Futures of education: the impact
The Futures of Education Initiative was a once-in-a-generation global visioning exercise 鈥 the third led by UNESCO since the 1970鈥檚 at critical junctures in history. Just like previous milestone reports, it has had an impact on the framing of contemporary debates in education, policy dialogue, research and action.
High-level political dialogue on education, particularly in spurring progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, has been reinforced by the vision of 鈥鈥. The principles of the report have guided normative work within UNESCO. And, crucially, the report has sparked dialogue at national and local levels about education in the local context.
Key figures
Major UN initiatives inspired by the Futures of Education
Transforming Education Summit
As part of the Transforming Education Summit process (16-19 September 2022), countries were invited to consult the Futures of Education report to devise their country commitments to spur progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4. Some 142 countries shared commitments, many of which were informed by national and sub-national consultations. Most of the themes of the commitments were addressed in the Futures of Education Report and progress towards the commitments are being monitored by UNESCO and tracked on the SDG4 Dashboard.
UN Secretary-General Policy Brief
The Futures of Education report provided the framing for the UN Secretary General鈥檚 Policy Brief on Transforming Education (July 2023), elaborating on his vision for the future as laid out in . The set of 11 Policy Briefs on key issues will be the foundation for discussions at the in September 2024 to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda and beyond.
Major UNESCO initiatives inspired by the Futures of Education
Beyond Limits
New Ways to Reinvent Higher Education
Higher education has a strategic and irreplaceable role to play in building more sustainable, resilient and peaceful societies. The roadmap entitled 鈥 that was presented in the 3rd World Higher Education Conference (WHEC2022) held in Barcelona May 2022 outlines a vision to rethink, reimagine, and reinvent Higher Education in light of the challenges and opportunities associated with global threats faced by humanity and the planet. It addresses the evolving landscape of higher education institutions, outlines six principles to shape the futures of higher education, identifies major challenges in reinventing higher education, and proposes practical approaches to translate dialogue into action and results. Developed in parallel with the Futures of Education Initiative (2019-2021), it draws upon similar observations and principles, and was inspired by the interim reports of the International Commission.
Marrakech Framework for Action
CONFINTEA VII - Seventh International Conference on Adult Education
Adult education is recognized as an essential element of the right to education. The Marrakech Framework for Action, adopted at the in June 2022 by representatives of over 140 countries, committed to translating the vision of a right to lifelong learning into reality. Consistent with the 2030 Agenda, this new framework for action provides an opportunity to guide the implementation of some of the recommendations of the Report of the International Commission on the Futures of Education with its focus on transformative learning and education.
Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development
Building more peaceful, just, and sustainable societies starts with education. The new 2023 UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace and Human Rights, International Understanding, Cooperation, Fundamental Freedoms, Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development, adopted in is a landmark guidance document that defines what needs to evolve in and through education to accomplish these goals. The new Recommendation is inspired by the 鈥Futures of Education鈥 report that highlighted the need for a more relevant and forward-looking vision for teaching, learning, and innovating, particularly updating the concepts such as new understandings of peace; education for sustainable development; global citizenship education; gender equality; and education in the digital era.
Global report on teachers
Addressing teacher shortages and transforming the profession
Teachers are central to unlocking every learner鈥檚 potential and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 of inclusive, equitable and quality education for all. Echoing calls from the International Commission on the Futures of Education, the advocates for dignifying, diversifying, and valorizing the teaching profession. New data collected for the report indicates that 44 million additional teachers are needed to achieve universal primary and secondary education by 2030. Shortages are widespread, with sub-Saharan Africa needing 15 million more teachers, while higher-income countries face retention challenges, resulting in teachers massively leaving the profession.
