Opening ceremony

(Opening Remarks) CHOI Eun-ok (Vice Minister of Education, Republic of Korea)
(Opening Remarks) SEO Bihn (Director-General for Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea)
(Congratulatory Remarks) Stefania GIANNINI (Assistant Director-General for Education of UNESCO)
(Welcoming Remarks) LIM Hyun Mook (Director of APCEIU)

Keynote Speech 1 Educators as Partisans for Democracy: A Vital Agenda in a Hyper-Partisan Age

Joseph KAHNE (Ted and Jo Dutton Presidential Professor for Education Policy and Politics, University of California, Riverside)
Q&A 

Keynote Speech 2 Democracy in Action: People's Power and Learning amid Political Upheaval 

HAN Soonghee (Professor, Department of Education, Seoul National University) 
Q&A

Group Photos 

Plenary Session 1.Democracy at Risk: Confronting Post-Truth and Related Challenges

The first plenary will examine the interconnectedness of democratic fragility with pressing technological, political, social and existential issues. The session will explore how the erosion of shared facts and civic trust undermines democratic values and institutions, and how education, policy, and dialogue can offer pathways to rebuild informed and resilient democracies.

- KANG Jeong-han (Professor of Sociology, Yonsei University)
- Francis L. COLLINS (Professor of Social Sciences, University of Auckland)
- Kelechi KALU (Professor of Political Sciences, University of California, Riverside) 
- Diya BANERJEE (Head of Social Media & Media Monitoring, World Health Organization)

* Moderator: Jasmine B. Y. SIM (Associate Professor, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University)

Plenary Session 2 Youth voices: Bridging the Post-Truth Divide through Dialogue

The second plenary will provide a dynamic platform for young people to explore the challenges and opportunities of civic dialogue in an era defined by dis/misinformation, polarization, and eroding trust in democratic institutions. The session will underscore the power of dialogue as a vital tool for bridging divides and revitalizing democratic engagement in the post-truth world.

- Nominmaa ULZIIBAT (Founder & Lead, Check-Check Project)

- KIM Hyunjoong (Editor & Content Manager, Stanford Social Innovation Review Korean Edition)

- David AKWARA (Creative Director, The Rise Collective / David Akwara Films)

Concurrent Sessions 1 Educating for Democracy: Building Citizenship Education for Resilient Societies 

This session focuses on the essential role of education in cultivating civic virtues as a foundation for democratic resilience. Against the backdrop of rising polarization, disinformation, and democratic backsliding, the session explores how education systems can foster informed, engaged, and responsible citizens capable of sustaining democratic values and institutions.

1A. From Clicks to Empathy: Promoting Respect for Others through Social and Emotional Learning
Charu SAINI (Associate National Project Officer, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace andSustainable Development(UNESCO MGIEP))
* Moderator: Lea ESPALLARDO (Artist Teacher, Philippine Educational Theater Association(PETA))

1B. Unpacking the Democracy Toolbox: Tools for Truth in a Post-Truth World
Dylan WARY (Director, ThinkShow)

1C. Engaging in Dialogue in a Polarized Society
Cheryl WOELK & KIM Hongseok (Co-founders, Collective Joy Consulting)
* Moderator Jeff PLANTILLA (Researcher, HURIGHTS OSAKA)

Plenary Session 3.Exploring the Role of GCED in Fostering Democratic Communities

The third plenary will focus on the importance of GCED in promoting democratic values, civic engagement, and societal resilience. The session will emphasize how GCED can be harnessed to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes necessary to actively participate in democratic processes and counter democratic backsliding.

