Background：
The Global Education Deans’ Forum (GEDF) has been jointly initiated since 2018 by Professor Yuan Zhenguo, Dean of the Faculty of Education at East China Normal University (ECNU), and Professor Rick Ginsberg, Dean of the School of Educationand Human Sciencesat the University of Kansas (KU) to establish a platform for dialogue and cooperation among leaders of high-level schools of education in the world, promoting deep dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collective action to address global challenges. The first forum released theGEDF Communique, emphasizing that education is not only the cornerstone of national development but also the key to a shared human future; schools of education must transcend geographical and disciplinary boundaries to lead educational innovation, cultivate future teachers, and promote educational equity.
Since 2018, with Shanghai as its foundation, GEDF has successfully held six offline forums and three online exchange meetings in cities including Shanghai, Boston, Dublin, Nashville, and Lijiang. So far, in the past year, it has attracted over 200 deans and representatives from nearly 30 countries and regions, evolving into a premier stage for high-level global dialogue. The forum has built a network of global mutual trust and a stable core participant group, fostering cross-cultural and cross-national exchange and cooperation. The agenda has expanded from initial topics likeInternationalization and Teacher Training to cutting-edge fields such asEducational Equity, Digital Transformation, AI in education, and Education for Sustainable Development. Many collaborative programs have been incubated, including the Online Dialogues Series of GEDF Deans’ Vision of Shared Education Futures (15 episodes so far), the Asian Education Doctoral Student Institute (AEDSI) (5 sessions so far), and the co-edited book on global comparative projects in higher education.
Currently, we are navigating a period characterized by “profound changes unseen in a century”. Human society faces a dual reality of immense challenges and great hope, marked by worsening deficits in peace, development, security and governance. Simultaneously, a new round of technological revolution and industria transformation is developing rapidly, leading to a significant shift in the international balance of power. As a fundamental force for human progress, education plays a vital role in this era of transformation. Against this backdrop, global educational leaders must collaborate to address several core issues:
How can we uphold the fundamental mission and humanistic core of education amidst complex global shifts and technological waves?
How can we build a new global education ecosystem that bridges digital and cognitive divides while promoting inclusion, equity, and sustainability?
How shouldschools ofeducation reinvent themselves to become engines that lead social change and cultivate the talent of the new era?
The 7th GEDF, to be held this October, is more than a routine dialogue; it is a collective reflection and call to action at a critical historical juncture. We invite global deans to move beyond discussions of technical applications toexploreEducation’sDingli (Dingli is a Chinese term which meansstrategic resolve and unwavering commitment in education)—the core values, principles, and missions that sustain the essence of education and its unique role in promoting peace, development, and mutual learning among civilizations.
Following the success of the 5th GEDF in Shanghai and Lijiang, a “Duo-City” model has been adopted to deepen the experience of Chinese educational practice. The 7th GEDF will continue to take place in the international metropolis ofShanghaiand the historic cultural capital ofXi’an, China.
Shanghai, the co-founding city and birthplace of GEDF, witnessed the first (2018) and second (2019) forums laying the cornerstone for cooperation and dialogue, and the fifth (2024) edition deepening discussions on the AI era. As a frontier of China's educational modernization and digitalization, Shanghai offers a window into the latest Chinese educational philosophies and practices.East China Normal University is a prestigious research university and one of the Category A universities in China’s Double First-Class University Program. It is renowned for its leadership in teacher education, education policy, the innovation of educational theories and the reform of educational practices, while actively fostering global engagement through extensive international collaborations and a vibrant academic community.
Xi'an was the capital city of 13 dynasties in ancient China and the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. It isan important cradle of Chinese civilization and a living museum carrying thousands of years of history.As the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, Xi’an became a global hub for trade, culture, and religious exchange. The Terracotta Army, discovered in 1974, epitomizes the grandeur of the Qin Empire, while the City Wall from the Ming Dynasty stands as a testament to its enduring legacy. Hundreds of governmental leaders home and abroad have visited here. Shaanxi Normal University, the co-host of GEDF 2026, is a national key university in China’s Double First-Class University Program. It is dedicated to advancing educational practices and cultural heritage, playing a vital role in promoting educational development across western China. Arranging Xi’an as the second part is precisely to allow participants to get animmersive experience of the fusion between cultural heritage and vigorous modern development.
Theme:
Education’sDingli
(Dingliis a Chinese term which meansstrategic resolve and unwavering commitment in education)
Time:
October 22 (Thursday) to October 27 (Tuesday), 2026
Shanghai Part: October 22 to October 24
Xi’an Part: October 24 to October 26 (optional)
Objectives and Tasks:
Overall Goal:
The 7th GEDF will focus on how schools of education can maintain strategic focus and cultivate high-quality individuals with high agency. The forum will release a joint declaration, sending out the professional voice of deans to the world to promote a more equitable, inclusive, resilient, and vibrant global education ecosystem.
Specific Tasks:
Deepen Philosophical Dialogue:Discuss “Education’sDingli” and clarify the dialectical relationship between what changes and what remains constant.
Forge Global Consensus:Release a consensus document outlining the fundamental positions and development ideals of education.
Promote Cultural Exchange:Learn about Chinese educational practice and historical depth through school and historical sites visit in Shanghai and Xi’an.
Main contents:
Part 1: Shanghai (October 22-24)
Venue:East China Normal University, Shanghai
Main Activities:
Opening Ceremony and Keynote Speeches
High-level Dialogue of Main Forum: Upholding Educational Values and Missions
Parallel Panels for specialized thematic discussions
Review and finalize of theShanghai Consensusof Global Education Deanson Education’s Dingli
Visits tolocal schools in Shanghai for knowledge of the practices of China’s educational modernization
Part 2: Xi’an (October24-26)
Venue:Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an
Main Activities：
Thematic Seminar：Exploring the contemporary insights of educational wisdom from ancient civilizations
In-depth Cultural and EducationalVisit:
Visits tolocalschools in Xi’an to observe the integration of traditional culture and modern education.
Visits to World Heritage Sites, including the Terracotta Army of the Qin Dynasty, the Ancient City Wall, and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Museum tours to understand Chinese history and culture.
Schedule (Detailed agendawill be sent later)
* Recommended Arrival in Shanghai on October 21 (Wednesday)
October 22ndMorning Registration
Afternoon School Visit
October 23rdMorning Keynote Speeches, Panel Discussion
Afternoon Group discussions, Review and Reports
October 24thMorning TED-style Educational Innovation Sharing/Discussion on Consensus Initiative/GEDF Future Plans
Afternoon Departure for Xi’an
October 25thFull-day Historical Sites Visit in Xi’an
October 26thMorning Seminar at Shaanxi Normal University
Afternoon School Visit
October 27thDeparture
Contact information
The Organizing Team of GEDF 2026
Faculty of Education
East China Normal University
Shanghai, China
email:gedf@ecnu.edu.cn
GEDF (Twitter): @GEDF2018
