - purpose, power, and practice, exploring their application in different contexts. A set of specific learning questions will be co-created with partners and participants and efforts will be made to ensure participants can build a sense of ownership of both content and process and be well-prepared to contribute meaningfully.