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Overview

As we enter the third decade of the 21st century, we see rapid changes in political, economic, environmental, cultural, and social spaces. Along with these changes is an increasing variety of actors, including non-state actors who are now more involved. These changes influence education globally and locally.

This calls for revisiting the relationships among context, actors, visions, and action, and our own collective social responsibility.

Contextual changes include the global sharing of cultural values, a refinement of neoliberal economic and political agendas, and the acceleration of environmental challenges. In addition, we often recognize a narrowing of the purpose of education toward economic outcomes, particularly as they are framed discursively in policy and practice, and the prioritization of technological innovations over other forms of learning. Alongside and within these changing contextual processes, values, and conditions are new actors in the education and development arena, including corporations, corporate philanthropies, celebrities, and billionaires, and perhaps the emergence of new social movements. What are their agendas and processes? How might we revisit the various visions and agendas of all development and education actors, along with our theories of action? How do we do the work we do? How are lives consequently affected? How does social responsibility – of corporate entities, governments, development organizations, communities, and researchers – interact with these changing contexts, the growing range of actors, and evolving visions and approaches to education globally and locally?

In the current era of COVID-19 we are planning for an unknown future. We anticipate an on-site participation options in Seattle along with the virtual forms of engagement, including hybrid (synchronous) sessions and online (asynchronous) sessions. With this multi-pronged approach we will be able to adjust according to the situation, whatever it may be. Please see links for more information about our flexible approach and updates as they become available. We appreciate your patience as we plan for an unpredictable future.