Congress Information
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Welcome
Welcome to the 2024 UWC International Congress, an opportunity not just to celebrate our past achievements, but also to chart the course for UWC’s future. Under the guiding ethos of the UWC mission, we are committed to reimagining our educational model to address the evolving needs of our time. With Education as a Force as our central theme, we seek to explore innovative ways to harness the power of education to drive positive change globally.
Numerous workshops, plenary sessions and discussions will offer a platform for aligning our priorities, energising our ambition, fostering partnerships and developing shared solutions to common challenges. Central to our discussions will be a thorough exploration of the role of education in shaping a more peaceful and sustainable future. We'll explore how the UWC educational model can be adapted to meet the diverse needs of today's learners, equipping them with the skills, knowledge and values essential for navigating an increasingly complex world.
As we look to the future, it's clear that collaboration will be key. By bringing together representatives from across the UWC movement and like-minded global educational organisations, we aim to promote greater cohesion and collaboration in shaping the direction of global education.
We warmly welcome all participants and eagerly anticipate meaningful discussions that will influence the future of education and contribute to fostering a more peaceful and sustainable world.
Dr Musimbi Kanyoro Chair of the UWC International Board |
Dr Quique Bassat Chair of the UWC International Council |
Faith Abiodun Executive Director of UWC International |
Congress Programme
- About the 2024 UWC International Congress
- CAMPUS MAP
- Congress programme
- Congress Tracks
- Speakers
- Plenaries
About the 2024 UWC International Congress
The 2024 UWC International Congress (29 February - 2 March 2024) marks a special milestone for the UWC movement, as it represents the culminating event of UWC’s 60th anniversary year of celebrations. This is also the first ever hybrid UWC Congress, offering the opportunity for even greater participation across the UWC community, with more than 450 attendees expected in-person in Phuket, Thailand, and many more participating virtually.
Building up to the 2024 Congress, members of the UWC movement and partners from global educational organisations have engaged in a series of pre-Congress workshops and plenary sessions held between September 2023 and February 2024.
All Congress sessions are being held at the UWC Thailand campus for in-person delegates and on the official Congress app for online delegates.
The theme of the 2024 UWC International Congress is Education as a Force, adapted from the UWC mission statement - “...to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.”
CAMPUS MAP
Congress programme
Thursday, 29 February
Time | Activity |
---|---|
06:30 - 08:00 |
Breakfast |
09:30 - 16:00 |
UWC International Council Meeting (Thanyapura) |
09:00 - 16:00 |
Registration (Angsana Laguna Phuket & Thanyapura) |
12:00 - 13:45 |
Lunch (Angsana Laguna Phuket & Thanyapura) |
14:00 - 16:00 |
Hotel check in (Thanyapura) |
15:00 - 16:45 |
Hotel check in (Angsana Laguna Phuket) |
16:30 - 17:00 |
Travel to Xana Beach (for delegates staying at Thanyapura) |
17:00 - 19:00 |
Welcome Reception/Cocktails (Xana Beach) |
19:00 - 21:00 |
Dinner (Xana Beach) |
21:00 - 21:30 |
Travel to Thanyapura (for delegates staying at Thanyapura) |
Friday, 1 March
Time | Activity |
---|---|
05:30 - 07:30 |
Optional: Morning kayak, hike, beach walk or mindfulness session (signup required) |
06:30 - 07:45 | Breakfast |
07:30 - 09:00 | Travel to UWC Thailand (shuttle buses departing at 07:30 and 08:00) |
08:00 - 09:00 | UWC Thailand campus tours |
09:00 - 09:30 | Transition time |
09:30 - 10:45 | Opening Plenary Session |
10:45 - 11:00 | Transition time |
11:00 - 12:15 | Breakout Session 1 |
12:15 - 13:15 | Lunch |
12:30 - 13:15 | Schools and Colleges Fair |
13:15 - 13:30 | Transition time |
13:30 - 14:00 | Workshops 1 |
14:00 - 14:15 | Transition time |
14:15 - 14:45 | Workshops 2 |
14:45 - 15:00 | Transition time |
15:00 - 16:00 | Afternoon Plenary Session |
16:00 - 19:00 | Intercultural Day at UWC Thailand |
19:00 - 20:00 | Travel to Angsana (for delegates staying at Angsana Laguna Phuket) |
