Education World Forum Conversations
Education & Explainer
About
The Education World Forum (EWF) is the world’s largest annual gathering of education and skills ministers. It offers a trusted, invitation-only platform for peer-to-peer dialogue, where ministers and their teams can share insights, address common challenges, and shape solutions with candour and collaboration. The EWF Podcast extends these conversations beyond the Forum itself, engaging the wider international education community throughout the year. Featuring ministers, former ministers, and senior leaders from ministries, multilateral organisations, civil society, foundations, and industry, the series offers fresh perspectives on the critical issues shaping the future of education worldwide.
Episodes
- Pia Britto, Global Director of Education, UNICEF
In this episode of EWF Conversations, Pia Britto, UNICEF Global Director of Education, discusses the global education crisis and initiatives for a "future ready" model. She shares findings from UNICEF’s work across 144 countries, emphasizi…
- Dana Morris Dixon, Minister for Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Jamaica
In this episode, Dana Morris Dixon, Minister for Education, Skills, Youth and Information of Jamaica, discusses building systemic resilience against climate change and navigating the rapid evolution of AI. She highlights the modernization…
- Jonathan Dewsbury, former Director for Education Estates and Net Zero, DfE, England and Eliska Gooch, Youth Sustainability Champion
Jonathan Dewsbury and Eliska Gooch discuss the UK's approach to integrating sustainability into education, including the DfE's strategy, the National Education Nature Park, and the role of youth voices in policy. They cover curriculum inte…
- Stella Christie, Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Indonesia
Fabrizio Trifirò interviews Indonesian Vice Minister Stella Christie about fostering research culture, maintaining educational quality amid expansion, the role of Transnational Education, and the Garuda High School initiative.
- Manos Antoninis, Director of the Global Education Monitoring Report, UNESCO
Manos Antoninis, Director of the GEM Report, reflects on the report's history and findings, including the paradox of rising out-of-school populations alongside improving completion rates. He emphasizes the need for equitable financing and…
- Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sierra Leone
Minister Haja Ramatulai Wurie of Sierra Leone speaks with Fabrizio Trifirò about managing educational expansion, improving quality, and modernizing TVET. She also addresses gender inclusivity and the role of international partnerships, cit…
- Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Armenia
Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia, discusses the nation's 2030 Education Strategy, focusing on curriculum reform, infrastructure, and pre-school access. She also touches on AI challenges, teac…
- Nick Gibb, Former Minister for Schools, United Kingdom
Nick Gibb, former UK Minister of State for Schools, reflects on his time in office, discussing the shift towards an evidence-informed, knowledge-rich curriculum and the importance of direct instruction. He also highlights the success of sc…
- Charles Clarke, former UK Secretary of State for Education and Skills
Former UK Secretary of State for Education Charles Clarke discusses the Education World Forum's origins and growth, highlighting the importance of early childhood education, teacher professional development, and adapting to an AI-driven wo…
- Laura Frigenti, CEO, Global Partnership for Education
Laura Frigenti, CEO of the Global Partnership for Education, explains GPE's operations and the challenges of universal enrollment, foundational skills, and adapting to a rapidly changing labor market in low-income countries. She also highl…
- Luis Benveniste, Senior Advisor Education and Skills, World Bank
Fabrizio Trifirò interviews Luis Benveniste of the World Bank about the global learning crisis. Benveniste emphasizes foundational literacy, skills gaps, innovative financing, and digital technologies like AI, advocating for foundational l…
- Mercedes Miguel, Minister of Education of Buenos Aires
Mercedes Miguel, Minister of Education of Buenos Aires, discusses the "Secondary Learns" reform aimed at improving literacy, numeracy, and student well-being. The conversation also touches on challenges in educational transformation, globa…
- Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, United Kingdom
Jacqui Smith, UK Minister for Skills, discusses the need to address skills gaps and youth unemployment. She highlights the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, challenges in higher education funding, and the aims of the International Education S…
- Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education, South Africa
Siviwe Gwarube, South Africa's Minister of Basic Education, spoke with Fabrizio Trifirò about the need to refocus education on learning fundamentals and the country's G20 priorities, including early childhood care and teacher development.…
- Stefania Giannini, Assistant-Director General Education, UNESCO
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Education, reflects on the organization's mission, SDG4 targets, and the impact of AI. The conversation emphasizes prioritizing youth in education policy, increasing investment, an…
- Soon Joo Gog, Centre for Skills First Practices, Singapore University of Social Sciences
This episode features a discussion between Fabrizio Trifirò and Soon Joo Gog on Singapore's evolving education and training landscape, focusing on the SkillsFuture movement, the concept of a skills-first society, and the implications of AI…
- Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Kazakhstan
Minister Sayasat Nurbek discusses Kazakhstan's education system challenges, including demographic growth and quality maintenance. The conversation covers plans to become a regional education hub and the AI Sana program, making AI training…
- Anders Adlercreutz, Minister of Education, Finland
Finland
- Yevhen Kudriavets, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Ukraine
Yevhen Kudriavets, Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister of Education and Science, details the educational challenges posed by the war, operational strategies during disruption, and modernization efforts for the VET sector and preschools.
- Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation, Hungary
Balázs Hankó, Hungary's Minister of Culture and Innovation, discusses the nation's education priorities and reforms, emphasizing a shift towards practical, dual training. He stresses the importance of local solutions to global educational…
- Kristina Kallas, Minister of Education and Research, Estonia
Estonia’s Minister of Education Kristina Kallas discussed the nation's education priorities, including the AI Leap initiative and reforms for student readiness, with EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifiro. She emphasized teacher training…
- Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills, OECD
In the first episode of EWF Conversations, Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills, joins Fabrizio Trifirò to discuss how education needs to adapt for an AI-driven future. Key themes include the growing importance of sof…