IAFOR > The Paris Conference on Education (PCE) > PCE2025 > Programme

Programme

Speakers at The Paris Conference on Education (PCE) will provide a variety of perspectives from different academic and professional backgrounds. This page provides details of presentations and other programming. For more information about presenters, please visit the Speakers page.

Tuesday, June 10 to Friday, June 13, 2025, will be held at the Sorbonne University International Conference Center (CICSU), Paris, France. Saturday, June 14 will be held online.

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Conference Outline

Tuesday, June 10, 2025Wednesday, June 11Thursday, June 12Friday, June 13Saturday, June 14

All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

Location: Sorbonne University International Conference Center (CICSU)

09:00-10:00: Conference Check-in & Coffee | Auditorium Foyer (B1F)

10:00-10:25: Welcome Addresses & Recognition of IAFOR Scholarship Winners | Auditorium (B1F) & Online
Joseph Haldane, IAFOR, Japan
Georges Depeyrot, French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), France

10:25-10:40: Special Address | Auditorium (B1F) & Online
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO, France

10:40-11:10: Keynote Presentation | Auditorium (B1F) & Online
Internationalization of Higher Education in France: Challenges and Opportunities
Christopher Cripps, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France
11:10-11:20: Q&A

11:20-12:20: Discussion Panel | Auditorium (B1F) & Online
Cooperation in Times of Crisis: Education, Leadership and Global Citizenship
Anne Boddington, IAFOR & Middlesex University, United Kingdom
Christopher Cripps, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France
Donald E. Hall, Binghamton University, United States (Moderator)

12:20-12:30: Conference Photograph

12:30-14:30: Extended Break

14:30-14:55: Keynote Presentation | Auditorium (B1F) & Online
Notre Dame de Paris: Holy Place, Sacred Edifice, and World Heritage Site
Jean-Michel Leniaud, École Pratique des Hautes Études, France
14:55-15:10: Q&A

15:15-16:30: Keynote Presentation and Discussion Panel | Auditorium (B1F) & Online
Cultural Diplomacy: From Past to Present

Keynote Presentation
The Future of Cultural Diplomacy: The Legacy of Marco Polo
Paolo Sabbatini, World Sinology Center, China

Discussion Panel
Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
Charlotte Faucher, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
Takehiro Kano, UNESCO, France
Frédéric Ramel, Sciences Po, France
Paolo Sabbatini, World Sinology Center, China (Moderator)

16:40-17:40: Welcome Reception & Conference Poster Session | Auditorium Foyer (B1F)

20:00-22:00: Conference Dinner | Bofinger
This is an optional ticketed event

All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

Location: Sorbonne University International Conference Center (CICSU)

08:30-08:45: Conference Check-in | Room 102 (1F)

08:45-09:15: IAFOR Information Session | Room 108 (1F)
Melina Neophytou, IAFOR, Japan
Matthew Chima, IAFOR, Japan

This session provides an overview of what to expect at the conference, including guidance on preparing your presentation, publishing opportunities, and ways to engage with IAFOR. You will receive practical tips on setting up your presentation and understanding your role at the conference, including how to attract a larger audience to your session. We will also outline the publishing opportunities available, including how to submit your work to be published in the Conference Proceedings or IAFOR Journals. This session also offers a chance to explore the opportunities for deeper engagement, whether through networking with fellow delegates or getting involved more with IAFOR. Join us, and get ready to present, publish, and participate.

09:20-10:20: The Forum | Room 108 (1F) & Online
Cooperating in Difficult Times: Global Citizenship and Interdisciplinarity
Grant Black, Chuo University, Japan (Respondent)
Melina Neophytou, IAFOR, Japan (Moderator)

Come share your thoughts and experiences as global educators and researchers with other international experts through interdisciplinary discussions designed to engage with on-the-cusp issues. Through this activity, you will be able to contribute to an academic and political debate that potentially holds the key to more peace and harmony among countries and within societies, which has been troubling policy-makers for decades due to its complex nature.

10:20-10:50: Networking Coffee Break

10:50-12:30: Onsite Parallel Session 1
Room 105 (1F): PCE | Teaching Experiences, Pedagogy, Practice and Praxis (Workshops)
Room 106 (1F): PCE | Inclusive Curriculum Development and Academic Achievements
Room 107 (1F): PCE | Comparative AI Policies and Application
Room 109 (1F): PCAH | Foreign Languages Education and Applied Linguistics
Room 112 (1F): PCE | Culturally Relevant and Inclusive Education
Room 114 (1F): PCE | Information and Media Literacy
Room 116 (1F): PCE | Approaches to Equality and Equity in Education

12:30-12:45: Break

12:45-14:00: Onsite Parallel Session 2
Room 105 (1F): PCAH | Identity and Politics in Literature
Room 106 (1F): PCE | Assessment Theories and Methodologies
Room 107 (1F): PCE | Implementation of Visual Tools in Education
Room 109 (1F): PCE | Language Development and Literacy
Room 112 (1F): PCE | Primary and Secondary Education
Room 114 (1F): PCAH | The Role of Narratives in Media and Literature

14:00-14:30: Networking Coffee Break

14:30-16:10: Onsite Parallel Session 3
Room 105 (1F): PCE | Higher Education (Workshops)
Room 106 (1F): PCE | Gifted and Special Education
Room 107 (1F): PCE | Youth Mental Health and Well-being
Room 109 (1F): PCE | Challenges in Foreign Language Education
Room 112 (1F): PCE | Community and Inclusive Education
Room 114 (1F): PCAH | Arts, Media, and Social Issues
Room 116 (1F): PCE | Education, Sustainability and Society

16:10-16:25: Break

16:25-17:40: Onsite Parallel Session 4
Room 105 (1F): PCE | Educational Policy, Leadership, Management and Administration (Panel)
Room 106 (1F): PCAH | Politics Through Media and Literature
Room 107 (1F): PCAH | Comparative Concepts of Future and Time
Room 109 (1F): PCE | Higher Education (Workshop)
Room 112 (1F): PCE | Teaching Experiences, Pedagogy, Practice & Praxis (Workshop)
Room 116 (1F): PCE | Approaches to Critical Thinking and Cognitive Development