19:30 | Self-directed evening in Phuket |
Saturday, 2 March
Time | Activity |
---|---|
05:30 - 07:30 |
Optional: Morning kayak, hike, beach walk or mindfulness session (signup required) |
06:30 - 07:45 | Breakfast |
07:30 - 09:00 | Travel to UWC Thailand (shuttle buses departing at 07:30 and 08:00) |
08:00 - 09:00 | UWC Thailand campus tours |
09:00 - 09:30 | Transition time |
09:30 - 10:45 | Opening Plenary Session |
10:45 - 11:00 | Transition time |
11:00 - 12:15 | Breakout Session 1 |
12:15 - 13:15 | Lunch |
12:30 - 13:30 | Student Projects Showcase |
13:15 - 13:45 | Workshops 3 |
13:45 - 14:00 | Transition time |
14:00 - 15:15 | Breakout Session 3 |
15:15 - 15:30 | Transition time |
15:30 - 17:00 | Closing Plenary Session |
17:30 - 18:30 | Travel to Angsana Laguna Phuket (all delegates) |
19:00 - 21:30 | UWC International Congress Gala Dinner |
21:45 - 23:00 | Travel to Thanyapura (for delegates staying at Thanyapura) |
Congress Tracks
Director-General of the International Baccalaureate, Olli- Pekka Heinonen, urges that education must move beyond traditional cognitive teaching - which he terms “the head”- to include more around both the practical - “the hand” - and the profound - “the heart”. “The heart” refers to ensuring that the human element of learning and the modern world are embedded in how schools teach the next generation in the age of artificial intelligence. We need to have a better balance of the head, hand and heart for the future.
Speakers
- Mr Nadiem Makarim
- Danlan Xu
- Faith Abiodun
- Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro
- Dr Quique Bassat
- Cecilia Egan
- Khayalethu Mlotshwa
- Dr Victoria Mora
- Naheed Bardai, Principal of UWC Atlantic
- Dr Suzanne M. Rivera
- Professor Lutfey Siddiqi
- Dr Nicole Bien
- Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs
Mr Nadiem Makarim
His Excellency
Mr Nadiem Makarim (UWC SEA, 2000-2002) | KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Nadiem Makarim serves as Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia. In October 2019, he was first appointed as Minister of Education and Culture by President Joko Widodo and subsequently appointed as Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in 2021.
Under his leadership, the Ministry has launched an ambitious and comprehensive education reform movement, Merdeka Belajar (Emancipated Learning) aimed at transforming education in the country. Technology serves as one of the important leverages in the movement for enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills for Indonesia's approximately 48 million K-12 students and 9 million university students, and offering greater flexibility, autonomy and professional learning for teachers.
Prior to entering politics, Nadiem was a highly successful multi-award winning entrepreneur. In 2010, he founded GO-JEK, a leading on-demand multi-service platform which became Indonesia's first startup valued at over 10 billion USD. GO-JEK was named on Fortune's 2017 Change the World list, the only Southeast Asian company to do so and subsequently announced its international expansion into Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and The Philippines - turning Indonesia's first ever home-grown unicorn into an international technology company.
Before founding GO-JEK, Nadiem was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. He founded Young Leaders for Indonesia, a non-profit that taught leadership modules to the best university students across Indonesia to prepare them for the professional world. Nadiem was also Co-founder and Managing Director of Zalora Indonesia, which has now become Indonesia's leading online fashion site. He has consulted for numerous startups, and is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. In 2019, he was named on TIME’s 100 Next List.
Nadiem holds a BA from Brown University, an MBA from Harvard Business School and he is a proud alumnus of UWC South East Asia.
Danlan Xu
Danlan Xu (China, UWC Thailand 2022-2025) | MODERATOR
Danlan Xu, hailing from China is a current student at UWC Thailand and one of the student delegates for the UWC International Congress 2024. She is passionate about mindfulness practice and dancing, especially Thai dance, and believes that living in a diverse community with various cultures and perspectives promotes understanding and peace.
