As part of the 2024 International Education Week, the George Washington University (GW) community came together to celebrate a decade of transformative engagement in the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs program. The virtual event featured a distinguished panel of international education leaders who reflected on past achievements and explored pathways for shaping the future of educational transformation in a globalized era.
The event opened with remarks by Dr. James Williams, Professor of International Education and International Affairs at GW and a driving force behind the university’s UNESCO Chair initiatives. Dr. Williams highlighted the enduring mission of the GW UNESCO Chair in International Education for Development, which was established in September 2014. The Chair focuses on building capacity among future international educators, convening global stakeholders, and advancing research sustainability through its two faculty-led labs: The Refugee Educational Advancement Laboratory (REAL) and the GW Global Education Lab.
The panel discussion, "Shaping The Futures of Educational Transformation," moderated by Dr. Laura Engel, Professor of International Education and International Affairs at GW, brought together experts from around the globe. Panelists included Cecilia Barbieri, Chief of Section for Global Citizenship and Peace Education at UNESCO Paris; Dr. Noah W. Sobe, Chief of Section for Higher Education at UNESCO Paris; and Dr. Mirian Vilela, Executive Director of Earth Charter International Secretariat and UNESCO Chair in Education for Sustainable Development.
In addition to reflecting back on the last 10 years, the webinar focused on charting a new course for the next decade of the GW UNESCO Chair, to be led by incoming Chairholder, Dr. Laura Engel.
The dialogue examined pressing global challenges and opportunities in education, including those related to sustainability and peacebuilding, while emphasizing the critical role of international engagement and collaboration. Panelists shared insights on the evolving priorities of UNESCO and strategies for leveraging educational transformation as a tool for fostering sustainable development.
The GW UNESCO Chair in International Education for Development has spent the last decade nurturing the next generation of global educators, convening policymakers, practitioners, and scholars, and spearheading research initiatives with local, national, and international impact. This milestone celebration underscored GW’s commitment to being a leader in international education and a partner in creating a more just and sustainable world.
As International Education Week concluded, attendees left the event inspired by the shared vision of educational transformation and the renewed determination to address global challenges through innovative and collaborative approaches.
Watch a recording of the event: