Education systems transformation symposium

In response to the global crisis in education, thousands of education actors from around the world came together for the Transforming Education Summit during the U.N. General Assembly this past September to discuss systemic issues of equity, inclusion, quality, and relevance. From climate emergencies to the rise of fake news to public health crises, education systems must not only equip the next generation with the skills needed to read, write, and count, but to actively problem-solve and think creatively in today’s rapidly changing world. To help reach Sustainable Development Goal 4, it is essential to transform education systems to meet the needs of today’s learners and deliver a breadth of skills equitably to all children.

The Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings hosted a symposium on education systems transformation on Friday, February 17 at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. As a celebration of its 20th anniversary, the center launched its new 10-year strategy focusing on systems transformation for holistic education, locally defined priorities, and collaboration in bringing research to practice across education ecosystems. The event explored some of the false dichotomies that often characterize education systems transformation—foundational versus holistic learning, local versus global focus, and policy versus practice—and examined the critical role of systems transformation across CUE’s and partners’ diverse work portfolios.

The opening and closing sessions were livestreamed for remote audiences.

The rest of the event featured interactive in-person sessions and ample networking time as we work and learn together about transforming systems. Breakout workshops explored connections between system transformation and core research priorities: gender-transformative education, family and school collaboration, scaling interventions, and cost and real-time data for outcomes. Roundtable sessions unpacked emerging areas of study including artificial intelligence and the future of education, innovative pedagogies, and climate education. The closing session featured an important announcement about how local civil society organizations can join CUE in co-designing a research agenda for systems transformation—and the requirements and benefits of doing so.

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