Faith Abiodun
Faith Abiodun, Executive Director of UWC International | SPEAKER
Faith Abiodun joined UWC International as Executive Director in 2021, bringing a wealth of experience from his time spent as an education and social enterprise leader, international affairs analyst, writer and speaker. Before UWC, he spent nearly a decade at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, overseeing global recruitment and founding initiatives like the ALA Model African Union. Faith's background includes journalism, founding educational institutions, and collaborating with Catalyst 2030. He holds degrees from the University of Ibadan and Syracuse University and is Vice President of the Board of Trustees for News Decoder.
Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro
Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, Chair of the UWC International Board | SPEAKER
Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, Chair of the UWC International Board since 2019, brings over three decades of leadership experience in international organisations. She has held notable positions including President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women and Director for Population and Reproductive Health at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. With a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Texas and a Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary, Musimbi has made significant contributions to research, human rights and philanthropy, earning recognition as one of the “21 Women Leaders for the 21st Century” by Women’s E-News, among other accolades.
Dr Quique Bassat
Dr Quique Bassat, Chair of the UWC International Council (UWC Atlantic 1991-1993) | MODERATOR
Dr Quique Bassat studied medicine in Barcelona and became a paediatrician, with a focus on child infections and global health. He moved to Mozambique where he conducted research on malaria and other poverty-related diseases. He has remained deeply involved in the UWC movement, not only as part of the Spanish National Committee, and has contributed to the selection of students from nine countries. Quique was voted Chair of the UWC Council in 2019 and his term started in 2020.
Cecilia Egan
Cecilia Egan, UWC Venezuela National Committee & UWC International Board (UWC Adriatic, 1995-1997) | PANELLIST
Cecilia Egan, with a background in Literature and Applied Linguistics has taught at both high school and university levels before transitioning to freelance editing and translating. Cecilia has been actively involved with the UWC Venezuelan National Committee for over 25 years. With a passion for strengthening multicultural communication, Cecilia joined the UWC International Board in January 2024, continuing her commitment to fostering understanding across diverse communities.
Khayalethu Mlotshwa
Khayalethu Mlotshwa, (eSwatini, UWC Robert Bosch College, 2022-2024) | PANELLIST
Khayalethu Mlotshwa, nominated by the UWC eSwatini National Committee, attends UWC Robert Bosch College (UWC RBC). He studied previously at St Mark's High School in Mbabane and is now a second-year student pursuing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Alongside his studies, Khayalethu actively contributes to the UWC RBC community as a peer supporter and recently led a project week named “Serve the City” in Brussels. During this project, he and his group dedicated over 20 hours to volunteering at a humanitarian hub with the Red Cross.
Dr Victoria Mora
Dr Victoria Mora, President of UWC-USA & Vice Chair of the UWC International Board | PANELLIST
Dr Victoria Mora, UWC-USA's fifth president, experienced the transformative impact of the UWC model through her child's education in Montezuma. Hailing from a large New Mexico family, she overcame socio-economic barriers to pursue higher education at the University of New Mexico and Yale University, where she earned her Ph.D. Returning to New Mexico, she held various roles at St. John's College, including Dean and Vice President, before assuming the presidency of UWC-USA in 2016.
Naheed Bardai, Principal of UWC Atlantic
Naheed Bardai, Principal of UWC Atlantic | MODERATOR
Naheed became Principal of UWC Atlantic in August 2021. Prior to this role, he served as Head of Upper School at Upper Canada College in Toronto for six years and held leadership positions at the Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa for over a decade. With degrees from Western University, the University of British Columbia, University College London and Teachers College, Columbia University, Naheed is well-equipped as a leader. Naheed is committed to fostering a more just, sustainable and peaceful world alongside the UWC Atlantic community.
Dr Suzanne M. Rivera
Dr Suzanne M. Rivera, President of Macalester College | PANELLIST
Dr Suzanne M. Rivera is Macalester College’s 17th president, bringing over 25 years of experience in higher education. With a strong commitment to social justice, inclusion and equity, she previously held leadership positions at Case Western Reserve University and UT Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Rivera is a national expert in research ethics, with particular focus on biomedical research and science policy. She also holds degrees from Brown University, the University of California-Berkeley and the University of Texas at Dallas.
