Education World Forum Conversations

Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills, OECD

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 10:52:09 +0000

In this kick-off episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò speaks with Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills. They explore how education must evolve in an AI-driven world, where soft skills become essential, learning is lifelong, and academic and vocational paths converge. Andreas highlights the need to keep humanity and values at the heart of learning and celebrates educators’ passion and resilience, and emphasise the value of the Education World Forum as a platform for genuine dialogue between ministers and key stakeholders.

Kristina Kallas, Minister of Education and Research, Estonia

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:27:53 +0000

In this episode, Kristina Kallas, Estonia’s Minister of Education and Research, joins EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifiro to discuss the country’s education priorities and the policies driving them. She highlights the AI Leap initiative, which expands AI access for teachers and students and stresses the need for strong teacher training and bottom-up adoption. The conversation also covers recent reforms designed to improve students’ readiness for further education and the labour market, including extending compulsory schooling to age 18 and introducing an applied upper-secondary track. Kallas also underscores the value of EWF as a platform for exchanging insights with countries beyond Estonia’s usual networks.

Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation, Hungary

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 05:37:14 +0000

In the latest EWF Conversations episode, Fabrizio Trifirò speaks with Balázs Hankó, Hungary’s Minister of Culture and Innovation, about Hungary’s education priorities, reforms, and global challenges. Minister Hankó highlights the need to shift education from theory to practice, noting Hungary’s major VET reform introducing dual training. While global trends shape education, he argues that you need local answers, rooted in each nation’s cultural identity. If he could enact one bold global change, it would be fostering respect for different cultures and histories. He also reflects on the value of the Education World Forum in bringing together the global education ecosystem across all continents.

Yevhen Kudriavets, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Ukraine

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:46:45 +0000

In this episode, Yevhen Kudriavets, Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister of Education and Science, discusses the immense challenges the war has created for the country’s education system. He outlines the strategies that have enabled schools to operate amid disruption and ongoing security threats, and highlights initiatives to modernise the VET sector and strengthen preschool provision. Deputy Minister Kudriavets also reflects on the value of the Education World Forum as a platform for global exchange and cooperation, and shares his perspective on the unique responsibilities and pressures facing an education minister in wartime.

Anders Adlercreutz, Minister of Education, Finland

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:53:03 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò speaks with Finland’s Minister of Education, Anders Adlercreutz, about the key challenges and priorities shaping Finland’s education system, and their relevance for global education. Minister Adlercreutz reflects on the need to better support students navigating an increasingly digital world that places growing pressure on attention and wellbeing. He discusses recent reforms in Finland, including increased primary lesson hours for reading and writing, and the decision to restrict mobile phone use in classrooms to strengthen focus and social interaction. The conversation also explores Finland’s Competency Path, a digital service supporting lifelong learning through micro-credentials, the country’s human-centred approach to AI in education, and Finland continued commitment to equality in education and a highly qualified teaching workforce.

Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Kazakhstan

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:10:18 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò speaks with Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, about the key challenges and strategic priorities shaping the country’s education system today. Minister Nurbek discusses how Kazakhstan’s demographic growth is placing pressure on the system to expand capacity while maintaining quality, and outlines efforts to position the country as a regional education hub by attracting leading international universities and adopting global quality assurance frameworks. The conversation also explores Kazakhstan’s response to AI through the AI Sana programme, which makes AI training compulsory for all higher education students as part of a shift from AI consumers to AI creators.

