GESS Talks Live

What does the future of work look like in 2030 and beyond? How do we prepare young learners to thrive in the future? This session will seek to explore how the world of work may change globally, what skills and attitudes young people may need and what we can do as educators to ensure their work ready. It will also support educators with the practical tools and educational resources to equip themselves and their learners to embark on this journey now.

Language : English

Topic : Learning Environment

This presentation is a compelling call to action, urging educators and stakeholders to embrace a more holistic view of education. It bridges traditional academic goals with the essential elements of well-being and cultural awareness, making a strong case for why thriving students are essential for a thriving world. By incorporating established educational models and practical strategies, the presentation provides a roadmap for transforming education in line with Vision 2030’s objectives, ensuring that students are not only academically competent but also healthy, culturally aware, and ready to contribute meaningfully to society.

Language : English

Topic : Wellbeing

Join us for a talk on emotional literacy—why it matters and how it transforms school culture. Discover how teaching emotional skills boosts student well-being, resilience, and academic performance. Learn why investing in emotional literacy today builds a more empathetic, successful school community tomorrow.

Language : English

Topic : Wellbeing

The talk will share insights into the following areas: How we relaunched our department from the ground up (culture values vision). How we organically grew our leadership from within. How we positioned our department to lead the whole school transformation. How we became a high performing team. How this lead to innovations such as the high performance PE curriculum. This has fundamentally all been achieved with the same group of individuals that were previously in post.

Language : English

Topic : Digital / eLearning

This interactive session will explore the transformative impact of a multilingual approach in both primary and secondary school settings. Too often, multilingualism is viewed as a challenge to overcome, rather than an asset to embrace. By shifting from a deficit-based mindset to an asset-based model, educators can unlock the full educational, social, and cultural potential of their multilingual learners.Participants will gain practical strategies and research-based insights into how leveraging students' linguistic diversity enhances learning for all and fosters a more inclusive, dynamic school culture. Key Takeaways for Attendees: How educator mindset shapes the multilingual experience in schools A deeper understanding of how languages are learned and maintained Research-backed evidence that multilingual learners can achieve high academic success The benefits of integrating students’ home languages into teaching and learning How to embed multilingual practices across a school

Language : English

Topic : Curriculum

Sam talks candidly about his own mental health struggles, to actively create safety with the audience. This simple act, of showing people how to actually create safety, builds trust and engagement with the audience. Sam then dives deep into the why behind psychological safety, but importantly also backs it up with further tools and techniques required. This engaging talk gives people an experience, leaving them feeling connected to one another, but also empowered to utilise the tools in their own setting or organisation.

Language : English

Topic : Wellbeing

The session will address several key themes, including empowering schools and universities to support youth-led sustainability projects, the role of technology in mobilizing youth for climate action, and the role of partnerships in promoting green education.

Language : Arabic

Topic : Learning Environment

This post explores the role of kindness and simple gestures, such as giving flowers, in enhancing morale and increasing productivity in the workplace. Amid contemporary challenges faced by educational institutions in general, kindness has a significant impact on maintaining and motivating employee morale. Strategies of kind leadership emerge as effective and innovative tools. Through literature review, case studies, and personal experiences, we examine how small acts of kindness can create a positive and motivating work environment. We also discuss the positive impact of these actions on team performance and productivity, offering practical recommendations for leaders in education and other sectors on adopting these strategies to foster interaction and innovation within their teams in educational institutions such as schools and administrations.

Language : English

Topic : Leadership and Management

Scientific session A Platform for Achieving Comprehensive Education and Global Excellence

The Arab Model for Quality and Excellence in Education project represents a commitment to the needs and aspirations of education systems in Arab countries to enhance the global competitiveness of their outcomes and contribute to achieving the indicators of Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all). This is achieved through analysing education systems and leveraging global best practices. This is achieved by developing Arab standards for quality in education that contribute to supporting the aspirations of Arab countries towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

This session will also focus on The Platform Characteristics of the Arab Model for Quality and Excellence in Education & How the centre seeks to digitize and manage the mechanism for managing the Arab model project.

Language : Arabic

Topic : Curriculum

Phil will unpack the findings and learning from his best-selling book 'Happiness Factories and expand on his TEDx talk around the benefits of a positivity-focused approach to teaching and learning. With practical tips and suggestions, Phil will showcase the global work recognised within Happiness Factories, on striking a balance between academic rigour and positivity-based holistic development. He will inspire educational leaders to place positivity and praise-driven strategy at the heart of their own school's development. An upbeat and celebratory look the world of educational practice, Phil will champion the message that we do not need to be Exam Factories to be successful, but we should always strive to place a 'Happiness Factories' approach at the heart of every decision we make as school leaders.

Language : English

Topic : Wellbeing

Assessments can provide valuable feedback to students about their understanding and performance. This feedback helps students identify their strengths and areas for improvement, guiding their learning progress and helping them focus on specific skills or knowledge gaps. However, regularly the opportunity to inform teaching through assessment is either missed or misguided through poor assessment techniques and tools. Understanding the differences between ‘testing’ students and ‘measuring learning’ is a key part of assessment literacy that is often not well understood by teachers. This session will unpack some key aspects of assessment literacy and provide practical examples of measuring learning from ACER’s 95 years of research and experience in assessment.

Language : English

Topic : Innovative Methods / 21st Century Teaching

Small Hands, Big Impact: How Young Changemakers are Leading Sustainability Efforts What if elementary students could take the lead in making their communities more sustainable? In this inspiring session, young changemakers from our AISR elementary Roots & Shoots club will share how they are tackling real-world environmental and social challenges through hands-on projects. From reducing food waste and promoting environmental awareness, these students are proving that age is no barrier to making a difference. Join us as they showcase their journey—from identifying problems to taking meaningful action—demonstrating the power of youth-driven initiatives in shaping a better future. Through their story, educators will gain practical ideas for fostering student agency, service learning, and environmental stewardship in their own classrooms. Be prepared to be inspired, energized, and ready to empower the next generation of changemakers!

