Educators Shaping Futures

WHEN

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ORGANIZERS

BACKGROUND

Globally, there is a critical shortage of qualified teachers, with an estimated additional 44 million primary and secondary school teachers and 6 million preprimary teachers needed by 2030. High-quality initial teacher education (ITE) and continuous professional development (CPD) are crucial for addressing this challenge and ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all. This event aims to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing to improve teacher preparation and professional development worldwide.

We invite you to mark your calendars for this upcoming event — Educators Shaping Futures: A Global Knowledge Exchange on Teacher Preparation and Development — in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on November 3–4, 2025.

Organized by the World Bank, the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University, and UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), this event aims to raise awareness and build coalitions for change so that teachers everywhere are prepared and supported to succeed in their crucial roles.

Who should attend? If you are a policymaker, administrator, researcher, educator, or otherwise responsible for teacher preparation and professional development, this event is for you.

What themes will the conference explore?

  1. The teaching profession: Status, attractiveness, well-being, and job satisfaction.
  2. Initial teacher education (ITE): Selection, content, and field placement experiences.
  3. Induction: Supporting teachers’ transition into their first positions.
  4. Teacher shortages and un/under-qualified teachers: Complementary ITE strategies.
  5. Continuous professional development (CPD): Cost-effective approaches and career paths.
  6. School leadership: Pivotal role in enhancing teachers’ preparation and professional development.

What is the format of the event? The two-day event will include keynote speeches, presentations, interactive sessions, panel discussions, poster sessions, and an exhibition hall. The World Bank's upcoming report, "From Prospective to Prepared Teacher: A Global Study of Initial Teacher Education," will be featured, along with other recent research and publications, including the Africa Teachers Report Series published jointly by UNESCO IICBA and the African Union.