GWI CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION
GWI celebrated International Day of Education 2026 on 24 January 2026, aligned with the theme, “AI and education: preserving human agency in an automated world.” There are eight key education trends shaping learning systems globally, from competency-based learning and micro-credentials to AI-enabled personalised learning and employer, education cocreation models. Grounded in evidence from UNESCO, the World Bank and other international bodies, presents a concise framework for understanding system-level shifts in education across diverse contexts.
To further explore these themes, GWI’s Young Members Network (YMN) launched its 2026 Connect & Grow Monthly Conversation Series on the occasion of International Day of Education. The first session, “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education,” took place on 24 January 2026, moderated by Sudha Srivastava, President of GWI YMN, with spotlight speaker Menna Mohamed (Graduate Women New Zealand), who addressed “More Than Technology: Why Leadership and Identity Matter for Sustainable Change.” The discussion highlighted the critical role of young women’s leadership in shaping inclusive, human-centred education systems in an increasingly automated world. In parallel, GWI Vice-President Education Dr. Shirley Gillett marked the day with a personal reflective essay on education as a lifelong, culturally embedded and transformative process. Drawing on her experience as an educator across diverse contexts, Dr. Gillett reflects on the enduring influence of educational philosophy, the central role of teachers, cultural perspectives on learning, and the opportunities and challenges presented by AI. Her contribution powerfully aligns with GWI’s core value of empowering women through lifelong learning.