Language : English

Topic : Sustainability

Join us for an exclusive one-hour session, where we introduce Teach for the Future—an innovative professional development program developed and implemented by Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA) and the American University of Beirut (AUB). This program is designed to bridge the gap between what students know and how teachers can effectively guide them in emerging topics, equipping educators with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the evolving landscape of education. The session will provide insights into the program's key modules, including: AI in Education – Harnessing technology for enhanced learning experiences Climate Change – Understanding sustainability in education Personalized Learning – Tailoring instruction to meet diverse student needs Leadership – Building effective leadership skills Child Development & Psychology – Understanding how children learn and grow

Language : English

Topic : Recruitment and Development

Language : English

Topic : Motivation / Coaching

In today’s dynamic educational landscape, staying ahead means continuously evolving—both as a teacher and a leader. But for busy educators, finding time for growth can be a challenge. This session explores how flexible, research-driven online programs—up to the doctoral level—are helping educators sharpen their practice, lead with confidence, and shape the future of learning. From understanding cutting-edge educational trends to learning how to integrate AI tools into your teaching practice, discover how upskilling can fit into your life, empower your career, and position you at the forefront of change.

Language : English

Topic : Digital / eLearning

This workshop focuses on guiding employees on how to transition from being an ordinary employee to a professional by acquiring high-performance skills and adhering to professionalism standards in the workplace. It will address strategies for self-development and enhancing personal and professional skills, contributing to improved performance, increased efficiency, and creativity.

Language : English

Topic : Motivation / Coaching

Students benefit from well/planned, integrated, thematic units that incorporate strategies that lead students from developing motivation around learning a topic, explicitly learning the content, and applying their learning through rich-language experiences. In this session, we will explore how planning and preparation can be enhanced by leveraging AI to support building units and specific strategies. We will briefly explore how students can also leverage AI in ways that enhance, and not detract from learning.

Language : English

Topic : Digital / eLearning

A “prepared environment” is a space intentionally designed to foster children’s independence, exploration, and self-directed learning, central to Montessori education. It is organized to be accessible, inviting, and orderly, allowing children to engage with activities at their own pace. This setup encourages autonomy, responsibility, and confidence while nurturing each child’s natural curiosity. Materials are a key component of this environment. They are hands-on, self-correcting tools that help children learn through active engagement and discovery. Simple, purposeful items like the Pink Tower, Sandpaper Letters, and Golden Beads promote sensory exploration, cognitive development, and fine motor skills. These materials encourage children to solve problems independently, enhancing concentration and critical thinking. A prepared environment, with its carefully chosen materials, empowers children to explore, learn, and grow at their own pace.

Language : English

Topic : Learning Environment

The Leadership Journey is a continuous path of learning and growth, starting with self-discovery and skill development, progressing to understanding and influencing others, and ultimately achieving goals and driving change. It is not just a position or authority but an art that balances vision and inspiration with wisdom and decision-making to create a successful and impactful environment.

Language : English

Topic : Leadership and Management

The Art of Speaking the Language of Inclusion explores the powerful role that language plays in fostering inclusive environments. This presentation delves into how we can use our words and communication styles to create a welcoming, respectful, and supportive space for everyone, regardless of background, ability, or identity. Through practical examples, discussions, and interactive exercises, participants will learn how to speak inclusively, with an emphasis on empathy, respect, and understanding. The talk will cover essential strategies for using language to break down barriers, promote diversity, and ensure all voices are heard and valued.

Language : English///Arabic

Topic : SEN / Gifted & Talented

The Change Turbine Project is a digital innovation and creativity space where students meet like-minded individuals, build friendships, collaborate, innovate, and invent. These often involve computer science, machine learning, industry, science, and digital fields. The Change Turbine Project deploys innovation one project at a time, focusing on hands-on, do-it-yourself (or do-it-with-others) learning where students come together around a range of activities, including textile making, robotics, cooking, woodcraft, electronics, digital fabrication, mechanical repair, or construction—in short, making almost anything. This focus on creative learning is one of the reasons why the Change Turbine Project is seen by educators as a key to innovation and an ideal way to set students up for future success.

Language : Arabic

Topic : Innovative Methods / 21st Century Teaching

The presentation is about the school's initiative to recognize each student's uniqueness and empower them to achieve their full potential. The presentation discusses the gap the initiative aims to bridge, its strategies, goals, and objectives and the school's journey in achieving it

Language : English

Topic : Learning Environment

As Saudi Arabia’s international schools market grows, the demand for high-quality educators continues to rise. However, competition from other GCC countries and shifting workforce dynamics present significant challenges in attracting and retaining top talent. Join Sami Yosef, Head of Global Research at ISC Research, for exclusive, data-driven insights from the Teacher Movement Report 2024 , shedding light on key recruitment and retention trends in the country. Additionally, we will explore how bilingual CPD can serve as a strategic tool to nurture and retain local talent, featuring insights from Misk Schools' pioneering bilingual leadership programme. Join us to discover actionable strategies that will strengthen your recruitment pipeline, enhance teacher retention, and create inclusive professional growth opportunities—ensuring long-term success for educators and international schools in Saudi Arabia.

Language : English

Topic : Recruitment and Development

Visual and Intellectual Identity Dimensions Session.

This session will be linked to the first session of the Arab Model, and will engage the target audience, thinkers, and specialists in developing a common Arab visual identity that reflects the identity of the Arab Model and builds on its components. 

Language : Arabic

Topic : Curriculum