17:40-18:40: Cultural Workshop | Room 108 (1F)
Delegates are invited to hear the story and songs of Paris’ ‘Barbara’, the beloved singer, songwriter, and actress, as performed by singer-songwriter Sophie Leliwa.
This is a free event open to all registered delegates

All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

Location: Sorbonne University International Conference Center (CICSU)

09:00-09:30: Conference Check-in | Room 102 (1F)

09:30-10:30: Featured Roundtable | Room 108 (1F)
Senior Academic Leadership
Anne Boddington, IAFOR & Middlesex University, United Kingdom
Ljiljana Marković, European Center for Peace and Development (ECPD), Serbia
Donald E. Hall, Binghamton University, United States
Joseph Haldane, IAFOR, Japan (Moderator)

09:30-10:30: Featured Roundtable | Room 106 (1F)
Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
Milica Papić, Belgrade Youth Office, Serbia
Riccardo Travaglini, General Workers Union, Malta
Giorgio Tenneroni, Municipal Council of Todi, Italy
Paolo Sabbatini, World Sinology Center, China (Moderator)

10:30-11:00: Networking Coffee Break

11:00-12:40: Onsite Parallel Session 1
Room 105 (1F): PCE | Counselling, Guidance and Adjustment in Education (Workshops)
Room 106 (1F): PCE | Education and Difference: Learning Difficulties and Disability
Room 107 (1F): PCE | Societal Issues and Their Impact on Academic Achievement
Room 109 (1F): PCE | AI for Institutional Development
Room 112 (1F): PCE | Indigenous and Intercultural Education
Room 114 (1F): PCAH | Perspectives on Social Transformation
Room 116 (1F): PCAH | Social Evolution Through Literature

12:40-12:55: Break

12:55-14:10: Onsite Parallel Session 2
Room 105 (1F): PCE | Education and Difference (Panel)
Room 106 (1F): PCE | Health Education and Literacy
Room 107 (1F): PCE | Gender in the Educational Context
Room 109 (1F): PCE | Teaching and Learning with AI
Room 112 (1F): PCAH | Life and Work of Female Writers Across Time
Room 114 (1F): PCAH | Religious Ideologies and Modern Politics
Room 116 (1F): PCE | Approaches to Black Education

14:10-14:40: Networking Coffee Break

14:40-16:20: Onsite Parallel Session 3
Room 105 (1F): PCE | Learning Experiences, Student Learning and Learner Diversity (Workshops)
Room 106 (1F): PCE | Approaches to Pedagogical Development in EFL
Room 107 (1F): PCE | Autonomy, Efficacy, and Motivation in Education
Room 109 (1F): PCE | Professional Training, Development and Concerns in Education
Room 112 (1F): PCAH | Perspectives on Urban Studies
Room 114 (1F): PCE | Inclusive and Sustainable Education
Room 116 (1F): PCE | Educational Policy, Leadership, Management and Administration

16:20-16:35 Break

16:35-17:50: Onsite Parallel Session 4
Room 106 (1F): PCE | Technologies in Online and Distance Learning
Room 107 (1F): PCAH | Leadership in Education
Room 109 (1F): PCE | STEM Curriculum Design
Room 112 (1F): PCAH | Recognising Self
Room 116 (1F): PCE | Teaching Experiences in Mathematics Education

All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

Location: Sorbonne University International Conference Center (CICSU)

08:30-09:30: Conference Check-in | Room 102 (1F)

09:30-11:10: Onsite Parallel Session 1
Room 105 (1F): PCAH | Innovative Technologies in Education (Workshops)
Room 106 (1F): PCE | Shifting Paradigms in Educational Policy
Room 107 (1F): PCE | Teaching Experiences and Pedagogical Development
Room 108 (1F): PCE | Towards AI-driven Education
Room 109 (1F): PCE | Adult, Lifelong and Distance Learning
Room 112 (1F): PCE | Approaches to Foreign Language Learning
Room 114 (1F): PCAH | History/Historiography
Room 116 (1F): PCAH | Cultural and Societal Changes in Modern Society

11:10-11:25: Short Coffee Break

11:25-13:05: Onsite Parallel Session 2
Room 105 (1F): PCE | Nurturing Creativity and Innovation: New, Innovative and Radical Education (Workshops)
Room 106 (1F): PCAH | Professionalism and Employability in Education
Room 107 (1F): PCE | Teaching Experiences, Pedagogy, Practice and Praxis
Room 108 (1F): PCAH | AI and Technology in Cultural Education
Room 109 (1F): PCE | Student Support and Well-being
Room 112 (1F): PCAH | Language Studies in a Cross-cultural Context
Room 114 (1F): PCAH | Gender, Sexuality, and Society
Room 116 (1F): PCAH | Approaches to Sustainable Environment

13:05-13:35: Extended Break

13:35-15:15: Onsite Parallel Session 3
Room 105 (1F): PCE | Towards Relevant Graduate Studies Curriculum
Room 106 (1F): PCE | Professional Development in Educational Context
Room 107 (1F): PCE | Gamification in Education
Room 108 (1F): PCE | Application of AI in the Reading and Writing Process
Room 109 (1F): PCE | Educators' Well-being
Room 112 (1F): PCAH | Comparative Linguistics in Literature
Room 114 (1F): PCAH | Politics and Civic Education
Room 116 (1F): PCAH | Design, Culture, and Sustainability

15:15-15:30: Short Coffee Break

15:30-17:10: Onsite Parallel Session 4
Room 105 (1F): PCE | Institutional Practices in Higher Education
Room 106 (1F): PCE | Current Issues in Higher Education Development
Room 107 (1F): PCE | Tools and Approaches to Pedagogical Development
Room 108 (1F): PCE | AI in Education Assessment
Room 109 (1F): PCE | Education and Difference: Learning Difficulties and Disability
Room 112 (1F): PCE | Inclusive Pedagogical and Assessment Design
Room 114 (1F): PCAH | History and Politics Through Art
Room 116 (1F): PCE | Challenging and Preserving: Culture, Inter/Multiculturalism and Language

17:15-17:30: Onsite Closing Session | Room 108 (1F)

