IB Global Conference meets in Middle East for first time

More than 1,600 teachers and school leaders gathered in Abu Dhabi to hear new ideas and share best practice

More than 1,600 teachers and school leaders convened when the International Baccalaureate (IB) hosted its first Global Conference in the Middle East.

The October 24-26 gathering in Abu Dhabi – the largest annual event of its kind in the Africa, Europe and Middle East (AEM) region – opened with an address by Her Excellency Jameela AlMuhairi, minister of state for general education.

Announcements included the launch of a partnership with Apex2100 and HIVE Learning to create a mobile app focused on athletic performance and wellbeing, while delegates also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the IB’s Middle Years Programme (MYP) with the announcement of a student innovators’ grant for MYP students.


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“As new global challenges emerge from an unprecedented pace of change, an IB education, based on the IB learner profile with its distinct set of attributes, is more relevant and necessary than ever to the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Dr Siva Kumari, the IB’s director general.

An IB education […] is more relevant and necessary than ever to the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Other speakers included former England rugby union coach, Sir Clive Woodward; Tina Blythe, director of learning and outreach at Harvard Project Zero; and Rosan Bosch, who discussed the significant impact of design on behaviour in learning spaces.

Alongside these keynote presentations, delegates attended more than 100 professional development sessions, covering everything from international-mindedness to academic honesty, inclusion to co-teaching.