Concept Note PDF
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION: May 2025
Background
To realize inclusive and equitable quality education for all, education systems require a cadre of well-prepared and well-supported qualified teachers. Teachers profoundly impact students’ learning and well-being, with a great teacher capable of advancing student learning by the equivalent of multiple years of schooling. As the cornerstone of education systems, teachers play a crucial role in shaping future generations. However, globally, the recruitment and retention of highly skilled teachers remain challenging, with an estimated need for an additional 44 million primary and secondary school teachers and an additional 6 million preprimary teachers by 2030.
Quality initial teacher education (ITE) lays the foundation for teachers’ career-long professional development, equipping them with the core knowledge and and skills for teaching, along with a strong professional identity. Continuous professional development (CPD) ensures that teachers grow as lifelong learners, adapt to new educational demands, and lead change. By investing in both ITE and CPD, governments can build a robust teaching workforce capable of meeting the diverse needs of students and fulfilling the promise of education.
The World Bank, Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University (LSI@FSU), and UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) will present a two-day global knowledge exchange on teacher preparation and continuous professional development. The event will feature the World Bank’s upcoming report titled “From Prospective to Prepared Teacher: A Global Study of Initial Teacher Education”, along with other recent research and publications.
Delegates profile
The event will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders who are involved in designing, delivering, and maintaining the quality of teacher preparation and CPD. This includes education policymakers and government officials responsible for teacher preparation and CPD, academic leaders, teacher unions, school and district-level administrators, researchers, NGOs, private sector, ITE and CPD, and teachers. Approximately 250–350 participants are expected.
Objective, themes, and outcomes
The overall objective of the event is to raise awareness and build coalitions for change around preparing and developing sustainable cadres of teachers who possess the talent, commitment, and support necessary to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
The specific objectives are:
- To facilitate peer-to-peer learning through the sharing of the latest research findings, policy guidance, strategic insights, and global experiences related to teacher preparation and CPD.
- To create opportunities for policymakers, education experts, and researchers to connect and build professional networks focused on teacher preparation and professional development.
- To promote the implementation of evidence-informed policies that support effective teacher preparation and professional development.
The event will address various themes related to teacher preparation and professional developmepnt, as follows:
- Theme 1. Initial teacher education (ITE): Includes attracting and selecting strong teacher candidates; providing impactful ITE content; and incorporating quality field placements.
- Theme 2. Induction: Includes developing programs to support teachers’ transition into their first positions; and the role of school leaders and mentor teachers in induction.
- Theme 3. Teacher shortages and un/under-qualified teachers: Includes exploring complementary strategies to address teacher shortages such as fast-track or emergency ITE programs; remedial content in ITE programs; and short-term catch-up ITE programs for un/under-qualified teachers.
- Theme 4. Continuous professional development (CPD): Includes cost-effective approaches to CPD; the role of school leaders, supervisors, and inspectors in teachers’ CPD; and career pathways and strategies for teacher retention.
- Theme 5. Leading change and aligning institutions: Includes effective teacher workforce planning; incentives, quality assurance, and accountability measures; leveraging digital technologies for ITE and CPD; and aligning institutions for effective ITE and CPD.
The outcomes of the event will be documented in the proceedings, which will be shared shortly after the event. These will include the event materials, key discussion points and conclusions, and announcements of future activities. To leverage the learning and dialogue, and to continue raising awareness at regional and country levels, these proceedings will serve as a valuable resource for ongoing efforts.
Dates and location
The event will take place on Novermber 3–4, 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Partnerships
We are excited to invite partners to contribute to the success of this event by fostering collaborative dialogue and ensuring broad representation. There will be opportunities to share research in the poster sessions, or to host panels and interactive sessions. Your support in covering the travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses for delegates from low- and middle-income countries will be instrumental in achieving these goals. If interested in supporting this event, please contact Laura Gregory at LGregory1@worldbank.org.
Fees and travel costs
Registration is open to all, but space is limited. There is no registration fee. Please note that participants are responsible for organizing their own travel and accommodation.
Speakers and sessions
The event will include keynote speeches, presentations, interactive sessions, panel discussions, poster sessions, and an exhibition hall. Speakers will include leaders on teacher preparation and professional development from governments, academia, teacher unions, schools, NGOs, private sector, and ITE and CPD providers.
Contact
Further information and registration details will be available on the event website. In the meantime, for any questions or to added to our email list for future notifications, please contact us at teacherconference_2025@worldbank.org.
Tentative agenda
This agenda is indicative and subject to adjustments. The final agenda will be shared on the event website.
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Time |
Session |
Activities |
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Day 1 Setting the Stage |
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08:30–09:00 |
Registration |
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|
09:00–09:50 |
Opening session |
Welcome, opening remarks, and cultural performance Speakers: Moderator, hosts, and key organizing partners
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09:50–10:15 |
Ignite session
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Educators are shaping futures 5 speakers, 5 minutes each
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|
10:15–11:00 |
Reverse panel (audience as experts) |
What needs to change in teacher preparation and continuous professional development?
Experts (moderators) ask open-ended questions, guiding the audience to reflect and share their knowledge.
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|
11:00–11:30 |
Coffee break & networking |
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11:30–13:00
|
Parallel session 1
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Session 1a: Session 1b: Session 1c:
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|
13:00–14:00 |
Lunch break & poster session |
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14:00–15:30
|
Parallel session 2
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Session 2a: Session 2b: Session 2c:
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|
15:30–17:00
|
Expert flash talks and audience solutions
|
Setting teachers up for success with high-quality initial teacher education Speakers: Experts, with facility for audience interaction |
|
17:00–18:00 |
Free time |
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|
18:00 – 20:00 |
Welcome dinner |
Cocktail style – networking
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|
Day 2: Deepening the Dialogue |
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09:00–09:10 |
Welcome and recap |
Speaker: Moderator
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09:10–09:30 |
Keynote addresses
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Practitioner and academic perspectives: Evidence-informed practices in teacher preparation and professional development
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09:30–11:00 |
Parallel session 3 |
Session 3a: Session 3b: Session 3c: |
|
11:00–11:30 |
Coffee break & networking |
|
|
11:30–13:00 |
Parallel session 4 |
Session 4a: Session 4b: Session 4c:
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|
13:00–14:10 |
Lunch break & poster session |
|
|
14:10–14:30 |
Keynote addresses
|
Policy perspectives: Leading reforms in teacher preparation and professional development
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|
14:30–16:00
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Expert flash talks and audience solutions
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Empowering teachers through high-quality professional development and flexible career pathways Speakers: Experts, with facility for audience interaction |
|
16:00–17:00 |
Closing session |
Summary of key takeaways Closing remarks Announcement of future initiatives
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