Conference Agenda

Attendees will join the virtual platform and have the opportunity to network with each other through #GEC24 hashtag on all social media platforms. They can post and tweet and share their insights to inspire green education transformation discussion.

Announcing Top 10 Universities around the globe committed to Green Education Transformation and sustainability in leadership, curriculum, research, innovation, and community partnerships. World Green University Ranking 2025 will be live on all platforms on 1st January 2025.

Mr. Ibrahim Farouq will trace the transformative journey from Education 1.0 to Green Education 6.0, exploring how educational models have progressively integrated environmental consciousness, sustainability principles, and ecological thinking into core curriculum and institutional practices. The discourse will map the evolutionary stages of educational development, highlighting key transitions: from knowledge transmission (Education 1.0) to interactive learning (Education 2.0), technology-enhanced pedagogies (Education 3.0), AI and personalized learning experiences (Education 4.0), to social emotional learning and adaptive pedagogy (Education 5.0). The emerging Green Education 6.0 represents a holistic model that fundamentally reframes educational objectives, embedding ecological literacy, systems thinking, and sustainable development as intrinsic elements of learning across disciplines. By analyzing institutional strategies, curriculum innovations, and pedagogical approaches, this presentation will demonstrate how Green Education 6.0 is not merely an environmental add-on, but a comprehensive paradigm shift that prepares learners to become responsible global citizens capable of addressing complex socio-ecological challenges through integrated, innovative, and transformative educational practices.

Professor Karen Ragoonaden will share her insights on how innovative teacher education and development programs can empower educators and foster inclusive policies of Greed Education Transformation. Particular emphasis will be placed on UBC’s Rural and Remote Education (RRED) Teacher Education Program which supports early career educators’ in hybrid learning environments using relational, inclusive, interactive, multi-modal, and accessible learning design and resources. RRED explicitly attends to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID) in teacher education structures, curricula, and assessment. Specific EDID structures and practices strive to advance educational opportunities for Indigenous, Racialized, Disabled, and LGBTQ+ teacher candidates by recognizing access to higher education as a social good for a better, more just, and equitable world.

Professor Omar Ramzy will discuss the increasing global demand for sustainable practices, emphasizing the importance of integrating Green Education and Education for Sustainable Development across educational institutions. Particular emphasis will be placed on the significance of linking Green Education and Education for Sustainable Development in Egypt’s educational system to foster environmental awareness, promote eco-friendly practices and preparing students to meet future sustainability challenges

Professor Marianne Mensah will explore how Green education fosters community transformation by integrating community engagement, science-based knowledge, and creative thinking into its curriculum—key drivers of transformative solutions. Designers play a vital role to facilitate this inclusive and multidisciplinary processes by focusing on behavior change and livelihoods. Besign, an international school of design, places sustainability, climate mitigation, and adaptation at the heart of its curriculum, working with community stakeholders to create innovative products, services, and ecosystems. Prof. Mensha will showcase methodologies and projects that highlight community transformation

Kate Jones will explore how UNESCO Learning Cities lead efforts to green communities by offering inclusive lifelong learning opportunities. This intervention will draw upon inspiring experiences from the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC). From harnessing digital technologies to deliver environmental education in an engaging manner to equipping youth to act as powerful agents for change, learning cities across the globe are undertaking a wide variety of innovative efforts to ensure learners from diverse backgrounds are equipped to respond to climate change and create regenerative localities.

Professor Diane Grayson will emphasize the critical importance of integrating climate change concepts into academic programs in educational instituations. She will showcase Climate Change and Me (CCM), an interdisciplinary online course designed for all first-year students at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. This innovative course engages students in learning and thinking about climate change from diverse perspectives, encouraging them to think critically about potential actions they can take and preparing them to address one of the most urgent global challenges. The course features prespectives from young activists, integrates academic skill development, and concludes with actionable outcomes.

Thomas Schwab will address Education for Sustainable Development and competences oriented lifelong learning as answer to recent AI developments. To prepare the learners for acting in a world with AI in many applications, the learning facilitators will need to foster competencies of the learners so that they can solve complex problems. He will emphasize the 4Cs: creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking and draw connections between ESD concepts, such as \"design competence,\" and their role in equipping learners and educators to navigate a rapidly evolving, AI-driven world.

Professor Almamari will explore how integrating traditional arts, such as ceramics, into educational curricula can play an important role in developing students’ creative skills at different stages of the educational process. The art of ceramics is notably distinguishable from the rest of the fine arts in that its stages of education are built on the purely applied scientific aspects on which the artistic field is based. In educational settings, connections between ceramics art and the natural sciences, mathematics, geography, geology and other subjects can be found.

Yasmin Mansour will explore the essential role of sustainable, green facilities and operations in higher education institutions in fostering environmental stewardship and promoting sustainable practices among students and staff. Implementing green facilities involves redesigning infrastructure to meet sustainability standards, utilizing renewable energy sources, and enhancing water conservation efforts. Additionally, these facilities often serve as living laboratories for students, providing hands-on learning experiences in sustainability practices and environmental science. By integrating sustainability into the curriculum and campus life, institutions can cultivate a culture of responsibility and awareness among future leaders.

Prof. Sreeramana Aitha will present recent advancements in green innovations, emphasizing their importance in achieving sustainable development through Universal technologies—an integration of ICCT and nanotechnologies. With a focus on eco-friendly technologies, renewable energy, and the circular economy, he will examine how these innovations address key issues like climate change, resource conservation, and socio-economic growth. He will also present actionable recommendations that emphasize strategies for maximizing the effectiveness of green technologies in balancing present needs with those of future generations.

Prof. Hanan El Shair will delve into a comprehensive review of recent research examining how researchers approach key environmental issues, tackling climate change, resource management, renewable energy, and conservation. By analyzing these studies, we can identify best practices that could inform an educational approach rooted in green principles. She will highlight effective methods for integrating green research insights into curricula, promoting interdisciplinary learning, and fostering eco-conscious mindsets among students. Prof. El Shair will present a framework for green education that goes beyond traditional environmental studies by embedding sustainability across various subjects and grade levels.

Professor Deepshikha Aggarwal will explore the concept of “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD), which encourages individuals to use their personal devices for work or study. This approach is gaining widespread adoption across both corporate and educational settings. In the education sector, BYOD offers notable benefits, including cost savings, the convenience of familiar devices, and its alignment with green learning principles. Higher education institutions are increasingly adapting their IT strategies to cater to the growing demand for anytime, anywhere connectivity and technology-driven learning. These adaptations include upgrading network infrastructure by enhancing bandwidth, expanding access points, and addressing critical security concerns.

Prof. Wahab Ali will highlight the critical role of empowering educators through professional development, innovative teaching strategies, and interdisciplinary approaches; particular emphasis will be placed on how such efforts can cultivate a generation of change leaders capable of inspiring transformative action toward sustainability, environmental responsibility, and societal well-being. He will present A meta-analysis methodology adopted for a scoping review to conceptualize the role of teacher education and development in green education transformation.