Innovative Education: Bridging Gaps and Building Futures

Digital conference on November 14 & 15, 2024

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Education is universally recognized as a cornerstone of development and a vital tool for addressing global challenges. It is also a fundamental human right, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to fulfill their learning needs through lifelong learning. Despite this, significant challenges around access and quality of education remain.

seeks to address these issues by promoting inclusive, equitable, and quality education while fostering lifelong learning opportunities for everyone.

This conference will examine the state of education across various regions worldwide, highlighting the barriers and challenges that persist. International education experts will discuss how digital technologies and innovative approaches can transform education and help build a more equitable learning environment for all. #byalumnsforalumns

Why should you attend?

Hear inspiring presentations, participate in interactive workshops, and gain new insights into the key challenges facing global education!
Collaborate on innovative ideas to overcome barriers and advance equitable and inclusive learning opportunities for all!
Network with international experts from education and related fields to shape the future of education together!

AGENDA & SPEAKERS

📅 Thursday, 14 November 2024, 3:00 - 5:00 PM (CET)

The first day of the conference features a keynote speech and a panel discussion on barriers and solutions for inclusive education.

KEYNOTE SPEECH: "The Impact of Affirmative Action on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education"

This talk will examine how different countries implement Affirmative Action and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives to foster more inclusive and accessible education systems. Drawing on examples from various nations, we will highlight the global movement towards DEI in education, which seeks to create learning environments where individuals, regardless of background, are equally valued and included.

We will begin by analyzing how affirmative action policies in the United States have aimed to enhance racial diversity in higher education. In Germany, the focus has been on integrating immigrants and refugees into the education system, alongside efforts to support marginalized groups such as the Roma and Sinti communities, thus fostering inclusion in an increasingly diverse society. Additionally, we will explore how affirmative action measures in countries like South Africa, Brazil, and India - particularly India’s long-standing caste-based reservation system - serve to uplift historically disadvantaged communities, offering distinctive models of affirmative action in education.

Finally, the presentation will illuminate the various approaches countries are taking to promote educational equity, providing valuable insights into how we can create more inclusive educational systems worldwide.

🕐 | 3:15-3:40 PM (CET)

Raju Kendre

Raju Kendre is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of , a passionate social entrepreneur, educator, and development scientist. He combines academic excellence with hands-on experience to advance higher education and leadership opportunities for historically marginalized communities. His vision includes establishing an interdisciplinary university in central India to address gaps in education and inclusion. Through action-based research, Raju is working to theorize his experiences on caste and caste-based discussions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the Indian education and development sectors.

Raju holds a Master of Science in Development Studies from the University of London, which he earned as a Chevening Scholar. He is a prestigious Ashoka Fellow, an Echoing Green Fellow, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and an Inlaks Fellow. His work and thought leadership have been featured on global and national platforms, including Forbes 30 Under 30, TEDx, BBC, The Hindu, and many more. Committed to building a more equitable and just India for historically underserved communities, Raju aspires to dedicate his life to this mission.

He is currently a of the , hosted by the , where he is conducting research on "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education: A Comparative Study of Higher Education Systems in Germany and India."

To Raju Kendre's community profile

PANEL DISCUSSION: "Unlocking Access: Overcoming Challenges in Inclusive Education"

🕐 | 3:40 - 4:40 PM (CET)

What is the role of digital technologies and innovative approaches in achieving a more equitable and inclusive education system? This panel discussion brings together international educational experts — academics, practitioners, and entrepreneurs — to discuss the situation of education in different parts of the world as well as existing challenges and barriers. They bring examples and best practices from their fields of work to the discussion to show how a more equitable educational landscape for all can be achieved.

Chaired by

Ngozi Edeagu

Ngozi Edeagu is an education expert strongly committed to impacting and improving educational opportunities for young people. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, she attended public and private educational institutions in Nigeria, England, Germany, the Philippines and Iran, while her academic research has taken her to other countries around the world. She is currently an Advisory Board Member of and lends her expertise to their annual selection process of education innovations. Her experience in the area of education covers teaching in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions; private tutoring; administrative, management and leadership roles in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions; parent advocacy and representation, and alumni relations. Her research portfolio includes the gamification of nutrition in secondary schools and higher education scholarships for Nigerians.

Ngozi hosted the “Social entrepreneurs for inclusive education” workshop during the that highlighted the expertise and contributions of Germany alumni as social entrepreneurs towards the 2030 Agenda, and offered a platform for exchange and inspired and initiated new ideas. Ngozi recently completed her PhD in history (summa cum laude) at the Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies, , Germany, under a DAAD scholarship. She obtained her MSc in African Studies from the University of Oxford and her BA (Hons.) in History (first class honours) from the University of Nigeria.

To Ngozi Edeagu's community profile

Panelists

© privat
© privat
Virna Julisa López Castro
Since 1987 Virna Julisa López Castro works at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras and also at the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco Morazán as a professor. Her main professional field has been Medical Genetics after a specialization at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. After her PhD Virna also works on the field of Biology of Learning at the UNAH, as well as Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

She has been member and former president of the Agencia Centroamericana de Acreditación de Posgrados and founder of the national chapter of the .

Virna Julisa López Castro on ResearchGate
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© private
Diana Knodel
Diana Knodel, founder of EdTech startups and , is at the forefront of integrating AI and digital tools into education. With a rich background in computer science, psychology, and educational research, Diana has been pivotal in enhancing teaching and learning experiences. Her initiatives, fobizz, Germany's largest professional development platform for teachers, and the non-profit App Camps, aim to digitize classroom learning and empower educators in their digital transformation journeys.
Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Diana contributed her expertise as a research assistant, product manager, and visiting professor at the . Her commitment to education extends to authoring children's books on coding, published in 2017 and 2020, and serving on the Council since 2018.

