International Forum on the Futures of Education
IAU at the International Forum on the Futures of Education in Suwon, Republic of Korea
From 2–4 December 2024, UNESCO convened the International Forum on the Futures of Education in Suwon, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea. The event brought together policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and international organizations to reflect on how education can be reimagined to build more sustainable, inclusive, and just societies. Central to the discussions was UNESCO’s call to renew the social contract for education.
IAU’s Contribution
Secretary General Hilligje van’t Land took part in the forum and was invited as a speaker in the workshop on “Futures of Higher Education.”
The session brought together diverse voices from government, academia, and civil society, including:
H.E. Mr. Seringe Mbaye Thiam, former Minister for Higher Education of Senegal and member of UNESCO’s International Commission on the Futures of Education
Buhm Soon Park, Professor and Director of the Center for Anthropocene Studies at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Sofía Bermúdez, Founder and Director of One Generation and member of the UNESCO SDG 4 Youth & Student Network
The discussion was moderated by Bosen Lily Liu from UNESCO’s International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC), with opening remarks from Farida Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education.
Reflecting on the session, Dr. van’t Land emphasized:
“During the conference, we discussed how a new social contract is needed; what futures of education to envisage; and what national and international perspectives to compare.”
This year’s forum was an important moment for UNESCO Member States and the international community to explore the future of education in a rapidly changing world. Higher education, in particular, plays a vital role in preparing individuals and societies to address pressing global challenges, from climate change to social inequality.
By engaging in these forward-looking discussions, IAU reaffirms its commitment to supporting higher education institutions worldwide in shaping the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for the futures we collectively envision.