All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

Conference Venue: Online via Zoom

08:55-09:00: Message from IAFOR

09:00-10:40: Online Parallel Session 1
Live-Stream Room 1: PCAH | Identity Issues in Education and Literature
Live-Stream Room 2: PCAH | Social Issues Through Art and Literature
Live-Stream Room 3: PCE | AI-Powered Education
Live-Stream Room 4: PCE | Inclusive Education and Well-being

10:40-10:50: Break

10:50-12:05: Online Parallel Session 2
Live-Stream Room 1: PCE | Foreign Languages Education & Applied Linguistics
Live-Stream Room 2: PCAH | Education and Difference
Live-Stream Room 3: PCE | AI in Higher Education
Live-Stream Room 4: PCAH | Religion, Spirituality, and Philosophy

12:05-12:15: Break

12:15-14:20: Online Parallel Session 3
Live-Stream Room 1: PCE | Approaches to Cognitive Development
Live-Stream Room 2: PCE | Educational Policy, Leadership, Management & Administration
Live-Stream Room 3: PCE | AI and Technology in Education
Live-Stream Room 4: PCE | Special Topics in Education

14:20-14:25: Closing Message from IAFOR

*Please be aware that the above schedule may be subject to change.

Speakers

  • Grant Black
    Grant Black
    Chuo University, Japan
  • Anne Boddington
    Anne Boddington
    IAFOR, Japan
  • Christopher Cripps
    Christopher Cripps
    Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France
  • Georges Depeyrot
    Georges Depeyrot
    French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), France
  • Charlotte Faucher
    Charlotte Faucher
    University of Bristol, United Kingdom
  • Stefania Giannini
    Stefania Giannini
    UNESCO, France
  • Joseph Haldane
    Joseph Haldane
    The International Academic Forum (IAFOR), Japan
  • Donald E. Hall
    Donald E. Hall
    Binghamton University, United States
  • Takehiro Kano
    Takehiro Kano
    United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), France
  • Jean-Michel Leniaud
    Jean-Michel Leniaud
    École Pratique des Hautes Études, France
  • Ljiljana Markovic
    Ljiljana Markovic
    European Centre for Peace and Development (ECPD), Serbia
  • Melina Neophytou
    Melina Neophytou
    IAFOR, Japan
  • Milica Papić
    Milica Papić
    Belgrade Youth Office, Serbia
  • Frédéric Ramel
    Frédéric Ramel
    Sciences Po, France
  • Paolo Sabbatini
    Paolo Sabbatini
    World Sinology Center, China
  • Giorgio Tenneroni
    Giorgio Tenneroni
    Municipality of Todi, Italy
  • Riccardo Travaglini
    Riccardo Travaglini
    General Workers Union (GWU), Malta

Featured Presentations

  • Internationalisation of Higher Education in France: Challenges and Opportunities
    Internationalisation of Higher Education in France: Challenges and Opportunities
    Keynote Presentation: Christopher Cripps
  • Cooperation in Times of Crisis: Education, Leadership, and Global Citizenship
    Cooperation in Times of Crisis: Education, Leadership, and Global Citizenship
    Discussion Panel: Anne Boddington, Christopher Cripps, Donald Hall
  • Notre Dame de Paris: Holy Place, Sacred Edifice, and World Heritage Site
    Notre Dame de Paris: Holy Place, Sacred Edifice, and World Heritage Site
    Keynote Presentation: Jean-Michel Leniaud
  • The Future of Cultural Diplomacy: The Legacy of Marco Polo
    The Future of Cultural Diplomacy: The Legacy of Marco Polo
    Keynote Presentation: Paolo Sabbatini
  • Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
    Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
    Panel Presentation: Paolo Sabbatini
  • Cooperating in Difficult Times: Global Citizenship and Interdisciplinarity
    Cooperating in Difficult Times: Global Citizenship and Interdisciplinarity
    The Forum: Grant Black, Melina Neophytou
  • Senior Academic Leadership
    Senior Academic Leadership
    Workshop Session: Anne Boddington, Ljiljana Markovic, Donald E. Hall
  • Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
    Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
    Discussion Panel: Paolo Sabbatini, Milica Papic, Riccardo Travaglini, Giorgio Tenneroni

Conference Programme & Abstract Book

The online version of the Conference Programme is now available to view below via the Issuu viewing platform. Alternatively, download a PDF version. The Conference Programme can also be viewed on the Issuu website (requires a web browser). An Issuu app is available for Android users.

Click to download as a PDF

The Conference Programme contains access information, session information and a detailed day-to-day presentation schedule.

Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

A number of presenters have submitted pre-recorded virtual video presentations. We encourage you to watch these presentations and provide feedback through the video comments.

Virtual Video Presentations

Important Information Emails

All registered attendees will receive an Important Information email and updates in the run-up to the conference. Please check your email inbox for something from "iafor.org". If you can not find these emails in your normal inbox, it is worth checking in your spam or junk mail folders as many programs filter out emails this way. If these did end up in one of these folders, please add the address to your acceptable senders' folder by whatever method your email program can do this.

Previous Programming

View details of programming for past PCE conferences via the links below.

PCE2024 PCE2023 PCE2022
Grant Black
Chuo University, Japan

Biography

Professor Grant Black is a professor in the Faculty of Commerce at Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan, where he has taught Global Skills and Global Issues since 2013. Grant is engaged in diverse roles as a global manager, systems builder, executive leader and university professor. His research and teaching areas include global management skills, intercultural intelligence (CQ) and organisational management. He also has taught Japanese Management Theory at J. F. Oberlin University (Japan), and a continuing education course in the Foundations of Japanese Zen Buddhism at Temple University Japan. Previously, he was Chair of the English Section at the Center for Education of Global Communication at the University of Tsukuba where he served in a six-year post in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. He holds a BA Highest Honors in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara; an MA in Japanese Buddhist Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles; and a Doctor of Social Science (DSocSci) from the Department of Management in the School of Business at the University of Leicester. Dr Black is a Chartered Manager (CMgr), the highest status that can be achieved in the management profession in the UK. In 2018, he was elected a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI) and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). Grant is President of Black Inc. Consulting (Japan), a Tokyo-based firm specialising in international and intercultural project management, communication projects, and executive leadership and training. He is the director of the Nippon Academic Management Institute (NAMI) and the author of Education Reform Policy at a Japanese Super Global University: Policy Translation, Migration and Mutation (Routledge, 2022). He serves as a Vice-President for the International Academic Forum (IAFOR).