Diane Knodel auf LinkedIn
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© private
Chinedu Isagbah
Programs and Policy Development Consultant / Legal writer and Advisor / Public Speaker

Chinedu Isagbah is a Program Manager at CAIN Educational Foundation, where he designs and implements impactful programs to enhance educational outcomes for underprivileged children. With over a decade of experience in the development space, he founded the , launching key projects like the Tambaya Accountability Initiative and Winning All Youth Project. A THEIRWORLD Global Youth Ambassador (2020-2023), Chinedu advocates for Early Childhood Education and founded EDU-CONVO AFRICA to foster discussions and solutions around SDG 4. With a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Jos, his expertise spans project management, policy formulation, and monitoring & evaluation. Chinedu an alumnus of the Social Justice Academy and CISCO Academy as well as a Regional coordinator of the , West Africa.

To Chinedu Isagbah's profile

📅 Friday, 15 November 2024, 3:00 - 5:00 PM (CET)

WORKSHOP: "Inclusive and Digital Education Solutions"

This event will explore the challenges and opportunities of effectively integrating digital tools in four key sectors: Agricultural Education, Environmental Education, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Education, and Inclusive Education.

We are excited to feature experts from different countries, each presenting case studies that highlight successful strategies and innovations within their respective fields. Their insights will pave the way for meaningful discussions on how to enhance the use of digital tools in education.

Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate in breakout rooms, where they will discuss specific challenges and agree on actionable statements to improve digital education within their sectors. Together, we will work towards policy suggestions that can facilitate the effective integration of digital resources, ensuring that our education system meets the needs of future generations.

Join us in shaping a more impactful and inclusive education landscape. Your voice matters—let’s bridge gaps and build futures together!

The workshop will be hosted by education experts from the

SPEAKERS

© ISA Alumni
© ISA Alumni
Mmachukwu Obimdike
Mmachukwu Obimdike is a passionate forester, environmentalist, sustainability advocate and environmental educator. With over 6 years of professional experience in environmental education and ecosystem restoration, she founded the in Nigeria. Through this organization, Mmachukwu develops a project-based approach to contribute to the global climate action target. She believes that through nurturing skills in Environment - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (E-STEM), she would build a workforce ready for transitioning to the green economy which leaves no one behind.

Through her contribution to environmental education, Mmachukwu was awarded EE 30Under30 by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and received the WeNaturalist People of Nature Award under the category Environmental Educator of the Year 2023. She’s an alumnus fellow of the International Sustainability Academy (ISA), a program of the Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald (SDW), Landesverband Hamburg e.V. Germany. Through the professional and personal development obtained during the ISA program, she developed an educational toolkit for environmental education for young learners.

Mmachukwu is currently a DAAD Scholarship holder studying for an MSc in Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation (LENC) at the University of Greifswald, Germany. She also received the Three Cairns Fellow award to study the Topical Forest Landscape Online Certificate Programme with the Yale School of Environment.
© ISA Alumni
© ISA Alumni
Prof. Pawan Kumar Sharma
Dr. Pawan Kumar Sharma is Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics and presently heading the Division of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management in Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu (J&K), India. He is having more than 17 years of experience in teaching, research, and extension activities involving farmers for technology demonstrations & standardization. Dr. Pawan has guided more than 15 PG/Ph.D. students in agricultural economics. He has been engaged in teaching courses related to environmental economics and natural resource economics. Dr. Sharma is involved in developing, testing, and refining climate friendly and sustainable agriculture technologies for dissemination to the farmers through frontline demonstrations.

He is a fellow of International Sustainability Academy (ISA), Hamburg, Germany and worked on the exploration of innovative climate-resilient technologies for sustainable production under climate change. He has handled more than 10 externally funded national and international projects, including that of The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE)-ICIMOD, Nepal. He has done extensive work on mitigating the effect of climate change through crop insurance and conservation practices. Dr. Sharma has published more than 40 research papers on different aspects of agriculture in journals of national and international repute. He has also published more than 06 books and 10 extension bulletins. 
© ISA Alumni
© ISA Alumni
Ritu Malhotra
Ritu Malhotra, popularly known as the SDG Educator of India, is the founder of ARC (www.arcedtech.com), a social-impact organization providing print and digital solutions for integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Climate Change Education and Global Citizenship in school curriculum. Ritu is a climate activist and is the recipient of the prestigious ‘Sarojini Naidu Award’ for women. She is an eloquent speaker and is invited in various countries to share her views on ‘the impact of education for sustainable development on the future of our planet’.

She was a fellow at the International Sustainability Academy, Hamburg, Germany where she explored multiple ways to tackle climate change. An educator at heart, Ritu is passionate about educating the youth. She has received her education at Lady Shri Ram, DU and NYU, New York. She has worked at Oxford University Press, Dorling Kindersley, Heritage Xperiential Learning School, National Skill Development and Corporation and Step By Step School Noida, and so on.

The program is subject to short-term changes.

Organizers

The conference is organized by the Alumniportal Deutschland in cooperation with the .

The Alumniportal Deutschland is a social network designed to promote networking and sharing of information among Germany alumni, companies, universities and organisations. It offers its community members the opportunity to get in touch with each other in order to discuss specialist issues, develop their skills and benefit from the expertise of others.

The ISA Alumni Network brings together all alumni of the into a collective of experts committed to the ongoing impact of their sustainable projects in their respective countries. The network aims to foster continuous project success through mutually beneficial collaborations among alumni, facilitate the creation of financial and technical partnerships, raise awareness of sustainable development goals, and support current ISA fellows with essential skills and expertise.