7 Feb 2022

The Futures of Higher Education was the focus of the International UNESCO Chairs Forum held on the International Day of Education. The event, organized by UNESCO and Italy, was transmitted from the stage of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to an online audience. UNESCO Chairholders and UNITWIN Network Coordinators from all world regions shared their insights and perspectives, especially on the topics of skills development and digitalization.

Referring to the report Reimagining our Futures Together, from the International Commission on the Futures of Education, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education, Ms. Stefania Giannini, recalled that humanity faces a stark choice either to ‘continue on an unsustainable path or to radically change course’. Dr Ahamd Al-Yahaey, of the Ministry of Education, United Arab Emirates, said that the report, ‘set the right foundation for us to…reimagine how higher education would fit the context of the future’. H.E. Patrizio Bianchi, Minister of Education, Italy, said the Covid crisis had created the need ‘to connect minds and reconnect people, to create solid networks’.