Forum Discussion (2025) | Cooperating in Difficult Times: Global Citizenship and Interdisciplinarity

Previous Presentations

Panel Presentation (2022) | Presentation and International Discussion on The Cambridge Handbook of Undergraduate Research
Anne Boddington
IAFOR, Japan

Biography

Professor Anne Boddington is Executive Vice-President and Provost of IAFOR, and oversees the academic programs, research and policies of the forum.

Anne Boddington is Professor Emerita of Design Innovation and has held executive and senior leadership roles in Higher Education including as Dean of Arts & Humanities at the University of Brighton, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Business & Innovation at Kingston and Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at Middlesex University.

In 2022 she concluded chairing the Sub Panel (32) for Art & Design: History, Practice & Theory as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) and has extensive experience in the governance and conduct of peer review, research evaluation and assessment in REF2014 (Sub Panel Deputy Chair and Equality Diversity Advisory Panel [EDAP]) and RAE2008. A former member of AHRC’s Advisory Board, she is the current Chair of the Advisory Board for the UKRI’s National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) programme (£30M), Deputy Chair and a Trustee of the Design Council, the government’s strategic advisor for design, and a member of both the InnoHK Scientific Committee (Hong Kong) and the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ).

Since the 1990’s Anne has worked across the UK and internationally with a wide range of quality assurance, professional, statutory, and regulatory bodies in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Hong Kong, and India.

As an independent consultant she now works as a strategic advisor and mentor and is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in practice, developing effective governance, supporting career development, reducing bureaucracy, and improving organisational design, integrity, and productivity in the changing workplace.

Previous Presentations

Panel Discussion (2024) | International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Citizenship in Times of Change and Crisis
Christopher Cripps
Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France

Biography

Mr Christopher Cripps is an experienced leader in International Higher Education with over three decades of expertise in Strategy, Development, Transnational Education, Study Abroad, Executive Education, Corporate Relations, Branding, and Marketing. Throughout his career, he has been at the forefront of developing innovative strategies that enhance global academic partnerships and international engagement.

Since June 2024, Mr Cripps has served as Vice-President for Europe and International Affairs at Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France. Prior to this role, he was Senior Advisor for Global Engagement and Diplomatic Affairs to the President of Sorbonne University, France. He has also held significant positions as Director of International Affairs at Sorbonne University, PSL University, Ecole Centrale Paris (now CentraleSupélec), and Grenoble Ecole de Management, providing him with a broad understanding of French higher education across multiple sectors, including business schools, engineering institutions, and universities.

His proven track record of designing and executing successful international strategies, forming high-impact partnerships between leading universities, establishing overseas campuses, and fostering relationships between academia and the global corporate sector has taken him across the globe. He has worked extensively in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, China, India, Brazil, and the Middle East.

Mr Cripps served as an expert on a panel commissioned by the French Prime Minister’s Office to advise on the internationalisation of French Higher Education (2015-2016). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and International Relations from the United States and an MBA from the United Kingdom. He is also a frequent conference speaker, a consultant, and a certified professional coach.

Keynote Presentation (2025) | Internationalisation of Higher Education in France: Challenges and Opportunities
Georges Depeyrot
French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), France

Biography

Georges Depeyrot is a monetary historian at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Paris, France. He began his scientific career in the 1970s studying coin finds and joined the CNRS in 1982. He later joined the Center for Historical Research in the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) and is now an emeritus research director and professor at ENS. After his habilitation (1992), he specialised in international cooperative programs that aim to reconsider monetary history in a global approach. He has directed many cooperative programs linking several European countries, including those situated at the continent’s outer borders, such asGeorgia, Armenia, Poland, Russia, Morocco, China, and Japan. Professor Depeyrot is the author or co-author of more than one hundred volumes, and is the founding director of the Moneta publishing house, the most important collection of books – around 210 volumes – on the topic of money. He is also the founding director of a collection of books on heritage. Professor Depeyrot was a member of the board of trustees of the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique in Paris, France.

Charlotte Faucher
University of Bristol, United Kingdom

Biography

Charlotte Faucher is Senior Lecturer in Modern French History at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. She is a specialist of European soft power in the contemporary period and has published on the topic of culture and international relations, including her monograph Propaganda, Gender, and Cultural Power (Oxford University Press, 2022) and the co-edited Soft Power Beyond the Nation (Georgetown University Press, 2024) and Histoire(s) de la diplomatie culturelle française (Editions de l'Attribut, 2024). The latter was published to mark the centenary of the creation of the Institut Français, France’s agency for cultural diplomacy, and was part of a series of events and publications supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr Faucher is currently a Research England Policy Fellow in partnership with the British Council, working on a project investigating UK soft power in Europe over the past 40 years. The project’s key output will contribute to the process of defining a shared vision and strategy for the United Kingdom’s soft power initiatives.

Panel Discussion (2025) | Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
Stefania Giannini
UNESCO, France

Biography

Ms Stefania Giannini is the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education. A prominent figure in global education, she provides strategic vision and leadership in coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the Education 2030 Agenda to ensure education remains a top priority on the world’s political agenda.

Believing that partnership is the new leadership, Stefania Giannini has mobilised action-driven coalitions such as the Global Education Coalition, connecting over 200 private and public partners, focusing on digital learning and AI in education, and the Greening Education Partnership, which brings together nearly 100 countries and 1,600 organisations.

With an academic background in the Humanities and a PhD in Linguistics, Ms Giannini served as Rector of the University for Foreigners of Perugia (2004-2012). As Minister of Education, Universities and Research of the Republic of Italy (2014-2016), she led significant reforms centred on social inclusion and cultural awareness. She also served as Senator of the Republic (2013-2018).

Recognised for her thought-leadership and strategic acumen, Stefania Giannini is frequently invited to serve on high-level committees and advisory boards, providing guidance and expertise on key policy and organisational matters.

Joseph Haldane
The International Academic Forum (IAFOR), Japan

Biography

Joseph Haldane is the founder, chairman, and CEO of IAFOR. He is responsible for devising strategy, setting policies, forging institutional partnerships, implementing projects, and overseeing the organisation’s global business and academic operations.