Soon Joo Gog, Centre for Skills First Practices, Singapore University of Social Sciences

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:22:40 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò speaks with Soon Joo Gog, Fellow at the Centre for Skills First Practices and former Chief Skills Officer at SkillsFuture Singapore. The conversation offers a deep dive into how Singapore is reshaping its education and training ecosystem to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. The discussion opens with reflections on the SkillsFuture movement, launched in 2015 to ensure that everyone can benefit from economic growth by supporting a constantly evolving workforce. It then explores what it truly means to build a skills-first society, highlighting the critical role of employers in understanding how technology reshapes tasks and roles. The episode concludes with reflections on AI and lifelong learning, and what these shifts mean for the future of work and education

Stefania Giannini, Assistant-Director General Education, UNESCO

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:21:56 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO and former Italian Minister of Education. Stefania reflects on UNESCO’s origins and its enduring mission to advance peace through education. Marking International Education Day, the discussion highlights the importance of placing young people at the centre of education policy and keeping education high on the global political agenda. Stefania reflects on the critical challenges for achieving SDG4 targets related to access, quality, and relevance, and emphasises the urgent need for increased investment in education, particularly to address the global teacher shortage. Stefania also reflects on the role of multilateral cooperation, the implications of AI for teaching and learning, and the need to rethink global education priorities beyond SDG4 toward a renewed, future-oriented global education narrative.

Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education, South Africa

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:54:35 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education of South Africa. Minister Gwarube reflects on the importance to reorient the national education system toward the foundations of learning and the priorities of South Africa’s G20 presidency, highlighting early childhood care and teacher professional development, She reflects on the critical challenges posed by limited funding for education, the value of EWF as a platform for sharing experiences and solutions, and the necessity for culturally sensitive international benchmarking. Minister Gwarube concludes by advocating for a systemic approach that integrates skills development and views education as a vital economic investment supporting children from birth to adulthood

Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, United Kingdom

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:30:33 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, UK Minister for Skills and Minister for Women and Equalities. Minister Smith reflects on the importance of addressing persistent skills gaps in the economy and the priority of tackling youth unemployment, highlighting the opportunities for widening access to education and training opened-up by the Lifelong Learning Entitlement. She reflects on the critical challenges posed by the financial sustainability of the higher education sector and initiatives are being put in place to support the sector, as well as the historical low status associated with vocational routes which the development of technical excellence colleges aim to address. Minister Smith also outlines the main ambitions behind the newly launched International Education Strategy and emphasise the value of EWF as a platform for sharing information and ideas with international colleagues. She concludes by advocating for a lifelong approach to education that builds the structures and finance necessary to enable people to upskill and learn throughout their lives.

Mercedes Miguel, Minister of Education of Buenos Aires

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:09:24 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Mercedes Miguel, Minister of Education of Buenos Aires and former National Secretary for Innovation and Educational Quality, Mercedes reflects on the "Secondary Learns" reform for Buenos Aires, and its mission to improve literacy, numeracy, and student well-being, with a view to transitioning students from passive participants to active learners through reorganized teacher roles and classroom cell phone bans. Mercedes reflects on the critical challenges of transforming an obsolete system, the value of global cooperation, the implications of AI, and the necessity of prioritizing social-emotional skills to foster a lifelong love for learning.

Luis Benveniste, Senior Advisor Education and Skills, World Bank

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 14:41:20 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Luis Benveniste, Senior Advisor and Acting Global Director of Education at the World Bank. Benveniste reflects on the global learning crisis and the necessity of prioritizing foundational literacy and numeracy to bridge the skills gap currently hindering youth employment and economic growth. He addresses the critical challenge of tight fiscal environments, advocating for innovative results-based financing and the protection of education budgets. He highlights the value of EWF for sharing evidence-based solutions and the opportunities presented by digital technologies like AI. Benveniste concludes by advocating for making foundational learning by grade three a non-negotiable national target to ensure education translates into productive careers and life-long fulfilment

Laura Frigenti, CEO, Global Partnership for Education

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Laura Frigenti, CEO of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the largest fund exclusively dedicated to financing the education sector. Laura provides an overview of GPE and how it operates, and reflects on the double challenge facing low income countries of addressing niversal enrollment and foundational skills while simultaneously adapting to a labor market changing at an unprecedented speed. She also reflects on the current international financial landscape highlighting the potential of innovative financing approaches. She concludes by advocating for a lifelong learning model that facilitates a smoother transition from school to jobs.