- Daniel SCHUGURENSKY (Professor, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University)  
- Rilli LAPPALAINEN (President, Bridge 47)
- W. Andy KNIGHT (Distinguished Professor, University of Alberta)
- Karel FRACAPANE (Team Leader on Memory and Non-Discrimination, Section of Global Citizenship and Peace Education, UNESCO)
* Moderator: Faryal KHAN (Programme Specialist at UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok)

Concurrent Sessions 2.Transformative Education in a Post-Truth Era: GCED in Action

This session will focus on rethinking how GCED is taught, experienced, and accessed in today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape. Amid global challenges such as digital transformation, misinformation, and shifting civic engagement, the session will demonstrate innovative pedagogical approaches, creative learning environments, and accessible educational resources that can empower learners to become active, responsible global citizens.

2A Empowering Educators in a Post-Truth Era: Innovative Pedagogies for Democratic Learning
- Jasmine B. Y. SIM (Associate Professor, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University)
- CHO Hye Seung (Associate Research Fellow, Korean Women’s Development Institute)
- Samsoo SA-U (Assistant Professor, Prince of Songkla University)
- Takaaki FUJIWARA (Emeritus Professor, Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts)
* Moderator: PARK Hwanbo (Professor, Chungnam National University)

2B Revitalizing GCED through Innovative and Dynamic Initiatives
- Rachel PARKER (Founder/Principal Consultant, Global Play Lab) 
- Li-Ching HO (Professor of Social Studies Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison)
- Bert TUGA (President, Philippine Normal University)
- Yoke Pin CHEN (Senior Manager, Arts-ED)
* Moderator: Nausheen ADNAN (Parliamentary Secretary for School Education/ Vice-chairperson, Punjab Education Curriculum Training and Assessment Authority)

2C Special Session on 2023 Recommendation: Education for Peace

- Clement ADIBE (Professor of Political Science, DePaul University)
- Edward VICKERS (UNESCO Chair on Education for Peace, Social Justice and Global Citizenship, Kyushu University)
- Miki SUGIMURA (UNESCO Chair on Education for Human Dignity, Peace and Sustainability, Sophia University)
- HAN Geon Soo (UNESCO Chair on Global Citizenship Education and Cultural Diversity, Kangwon National University)
* Moderator: Obijiofor AGINAM (Director, UNESCO MGIEP)

Concurrent Sessions 3. Restoring Social Cohesion and Trust through GCED 

This session will highlight the importance of inclusive policymaking, accountable governance, and multi-stakeholder partnerships in advancing a culture of peace. The session will examine actionable strategies and policy approaches that place dialogue, inclusion, and collaboration at the forefront—across local, national, and global contexts—to restore social cohesion and rebuild trust in increasingly divided societies.

3A Reclaiming Collective Narratives of Peace
- Hugo FERNANDES (Chief Executive Officer, Centro Nacional Chega!)
- Tanya Wendt SAMU (Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland)
- Ruairí MCKIERNAN (CEO, Irish Development Eduation Association)
* Moderator: CHOI Mee Young (Chief of Education, UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia)

3B Rebuilding Trust in Divided Classrooms and Communities for GCED
- Chutidej SAMRET (Teacher, Bangpakok Witthayakom School)
- Makhrus ALI (Language Trainer, Pondok Pesantren Nurul Huda)
- PARK Bum Chul (Teacher, Kyungmoon High School)
- Karena MENZIE-BALLANTYNE (Senior Lecturer in Education, CQUniversity Australia)
* Moderator: Niry RATSARAZAKA (Associate Programme Specialist, Education Section of UNESCO's Regional Office for Southern Africa)

3C Reconstructing Digital Trust in Fragmented Publics
- Jack WEBSTER (Researcher, University of Auckland)
- Nicole FOURNIER-SYLVESTER (Manager of the Engagement Team, Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence, Public Safety Canada, Government of Canada)
- Salma NOORFITRIA (Co-founder, MIL Lab)
* Moderator: Karel FRACAPANE (Team Leader on Memory and Non-Discrimination, Section of Global Citizenship and Peace Education, UNESCO)

Plenary Session 4 10 Years of IConGCED: Impact, Innovation, and the Future (Reflection sharing)

[Highlights of the 1st~10th IConGCED] (Video)

[Closing Ceremony]