Dr Haldane has a PhD from the University of London in nineteenth-century French studies (ULIP/RHUL), and has research interests in world history and politics; international education; and governance and decision making. Since 2015, he has been a Guest Professor at Osaka University’s School of International Public Policy (OSIPP), and Co-Director of the OSIPP-IAFOR Research Centre since 2017.

In 2020, Dr Haldane was elected Honorary Professor of University College London (UCL) through the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, and full Professor in the United Nations Peace University's European Center for Peace and Development in 2022. A member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network for global governance, he holds visiting professorships at Belgrade and Doshisha Universities where he teaches ethics and governance. He is a member of the International Advisory Council of the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Professor Haldane has had full-time faculty positions at the Université Paris-Est Créteil, Sciences Po Paris, and Nagoya University of Commerce and Business, as well as visiting positions at the French Press Institute (Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas), and the Schools of Journalism of Sciences Po Paris and Moscow State University.

Dr Haldane has been invited to speak at universities and conferences globally, including the UN HQ in New York, and advised universities, NGOs and governments on issues relating to international education policy, public-private partnerships, and multi-stakeholder forums. He was the project lead on the 2019 Kansai Resilience Forum, held by the Japanese Government through the Prime Minister’s Office and oversaw the 2021 Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned study on Infectious Diseases on Cruise Ships.

Donald E. Hall
Binghamton University, United States

Biography

Donald E. Hall is Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Binghamton University (SUNY), USA. He was formerly Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering at the University of Rochester, USA, and held a previous position as Dean of Arts and Sciences at Lehigh University, USA. Provost Hall has published widely in the fields of British Studies, Gender Theory, Cultural Studies, and Professional Studies. Over the course of his career, he served as Jackson Distinguished Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English (and previously Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages) at West Virginia University. Before that, he was Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English at California State University, Northridge, where he taught for 13 years. He is a recipient of the University Distinguished Teaching Award at CSUN, was a visiting professor at the National University of Rwanda, was Lansdowne Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the University of Victoria (Canada), was Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Cultural Studies at Karl Franzens University in Graz, Austria, and was Fulbright Specialist at the University of Helsinki. He has also taught in Sweden, Romania, Hungary, and China. He served on numerous panels and committees for the Modern Language Association (MLA), including the Task Force on Evaluating Scholarship for Tenure and Promotion, and the Convention Program Committee. In 2012, he served as national President of the Association of Departments of English. From 2013-2017, he served on the Executive Council of the MLA.

His current and forthcoming work examines issues such as professional responsibility and academic community-building, the dialogics of social change and activist intellectualism, and the Victorian (and our continuing) interest in the deployment of instrumental agency over our social, vocational, and sexual selves. Among his many books and editions are the influential faculty development guides, The Academic Self and The Academic Community, both published by Ohio State University Press. Subjectivities and Reading Sexualities: Hermeneutic Theory and the Future of Queer Studies were both published by Routledge Press. Most recently he and Annamarie Jagose, of the University of Auckland, co-edited a volume titled The Routledge Queer Studies Reader. Though he is a full-time administrator, he continues to lecture worldwide on the value of a liberal arts education and the need for nurturing global competencies in students and interdisciplinary dialogue in and beyond the classroom.

Previous Presentations

Keynote Presentation (2023) | There is No New Normal
Takehiro Kano
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), France

Biography

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Takehiro Kano is the Permanent Delegate of Japan to UNESCO, a position he has held since 2023. He possesses extensive experience in diplomacy and international relations, cultivated through various high-ranking roles within Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and other government institutions.

Ambassador Kano graduated from the University of Tokyo, Japan, with a Bachelor of Law in 1989 and later earned a Master of Economics from Selwyn College, Cambridge University, United Kingdom. Since joining MOFA in 1989, he has held influential positions such as Director of the Climate Change Division, International Cooperation Bureau, and Director General of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department.

His diplomatic career included key postings as Minister at Japan’s Permanent Mission to the International Organisations in Vienna, Austria, and as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines. Additionally, Ambassador Kano served as a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo from 2012-2014.

A prolific author, Ambassador Kano has published works on international peace cooperation, climate change negotiations, and nuclear diplomacy, including Environmental Diplomacy: Climate Change Negotiations and Global Governance (Sinzansha Publisher Co.,Ltd, 2013), Nuclear Diplomacy: A Perspective from Vienna, the City of IAEA (Shinzansha Publisher Co.,Ltd, 2017), and Japan’s international peace cooperation: time to move on (‘Diplomacy’ Vol 81, Sep-Oct. 2023). His breadth of expertise, particularly in global governance and security policy, positions him as a leading figure in Japan’s international diplomatic efforts and the nation’s contributions to UNESCO's global initiatives.

Previous Presentations

Panel Discussion (2024) | International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Citizenship in Times of Change and Crisis
Jean-Michel Leniaud
École Pratique des Hautes Études, France

Biography

Professor Jean-Michel Leniaud is one of France's leading historians of art and architecture. He has combined a career in scholarship, research, and administration, with one in the conservation, curation, and restoration of cultural heritage.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Monuments Center (Centre des Monuments Nationaux), a body run by the French Ministry of Culture responsible for the conservation, restoration, and management of some 85 major historic sites and buildings owned by the French State, including Notre-Dame Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Paris). President of the Society of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, Professor Leniaud sits on the scientific council of the public institution for the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris, established by President Macron in the wake of the devastating fire of 2019.

Professor Leniaud is now Emeritus Director of Studies at the École Pratique des Hautes Études, a grand établissement of higher education noted for its pedagogy of research training through practice, and a part of the University of Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL), and Professor of Architectural History at the École du Louvre, a grande école situated within the museum, and which specialises in the study of archaeology, art history, and anthropology.

Previously he was Professor of Contemporary Art History at the École Nationale des Chartes (ENC) from 1992 to 2016, and its director from 2011 to 2016. The ENC, founded more than 200 years ago, is a grand établissement dedicated to historical research and the training of historians and curators, and is now also part of the PSL University.

Professor Leniaud's career began in the administration of historic monuments at the Ministry of Culture, and from 1977 to 1990, he served as Inspector of Historic Monuments and Regional Curator (Rhône-Alpes), and subsequently held various positions at the national level in the administration of monuments. From 2011 to 2022, he chaired the Scientific Council of the French National Institute of Cultural Heritage (Institut National du Patrimoine), the academy responsible for training curators and conservators.