Professor Lutfey Siddiqi
Professor Lutfey Siddiqi, Visiting Professor-in-Practice at the London School of Economics & Political Science | PANELLIST
Lutfey Siddiqi, a Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics, serves as an emeritus governor and advisor to various boards including The Inclusion Initiative and the Systemic Risk Centre. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Professor at the National University of Singapore, contributing to the Centre for Governance and Sustainability. Recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012, he has also served on their global future councils. Siddiqi is actively engaged in governance roles, serving on the boards of ShareAction and UWC Atlantic, among others.
Dr Nicole Bien
Dr Nicole Bien, Chief Schools Officer of the International Baccalaureate | PANELLIST
Dr. Nicole Bien, Chief Schools Officer at the International Baccalaureate (IB), oversees services for IB schools worldwide, including educator development, school authorisation and curriculum design. With a background in strategy and education advocacy, she leads initiatives to support at-risk youth and enhance curriculum quality. Dr. Bien holds a PhD in education from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Columbia University Business School, and a BA from Yale University, and has extensive international experience spanning America, Asia, Australia and Europe.
Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs
Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs | KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Jeffrey D. Sachs is a world-renowned economist, bestselling author, innovative educator and global leader in sustainable development. He is widely recognised for bold and effective strategies to address complex challenges including the escape from extreme poverty, the global battle against human-induced climate change and the control of pandemic and epidemic diseases.
He holds the rank of University Professor and serves as Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, where he also directed the Earth Institute from 2002 until 2016. He is President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Co-Chair of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition, Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development, academician of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences at the Vatican and Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Honorary Distinguished Professor at Sunway University. He has been Special Advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General and currently serves as an SDG Advocate under Secretary General António Guterres.
He spent over twenty years as a professor at Harvard University, where he received his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Sachs has received 42 honorary doctorates, and his recent awards include the 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development, the Legion of Honor by decree of the President of the Republic of France and the Order of the Cross from the President of Estonia. His most recent books are The Ages of Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions (2020) and Ethics in Action for Sustainable Development (2022).
Plenaries
Plenary Session 1
Plenary Session 2
15:00-16:00 (UTC+7) Friday, 1 March
United in Purpose: Maintaining Synergy and Momentum in the UWC Movement
The second plenary session focuses on the critical role of our 18 schools and colleges and more than 155 national committees in advancing the UWC mission around the world. This session draws insights from the unique perspectives of UWC school heads, NC volunteers and students to strengthen our commitment to working collaboratively for a shared purpose. Joined by Dr. Victoria Mora, Cecilia Egan, Khayalethu Mlotshwa, and moderated by Dr. Quique Bassat, this session will delve into topics like building integrated school communities during times of global unease, finding joy in extending opportunities to promising students from under-represented backgrounds, and imbibing the UWC values in multicultural learning environments.
Plenary Session 3
9:30-10:45 (UTC+7) Saturday, 2 March
Radical Imagination: The Audacity to Innovate
The third plenary session of the 2024 UWC International Congress will be centred on the important subject of remaking education for alternative futures and the need to embrace our responsibility to continually innovate in times of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. In this session, we will interrogate the reality and the challenge of educating for peace and a sustainable future in a world where both ideals often seem beyond reach. Join Dr Suzanne Rivera, President of Macalester College; Professor Lutfey Siddiqi, Visiting Professor-in- Practice at the London School of Economics and Political Science; and Dr Nicole Bien, Chief Schools Officer of the International Baccalaureate in a session moderated by Naheed Bardai, Principal of UWC Atlantic.
Plenary Session 4
15:30-17:00 (UTC+7) Saturday, 2 March
Ripples of Action: From Potential to Impact
The fourth and final plenary session of the 2024 UWC International Congress will bring the curtain down on an exceptional series of workshops, discussions and seminars spanning six months as we renew our focus on the UWC mission and express our commitment to moving from potential to impact. In this session, participants across all five Congress tracks will share key components of their deliberations as well as their resolutions for shaping the future of education in UWC and beyond.
As we embrace our responsibility to contribute towards shaping a world characterised by peace and sustainability, we will be spurred on by a powerful closing keynote address from Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, USA, whose insights and leadership have been influential in shaping much of the global development agenda for decades. We will be reminded of our individual and collective agency to transform local and global spaces. We will be encouraged to take actions, great and small, knowing that our influence will ripple out into communities across the world. We will launch out with boldness to maximise every opportunity to ensure that today’s emerging leaders receive the education that equips them to thrive and make a difference wherever they go. And we will continue to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.