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ICDE Secretary General visits Wellington ahead of 30th ICDE World Conference 2025
ICDE Secretary General, Torunn Gjelsvik, has concluded a successful site visit to Wellington, New Zealand, as preparations ramp up for the 30th ICDE World Conference in November next year.
Gjelsvik’s visit to Wellington included productive meetings with several New Zealand universities and institutions, underscoring the importance of international collaboration and knowledge sharing in the evolving landscape of tertiary education. The Secretary General’s visit was also an opportunity to engage in-person with the conference hosts and organising committee.
One of the highlights of her visit was a meeting with New Zealand Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, Hon Penny Simmonds. Joined by conference co-organisers, Mark Nichols (Open Polytechnic of New Zealand) and Giselle Byrnes (Massey University), the discussions with Minister Simmonds focused on how New Zealand can contribute to global conversations about the future of education and lifelong learning, particularly in fostering inclusive, scalable, and sustainable education.
Conference co-host and ICDE President Mark Nichols highlighted the value of the Secretary General’s personal presence in Wellington: “Torunn’s visit was a critical step in ensuring the success of the 30th ICDE World Conference. A site visit like this allows us to build stronger relationships and align our goals with the local educational and political landscape. These connections are essential for delivering a conference that reflects not only global perspectives but also the local and regional context in which it’s held. These discussions would not have been possible without the presence of the ICDE Secretary General.”
During her visit, Gjelsvik also had the chance to gain a deeper understanding of the conference theme: “Ako: Exchanging ideas for inclusive, scalable and sustainable education”. Ako is a unique concept from New Zealand referencing reciprocity in learning and teaching. In the indigenous Māori culture, Ako reflects the belief that knowledge flows both ways, and is a reciprocal process where both teacher and learner grow together in a shared journey of knowledge and discovery.
“Aotearoa New Zealand’s commitment to educational equity and sustainability is inspiring,” Gjelsvik noted. “We are looking forward to showcasing the Ako theme and how we can all embrace this in our respective learning environments during the 30th ICDE World Conference next year.”
In addition to her engagements with government and academic leaders, Gjelsvik toured the Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre, which will serve as the venue for the 30th ICDE World Conference. Located in the heart of Wellington, Tākina is a state-of-the-art conference facility, boasting cutting-edge technology and eco-friendly design. Gjelsvik expressed her admiration for the venue, praising its commitment to sustainability and its capacity to host large, international gatherings.
“Tākina will provide the perfect backdrop for the important discussions we’ll be having next year about the future of education. Its modern facilities and focus on environmental responsibility reflect many of the values we hold dear at ICDE, especially as we work to promote sustainable and inclusive educational models globally,” said Gjelsvik.
As the countdown begins to the 30th ICDE World Conference in November 2025, Gjelsvik’s visit signals a growing momentum in the preparations. The conference is expected to draw educational leaders, academics, and policymakers from around the world to discuss the latest innovations and trends in open, flexible and distance education, and will offer a platform for educators and policymakers to explore innovative solutions for the future of education.
The Call for Contributions opens on 31 October 2024. Explore the 30th ICDE World Conference on the dedicated conference website: www.icdeworldconference2025.com