Charles Clarke, former UK Secretary of State for Education and Skills

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:03:04 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Charles Clarke, former UK Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the ideator of the Education World Forum. Clarke reflects on the original vision of EWF as a platform for ministers to collectively address the challenges of transforming education and its evolution into a significant global gathering. He highlights the critical importance of high-quality early childhood education to build foundational confidence and the necessity for continuous teacher professional development. He further discusses the need for proactive engagement with artificial intelligence to equip children for a tech-dominated world, and the political complexities of education reform. Clarke concludes by emphasizing the value of international dialogue and integrated tertiary education in enabling students to contribute meaningfully to the wider society and economy.

Nick Gibb, Former Minister for Schools, United Kingdom

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:43:11 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò speaks with Nick Gibb, former UK Minister of State for Schools. Nick reflects on his decade in office and the drive to shift the national education system toward an evidence-informed, knowledge-rich curriculum, underscoring the impact of direct instruction. He discusses the challenge of confronting entrenched ideologies that favour student-centred and competency-based models of teaching and learning, and highlights the success of pairing greater school autonomy with strong accountability frameworks. Nick also considers the value of EWF as a distinctive platform for fostering ministerial relationships and advancing policy dialogue, and concludes by calling for a renewed global commitment to foundational literacy, arguing that ensuring every child can read by age ten is both an urgent and achievable priority for the international community.

Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Armenia

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 06:57:54 +0000

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia. Minister Andreasyan reflects on the comprehensive reforms within Armenia’s 2030 Education Strategy, highlighting the transition toward a competency-based curriculum, significant investments in school infrastructure, and the expansion of pre-school accessibility. She reflects on the challenges posed by technological developments like AI, the necessity of supporting teacher well-being, and the value of EWF as a vital platform for global solidarity and sharing research-driven solutions. Minister Andreasyan concludes by advocating for education as a fundamental public good and emphasizing the importance of ensuring the right to education for every child worldwide

Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sierra Leone

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:01:00 +0100

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education of Sierra Leone. Minister Wurie reflects on the challenge of managing rapidly expanding access while simultaneously improving the quality and relevance of the education system, highlighting the modernization of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and initiatives aimed at establishing a parity of esteem for technical and academic pathways and empower young people as productive job creators. She discusses the findings of the recent national education sector review, the necessity of gender inclusivity in historically male-dominated fields, and the value of EWF for fostering international partnerships, sharing examples of initiatives implemented in Sierra Leone following partnerships established at EWF.

Manos Antoninis, Director of the Global Education Monitoring Report, UNESCO

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:55:16 +0100

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Manos Antoninis, Director of the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report at UNESCO. Antoninis reflects on the history of the GEM Report and on the main findings of the first report in the "Countdown to 2030" series. He highlights the paradox of rising out-of-school populations alongside improving completion rates, driven by a dramatic decline in repetition rates within education systems, and emphasizes the necessity of equitable financing, noting that fewer than one in ten countries currently have a strong equity focus in their education spending. He discusses the methodological challenges of collecting quality data to inform international benchmarking and the importance of focusing on "what matters", such as values and justice, over quick-fix solutions.

Stella Christie, Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Indonesia

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:17:59 +0100

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Stella Christie, Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia. Vice Minister Christie reflects on the challenge of cultivating a robust research culture in a system traditionally focused on teaching, highlighting a strategic three-prong approach involving popularizing science through social media and a significant increase in research funding aimed at driving innovation and economic growth. She discusses the complexities of maintaining educational quality during rapid institutional expansion, the strategic role of Transnational Education (TNE) and special economic zones in driving standards, and the implementation of the Garuda High School initiative designed to bridge socioeconomic gaps and empower talented youth from across the Indonesian archipelago.