He has been the chief curator of several major exhibitions, including ‘Viollet-le-Duc: Visions of an Architect’, held at the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine museum in Paris from 2014 to 2015. ‘Viollet-le-Duc’ was an enormously influential architect and visionary, and was responsible for the restoration of medieval monuments, including Notre-Dame de Paris.

Professor Leniaud is the author of numerous books and articles on the history of art, architecture, and heritage. Most recently, he directed a publication on the history of the cathedral; Les Résurrections de Notre-Dame - Chantiers et ferveurs was published by Mengès in 2024.

Keynote Presentation (2025) | TBA
Ljiljana Markovic
European Centre for Peace and Development (ECPD), Serbia

Biography

Ljiljana Markovic is a Professor of Japanese Studies in the European Centre for Peace and Development (ECPD) of the United Nations University for Peace, and Special Advisor to the Executive Director and ECPD Academic Director. She is also a Visiting Professor at Toho University and Osaka University, Japan, and Gabriele d'Annunzio University, Italy.

Professor Markovic is the author of a large number of publications in the fields of Japanese Studies and Economics. She completed her bachelor’s and master's degrees at Cambridge University, United Kingdom, before pursuing her doctorate at Chuo University, Japan. For many years, she was a Professor at the Faculty of Philology at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, with terms as Dean (2016-2020) and Vice Dean of Financial Affairs (2008-2016). She has served as the Chairperson of the International Silk Road Academic Studies Symposium since 2017.

Professor Markovic received the Gaimu Daijin Sho Award from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 2010. In the following year, she received the Dositej Obradovic Award for Pedagogical Achievement. Professor Markovic recent accolades include the Medal of Merit by the President of Serbia in 2020, the Isidora Sekulic Medal for Academic Achievement in 2021, and the Order of the Rising Sun (Gold Rays with Rosette) in 2022, an Imperial Decoration awarded by the Government of Japan for her "outstanding contribution to establishing and improving friendly relations with Japan”.

Workshop Presentation (2025) | Senior Academic Leadership

Previous Presentations

Panel Presentation (2024) | International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Citizenship in Times of Change and Crisis
Melina Neophytou
IAFOR, Japan

Biography

Dr Melina Neophytou is the Academic Operations Manager at IAFOR, where she works closely with academics, keynote speakers, and IAFOR partners to shape academic discussions within The Forum, bring conference programmes together, refine scholarship programmes, and build an interdisciplinary and international community. She is leading various projects within IAFOR, notably The Forum discussions and the authoring of Conference Reports and Intelligence Briefings, and she oversees the Global Fellows Programme.

Born in Germany and raised in Cyprus, Dr Neophytou received her PhD in International Development from Nagoya University, Japan, in 2023, specialising in political sociology, the welfare state, and contentious politics. She received an MA in International Development from Nagoya University, with a focus on Governance & Law, and a BA in European Studies from the University of Cyprus, Cyprus.

Forum Discussion (2025) | TBA
Milica Papić
Belgrade Youth Office, Serbia

Biography

Milica Papić is currently the Director of the Belgrade Youth Office within the City Administration of Belgrade, Serbia. Prior to this role, she gained extensive experience at the National Bank of Serbia, where she served as a Supervisor and earlier as a Junior Financial Analyst in the Market Risk Group within the Department for Supervision of Voluntary Pension Funds.

In addition to her public sector work, Ms Papić is engaged in academia. She most recently held the position of Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade, Serbia, where she taught Project Management. She is a doctoral candidate in Economics at the same institution, with an academic record marked by excellence. She previously completed her Master’s and Bachelor’s studies in Finance, Banking, and Insurance at the University of Belgrade.

Ms Papić has participated in several international programmes, including the 2024 Seminar for Serbian Female Politicians in China and the 2023 “How Europe Works” conferences in Vienna, Italy and Brussels, Belgium, organised by the Robert Schuman Institute.

Her professional and academic interests lie at the intersection of public policy, financial systems, and youth development.

Panel Discussion (2025) | Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
Frédéric Ramel
Sciences Po, France

Biography

Frédéric Ramel is Full Professor of Political Science at Sciences Po Paris and Research Fellow at the Centre for International Studies (Centre d'études et de recherches internationales - CERI), France. He previously served as ther Head of the Political Science Department at Sciences Po from2016 to 2022, and was the first Scientific Director of the Strategic Research Institute at the École Militaire from 2009 to 2013. He coordinates the CNRS Research Group on Multilateral Action (GRAM) and also the research programme DATAWAR, financed by the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) dedicated to the role of quantitative data in the interpretation of armed conflicts. Professor Ramel has published in several peer-reviewed journals, including Global Studies Quarterly, Journal of Political Science Education, International Studies Perspectives, and International Peacekeeping, as well as several manuscripts. His latest publications include Espace Mondial [World Space] (Presses de Sciences Po, 2024) and Benevolence in International Relations: A Political Essay (Bristol University Press, 2025), with a foreword from Chris Brown, Emeritus Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom. His current research focuses on multilateralism, peace, and the planetary and sensitivity in international relations.

Photograph by Alexis Leconte.

Panel Discussion (2025) | Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
Paolo Sabbatini
World Sinology Center, China

Biography

Professor Paolo Sabbatini is currently Ambassador for Cultural Communications between Italy and China at the World Sinology Center, China. He is also an emeritus senior member of the Italian Foreign Service and an International Spokesperson for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, interacting with entities such as the European Union and the United Nations. As such, he teaches how to incorporate diplomacy and international relations in every field of culture and economics. Professor Sabbatini is a member of several academic institutions, among which the Academy of Fine Arts in Perugia, Italy; ECPD/UPeace University established by the United Nations in Belgrade, Serbia; and several Chinese Universities.

