Inspired by Global Big Education Conversations

On International Education Day, January 24th, Big Change and partners hosted the first-ever Big Education Conversation Global Relay (BEC) at the Learning Planet Festival.

Officially launched as a global initiative at the UN Transforming Education Summit 2022, the Big Education Conversation supports people and communities around the world to come together to talk about what education is really for.

I have hosted a Big Education Conversation with primary school children in Uganda and it was amazing to just listen to them about their ideas on the purpose of education. I am so excited to be joining this conversation today on the international day of education.
Eunice Lynda Nakaibale, Uganda

I’ve heard responses and ideas I have never heard before.
Andrew Speight, England, UK

It’s really interesting how different parts of the world are looking at the same issue.
Charlie Connell-Tobin, Community Associate, Learning Creates Australia

Personally, I think the purpose of education should be to educate solutionaries: individuals who are equipped to use their personal talents and interests for solving the issues we are facing as a world community.
Bart Dankaerts, Netherlands

Education is not just all about individual development, but about growing in relation to the community around you
Richard Fransham, Canada

If education should be a process that enables learners to discover and define their purposes, concerns, interests, and questions then they need time and space and a safe culture to do this. I propose 20% of school curriculum time to be allocated to this – for a start.
Derry Hannam, UK

Seven years of biology classes didn’t help me understand how to care for my body and mind. I believe the purpose of education should go beyond developing our intellect. We need learning ecosystems that nurture our whole beings and support us in building deep attunement with ourselves and others. This includes understanding how our emotional health, physical well-being, and the community around us are all interconnected.
Eva Keiffenheim, Austria

My small commitment to big change would be to make connections, and speak to more people rather than speaking at people. To listen to what people have to say, and try to talk to the people who aren’t the first to speak, who might have opinions but aren’t quick to share them.
Vincent, Community Associate, Learning Creates Australia

What are you – as my school, teacher, or system – doing to help me discover my strengths, apart from loading me with a rote curriculum methodology? Why am I not a part of your planning board room?
Young person

I will continue to work with young people, where their voices are being heard and put them in the positions with decision-makers to have their lived experiences and ideas put across and heard.
Jade Ellis

I will keep the conversation going with our young people at YLUK – find new ways for young people to connect together to strengthen their reach and amplify their voices on BECs to express their purpose for education.
Mehran Mokri

Talk to more people about the need to have more young voices at the table when education is concerned.
Sharon

Invite more people to share their experiences, insights, and vision for change and create a platform so others have the opportunity to listen – so we can all keep learning and transforming together.
Lauren

To work more with Austrians schools to involve them in the international programs we organise at Salzburg Global.
Dominic Regester

I am going to ensure I challenge the purpose of education and encourage others to view education as a tool to equip students to “take on life.
De’Ann Edwards

I pledge to continue to support the Big Education Conversation and have a Big Education Conversation with my husband who is a newly qualified teacher.
Bethan

We will screen a movie (Most Likely to Succeed) in a whole community event and have a discussion afterwards. The plan is to host these kinds of gatherings and conversations a couple of times a year in order to keep the conversations about the purpose of education going as a community.