Jonathan Dewsbury, former Director for Education Estates and Net Zero, DfE, England and Eliska Gooch, Youth Sustainability Champion

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:46:47 +0100

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Jonathan Dewsbury, former Director for Education Estates and Net Zero at the Department for Education (DfE) in England, and Eliska Gooch a Youth Sustainability Champion. Jonathan reflects on the strategic integration of environmental stewardship within the UK education system, highlighting how the DfE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy aims to embed sustainability across the curriculum, careers, and the physical education estate to prepare for a net-zero economy. He discusses the success of the National Education Nature Park in reconnecting learners with nature and the Climate Ambassadors Network’s unique approach to providing schools with expert-led, technical support for climate action planning. Eliska explores the transformative role of youth voice in policy-making, acting as a bridge between students and government ministers to ensure climate education is both meaningful and empowering, sharing her experience as a Youth Sustainability Champion

Dana Morris Dixon, Minister for Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Jamaica

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:46:52 +0100

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Dana Morris Dixon, Minister for Education, Skills, Youth and Information of Jamaica. Minister Morris Dixon reflects on the challenge of building systemic resilience against climate change following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa while navigating the rapid evolution of AI, highlighting the modernization of technical high schools and initiatives aimed at integrating STEAM methodology across the curriculum to empower young people as producers of technology rather than just consumers. She discusses the critical prioritization of early childhood education to establish a strong foundation, the implementation of the National School Nutrition Policy to support students from food-insecure households, and the value of EWF for fostering international dialogue and sharing lessons from global peers to avoid "reinventing the wheel"

Pia Britto, Global Director of Education, UNICEF

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:12:57 +0100

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Pia Britto, UNICEF Global Director of Education. Britto reflects on the challenge of a global education crisis where three-quarters of children are being failed, highlighting a typology of learning failures, denied, disrupted, and delayed, and initiatives aimed at establishing a "future ready" model centered on equity and 21st-century skills. She discusses the findings of UNICEF’s work across 144 countries, the necessity of gender inclusivity through digital and STEM skills, and the impact of human-centered AI. Finally, she explores the value of EWF for fostering international partnerships, sharing examples of how the forum facilitates collective action and turns global dialogue into practical results for the most marginalized children.

Amel Karboul, CEO Education Outcomes Fund & Eunice Ogolo, Director of Girl Capital Africa. Children's Investment Fund Foundation

Thu, 14 May 2026 06:22:53 +0100

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Amel Karboul Amel Karboul, CEO of the Education Outcomes Fund (EOF), and Eunice Ogolo Director of Girls Capital Africa at the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). This is the first in a series of 4 episodes sponsored by EOF to explore how innovative financing is reshaping education and skills systems at a time of fiscal constraints. This first episode sets the context by highlighting the shift toward outcome-based financing and initiatives aimed at aligning incentives around verified results to empower children and young people as they transition into the labor market. Amel and Eunice discuss the evidence of success from impactful programs in India and Sierra Leone, the necessity of building internal government capacity for sophisticated "financial engineering," share examples of how system-wide accountability can ensure children actually learn, and reflect on the challenge of managing shrinking fiscal space and rising debt while simultaneously improving the quality and effectiveness of foundational learning,

Christian Brändli, Head of Private Sector Development, SECO & Daniel Uribe, Executive Director, Fundación Corona, Colombia

Tue, 26 May 2026 10:26:59 +0100

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Christian Brändli Head of Private Sector Development at the Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs (SECO), and Daniel Uribe, Director at Fundación Corona Colombia,. This is the second in a series of 4 episodes sponsored by EOF to explore how innovative financing is reshaping education and skills systems at a time of fiscal constraints.

This second episode focuses on linking financing to employment outcomes, specifically looking at how governments can ensure skills development translates into real-world jobs as labor markets evolve. Christian and Daniel discuss the mismatch between private sector demand and current education supply, the necessity of building internal government capacity to transition from paying for inputs to paying for verified employment results, and share examples of success from impactful programs in Colombia, South Africa, and Morocco. They also reflect on the challenge of using data to track job placement and retention while simultaneously advocating for flexible, micro-credentialed learning pathways to better align with the rapid pace of the modern market