Keynote Presentation (2025) | The Future of Cultural Diplomacy: The Legacy of Marco Polo
Panel Discussion (2025) | Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
Giorgio Tenneroni
Municipality of Todi, Italy

Biography

Mr Giorgio Tenneroni is the current President of the Municipal Council of Todi, Italy. Since April 15, 2025, he has also been the Coordinator of ANCI Giovani Umbria, the regional commission of young local councillors and mayors. He studies Law at the University of Perugia, Italy. His first paper, “Vita umana e dignità: un dialogo tra etica e diritto” was recently published in the international scientific journal Medicina e Morale (2024).

Mr Tenneroni’s interest in a political and administrative career began in 2018, when he was elected as president of the student council in his high school. In 2019, he was elected as student representative in the Provincial Student Council of Perugia and Representative Deputy and President of the Council’s school building commission. In 2022, he was elected as a member of the City Council of his hometown, Todi, becoming the youngest City Councilor in the history of the City; he was also at the time the youngest elected councilor in charge in the Umbria Region. In 2023, he was appointed as President of the City Council of Todi, becoming the youngest President of a City Council in Italy.

He has spoken at major national and international conferences with notable figures such as art critic Vittorio Sgarbi and Colonel Capitano Ultimo, an expert on anti-mafia policy. He also participated in international meetings as a speaker, including the 2024 Global Forum on Hehe Culture in Tiantai-Taizhou, China and the Second World Meeting on Human Fraternity in Rome, Italy and Vatican City State, where he spoke on a panel alongside the mayors of New York and Rome.

Panel Discussion (2025) | Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
Riccardo Travaglini
General Workers Union (GWU), Malta

Biography

Mr Riccardo Travaglini began his career as an accounting consultant in Italy, specialising in start-ups and subsidised loans. In 2019, he relocated to Malta and joined the General Workers Union (GWU), where he has held various roles. As a business developer and project manager, he facilitated GWU's integration into the European Employment Services (EURES) network, contributing to the execution of numerous European projects. He also established international agreements with both private and public entities.

In the field of international relations, as President of IRTUC Italy-Malta, Mr Travaglini focuses on maintaining excellent relationships and fostering collaborations with Italian trade unions. In this capacity, he represents GWU and IRTUC at the European coordination meetings of ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation), facilitating dialogue, information exchange, and joint actions among the various IRTUCs across Europe. Additionally, he represents GWU within ETUC's Trade and External Affairs Commission, discussing ETUC's external relations, analysing trade agreements between the EU and other countries, drafting responses to the European Commission, and establishing subcommissions to accompany EU negotiators on international missions.

Mr Travaglini is a member of the Information Commission within the European Labour Authority (ELA), contributing to discussions and initiatives regarding labour-related information dissemination.

Panel Discussion (2025) | Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
Internationalisation of Higher Education in France: Challenges and Opportunities
Keynote Presentation: Christopher Cripps

France is a global leader in higher education, consistently ranking among the top six to eight destinations for international students and often standing as the leading non-English-speaking country alongside Germany among the list. Internationalisation has been a core priority for many French institutions for decades, with dedicated teams working to attract students and faculty from all over the world and develop global collaborations for academic programmes and research.

Since the 1990s, English-taught programmes have expanded from business schools to engineering schools and, increasingly, universities, strengthening France’s appeal. Many French business and engineering schools now require students to study or work abroad for at least a semester to earn their degree, reinforcing France’s strong commitment to global mobility and the international employability of its graduates. Today, around 30-35% of students in French institutions gain significant international experience during their studies.

Global geopolitical shifts are creating new opportunities for students facing restrictions in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, causing many of them to turn to France, where student numbers are rising thanks to a more dynamic and accessible higher education landscape. France also remains attractive to researchers in science, technology, and the humanities, benefiting from world-class institutions and cutting-edge research.

However, challenges persist. The French language can be a barrier, and France is not always a first-choice destination for students and academics from key growth markets such as India and South Korea. Strengthening these ties requires proactive engagement and clear messaging on France’s academic excellence.

This keynote will explore how France is working to build on its strengths while addressing challenges, drawing comparisons with internationalisation models in other countries to identify best practices and strategies for the future.

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Cooperation in Times of Crisis: Education, Leadership, and Global Citizenship
Discussion Panel: Anne Boddington, Christopher Cripps, Donald Hall

This panel discussion will focus on the challenges and opportunities for multi-institutional collaboration in response to changing national priorities in higher education and research. What possibilities exist for institutional leaders to work together to achieve educational and research goals when extramural funding is threatened or suspended? When old alliances are threatened or fracturing, how does higher education continue to work toward global awareness and productive cross-cultural and interdisciplinary dialogue? What new opportunities exist for educational institutions to serve as thought leaders in challenging times? Panellists will speak from their own institutional and national perspectives, but also engage in an active dialogue around collaborative possibilities.

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Notre Dame de Paris: Holy Place, Sacred Edifice, and World Heritage Site
Keynote Presentation: Jean-Michel Leniaud

Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the world’s most iconic and exceptional sites, and one that has inspired and fascinated people for centuries. But why exactly? This presentation will try to address this question by exploring the Cathedral’s historical, architectural, spiritual, and cultural layers of meaning.

First, Notre Dame must be seen in the context of the appeal of the city in which it is situated; Paris, the City of Lights. Second, the site of the cathedral: on an island, at the junction of two branches of the river, facing east, a topography dedicated for millennia to the encounter of man with the divine, a sacred place. Third, its age; some of the sacred installations inside the cathedral date from the fourth century, with the structure itself dating from the twelfth century. Notre Dame serves as a venue to both the everyday ritual practice of the Christian faith, as well as large celebrations marking major holidays, and extraordinary historical encounters between religion, the State, and the nation.

Finally, the architectural memory of Notre Dame will be considered; from the Gothic masterpiece of the cathedral itself to to its interior furnishings, including the Baroque decor of the choir and the major restorations of the mid-nineteenth century. Added to this, is the memory of liturgical, political, literary, and aesthetic events which have taken place at Notre Dame, such as the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, Victor Hugo’s eponymous novel,set in the cathedral, and the conversion of Poet-Ambassador Paul Claudel.

The spectacular and dramatic fire of September 2019 underlined the great mystical power of the Cathedral. The suffering of Notre Dame only served to heighten its importance as one of the greatest of humanity’s monuments. Its subsequent restoration project provoked many emotions, and contentious debates. Following in the spirit of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc’s legacy, the latest restoration of Notre Dame now represents a major new chapter in its history, and that of cultural heritage practice.

