Africa Education Festival: Advancing Global IB Connections and Partnerships
Day 1 at the African Education Festival 2026 in Johannesburg — and straight away, you could feel this is more than just another conference.
The theme “Building Ubuntu through Education in Africa – Shared Humanity, Unique Context” is not just being discussed — it’s being lived in the room.
The opening moments were shaped by people who truly understand the role of education in different contexts:
• Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the International Baccalaureate Organisation, sharing a global perspective
• Michael Schooler, Director at American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ), setting the tone with the Word of Welcome
• Dr Nicole Bien, Chief Community Partnerships & Development Officer at IB, opening the conversation
• Student MCs Dhiya Prakash and Xander Wright, bringing great energy to the stage
• Judy Sikuza, CEO of The Mandela Rhodes Foundation, grounding Ubuntu in real educational impact
• Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, highlighting the national perspective
What I always value most in these spaces is what happens between the sessions. Reconnecting with colleagues and friends, exchanging ideas with school leaders and educators who are all working to create real impact in their own contexts — that’s where the real value is.
A great moment to reconnect with Jean-Christophe Goris, Head of Development for Africa, Europe and the Middle East at IB,
Ms Dolly W., Development & Recognition Manager, and Fidelis Nthenge, Director of School Systems Design at IB — conversations that remind you how connected our work really is across regions.
My session at the African Education Festival 2026 in Johannesburg focused on “Building Communities of Belonging and Purpose – Rediscovering the Essence of Ubuntu.”
From the very first moments, you could sense a different kind of energy — not just people attending sessions, but people genuinely open to listen, to question, and to share what is really happening in their schools and communities.
In the session, we explored a simple idea: belonging is not something extra in education — it’s the foundation. When students and educators feel connected, when there is trust, and when purpose is shared, everything else starts to work better.
What I valued most was the discussion that followed. Different perspectives, honest reflections, and real examples from schools across contexts — it turned into a genuine exchange rather than a one-way session.
Grateful for the engagement and the conversations that continued even after the session ended. This is where these gatherings make a real difference.
My time at the African Education Festival 2026 in Johannesburg has also been a reminder of how important it is to stay connected beyond our own regions.
Coming from the Caucasus and Central Asia, much of the work we are doing through the Caucasus and Central Asia Association of IB World Schools is built around one idea: creating real connections between International Baccalaureate communities and turning those into meaningful projects.
This is why moments like this matter.
The festival brings together a wide mix of voices – school leaders, teachers, universities, organisations – all looking at education from different angles, but with a shared intention to move it forward in their own contexts.
A particularly valuable exchange was during the briefing with the West Africa Association of IB World Schools – WAAIBWS. Sitting together with association leaders and IB colleagues, discussing common challenges and opportunities, made one thing clear: there is so much potential when regions start working with each other, not in isolation.
These conversations are not just about ideas — they open the door for future collaboration, joint initiatives, and stronger connections across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
For me, this is one of the most important parts of being here. Not just attending sessions, but building relationships that can lead to something real and lasting for our students and schools.
At the African Education Festival, I had the opportunity to attend several meaningful workshops that truly made me reflect on leadership and community in education.
One session that stayed with me was led by Jackie Otula (MEd MSc), College Principal Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA, titled “The Power of We: Reimagining School Leadership at the Intersection of Trauma Awareness and Ubuntu.”
What I took from this workshop is simple but powerful: leadership is not only about direction, it is about connection. When we understand each other’s stories, we lead differently. The idea of combining trauma-informed practices with Ubuntu reminded me that schools must be emotionally safe spaces. Small actions like listening, being present, and sharing decisions can build real trust. It made me think about how we can lead with more humanity in our own schools.
Another inspiring session was “Leading without Borders – using the principles of Ubuntu” by Proserpina Dhlamini-Fisher, Senior IB World Schools Manager, and Chris Muller Adjunct Senior Lecturer, The Education University of Hong Kong.
This workshop focused on being intentional in how we create learning environments. In a world that is becoming more focused on AI, it was a strong reminder that education must stay human. Values like kindness, respect, and cooperation should not be secondary—they should be at the center. I left with practical ideas on how to bring these values more actively into school life.
It was also truly inspiring to listen to student voice. Ruth Tina Oduol shared her perspective with confidence and clarity—it was a reminder that students are not just part of the system, they are key contributors to it.
A valuable contribution also came from Tshepo Motsepe, who spoke about Ubuntu in education, reinforcing the importance of shared humanity in shaping policy and practice.
Beyond the sessions, I had meaningful exchanges with Ms Dolly Wanjiku, Development & Recognition Manager International Baccalaureate; Edith van der Linden, Principal for Academic Affairs at Le Bocage International School (LBIS), Senior Educational Consultant and Owner of Edlineducation, and Fanele Chester, Director of Recruitment and Admissions, The African Leadership University, discussing collaboration and shared ideas for school development.
Overall, these experiences reminded me that education is not only about systems and structures—it is about people, relationships, and the power of community.
At the Africa Education Festival, the true value of leadership is reflected in connection, alignment, and shared purpose.
It was a pleasure to connect with Haif Bannayan, IB’s Director for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Canada, Dr Nicole Bien, Chief Schools Officer at the International Baccalaureate, and Dalit Halevi, Senior Manager – Community Building at the IB.
As the Caucasus and Central Asia Association of IB World Schools continues to expand its global network across the Caucasus and Central Asia, these engagements play an important role in strengthening relationships with IB leadership and building meaningful connections with regional IB associations worldwide.
Our shared mission remains clear – to create greater opportunities for our students, support our schools, and contribute to a more connected, collaborative, and forward-looking International Baccalaureate community, grounded in trust and purposeful partnership.