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The Future of Cultural Diplomacy: The Legacy of Marco Polo
Keynote Presentation: Paolo Sabbatini

Marco Polo’s legacy is not only a historical curiosity but a living paradigm of cultural diplomacy. His journey to China, meticulously documented in Il Milione (c.1300), represents one of the earliest and most influential accounts of intercultural exchange. As I explored in The Billion (2024), my book on Marco Polo curated in collaboration with Maestro Sandro Pazzi, his experiences offer valuable lessons on diplomacy beyond state actors: fostering dialogue, understanding, and intellectual synergy between civilisations.

This keynote will examine Marco Polo’s role as a cultural intermediary, reflecting on how his narratives particularly shaped Western perceptions of China and vice versa. His encounters with Kublai Khan and his adaptation to the Yuan court demonstrate the power of cultural diplomacy as a form of mutual enrichment, rather than unilateral influence.

Today, in a world increasingly defined by soft power, global cultural exchanges, and digital connectivity, we must ask: what can we learn from Marco Polo’s method of engagement, storytelling, and cross-cultural curiosity? This presentation will link historical lessons to contemporary diplomacy, discussing how Italy and China can leverage their cultural heritage, education, and arts as tools for mutual understanding. In an era of growing geopolitical tensions, Marco Polo’s approach reminds us that diplomacy does not only happen in embassies, but also in the realm of cultural exchange, knowledge, and human curiosity.

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Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
Panel Presentation: Paolo Sabbatini

Cultural diplomats personally witness how education remains one of the most powerful instruments of diplomacy today. One such example is how the Italian model of cultural diplomacy, rooted in a centuries-old tradition of academic cooperation, language promotion, and artistic exchange, has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness in fostering peace and dialogue with cultural institutions across the globe.

This panel will explore how an approach to cultural diplomacy, particularly through education, can be a successful model for international cooperation. Drawing from decades of organising diplomatic initiatives, international conferences, and cultural diplomatic experience leading cultural institutions in Shanghai, Cairo, Prague, and Brussels, panellists will illustrate how culture education has historically used language programs, academic networks, and cultural institutes as pillars of global influence.

Special attention will be given to key strengths of cultural diplomacy, such as:

  • The Cultural Institutes as centres of intercultural dialogue,
  • The language as a vehicle for engagement,
  • Strategic partnerships with universities and cultural organisations,
  • The importance of heritage preservation as a diplomatic tool.

    • The increasing role of digital education in diplomacy, reflecting on how online platforms, virtual exchanges, and cultural programming can help overcome political and geographic barriers, will also be addressed. By bridging practical experience with theoretical analysis, panellists will demonstrate and lead through discussion why cultural diplomacy – when embedded in education, historical awareness, and strategic cultural engagement – remains an essential tool for global peacebuilding.

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    Cooperating in Difficult Times: Global Citizenship and Interdisciplinarity
    The Forum: Grant Black, Melina Neophytou

    The world faces intensifying geopolitical tensions, climate change, widening social and economic divides, and the erosion of international cooperation. It is commonly agreed that these global challenges are the result of a combination of factors and therefore cannot be understood in isolation. Many also concur that these challenges, prevalent in many parts of the world, require international cooperation to be solved. Where international cooperation on a political level is currently failing, education is called to carry on the huge responsibility of cultivating global citizenship, promoting intercultural understanding, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in pursuit of shared solutions inside and outside educational institutions.

    While the ‘international’ and ‘intercultural’ parts may be easier to address, ‘interdisciplinary’ collaboration remains particularly challenging. Educational institutions and mechanisms value the depth of knowledge and expertise that comes with disciplinarity. They train academics in frameworks particular to their discipline, often casting judgment upon other disciplines’ capability to generate empirical knowledge. There is not enough incentive for interdisciplinary collaboration, despite growing recognition that today’s most urgent problems are inherently interdisciplinary in nature. Indeed, being recognised for engaging in interdisciplinary research is quite difficult, and funding is often limited.

    This Forum discussion seeks to address how to foster cooperation in difficult times, and how to best tackle the challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration. What structural and systemic changes are needed to promote interdisciplinary collaboration? How can we ensure equitable interdisciplinary collaboration, including tacit and indigenous knowledge? What common ground can we find despite the differences in vocabulary, methodologies, and knowledge generation between disciplines? With delegates representing various disciplines within education, the arts, and the humanities at this conference, the discussion aims to model constructive interdisciplinary dialogue by example.

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    Senior Academic Leadership
    Workshop Session: Anne Boddington, Ljiljana Markovic, Donald E. Hall

    This roundtable and interactive session will explore the career paths of academic leaders and provide tips on the skills needed to succeed in leadership positions. Speaking from a variety of national and professional contexts, the session leaders will describe their individual paths to leadership roles and the trade-offs that often accompany a career in higher education leadership and administration. Following the brief presentations, audience members will be asked to provide their own thoughts and observations on successful and unsuccessful leadership styles, as well as engage in an active discussion of the potential for academic leaders to make positive changes within their institutions and professional organisations.

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    Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
    Discussion Panel: Paolo Sabbatini, Milica Papic, Riccardo Travaglini, Giorgio Tenneroni

    Traditionally, discussions on cultural diplomacy have been framed by academics and seasoned diplomats. However, contemporary diplomacy is evolving, and the role of youth leaders, municipal governance, and regional cooperation is becoming increasingly significant. The panel I am curating will challenge conventional diplomatic frameworks by integrating young politicians, regional representatives, and cultural stakeholders into the discussion, thereby demonstrating the power of intergenerational diplomacy.

    This panel will challenge how cultural diplomacy can be more inclusive and dynamic, engaging both institutional leaders and emerging voices who are shaping international cultural relations. We will particularly focus on twinning agreements between municipalities and UNESCO cultural sites as effective diplomatic tools, using the proposed Turin Fenestrelle–Great Wall of China twinning agreement as a case study.

    This panel will serve as a live demonstration of modern cultural diplomacy, where policymakers, young leaders, and regional actors collaborate to redefine the future of international cultural engagement. By integrating municipal governance, youth activism, and interregional partnerships, this session will set a new precedent in academic and diplomatic discussions.

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