International Day of Education Symposium
Education: A Human Right, a Public Good, and a Public Responsibility
January 25, 2021 at 10:00 AM ET / FREE
The World Affairs Councils of America is partnering in this event with Global Minnesota.
In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, a majority of countries announced the temporary closure of schools, impacting more than 91% of students worldwide. As International Day of Education focuses global attention on this issue, what actions can we take to improve outcomes for all?
Even before the pandemic struck, 258 million children and youth did not attend school; 617 million children and adolescents could not read or do basic math; less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa completed lower secondary school; and some four million children and youth refugees were out of school.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals challenge all nations to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by the year 2030. Join us as we mark International Day of Education 2021 with local and international experts who will discuss how inclusive, quality education will be critical in supporting our most vulnerable populations post-COVID, in achieving gender equality, in breaking the cycle of poverty, and in securing a peaceful and prosperous future for everyone.
Learners of all ages are invited to join and hear from the leaders who are shaping the future of education.
Featured Speakers
Audrey Azoulay, Director General, UNESCO
David Edwards, General Secretary, Education International
Atul Tandon, CEO, Opportunity International
Sondra Samuels, President/CEO, Northside Achievement Zone
Justice Alan Page (retired), Founder/Chair, Page Educational Foundation
WACA National Conference:

WACA 2020 National Conference (Virtual):
New Frontiers in Diplomacy and National Security
STAY Tuned for Conference Recordings
2021 National Conference
Save the Date! November 17 – 19, 2021
New! Embassy Row Live!
Beginning in the fall of 2020, join us for WACA’s new Ambassadors Series, Embassy Row Live!: Conversations That Bring Diplomacy to You. A new platform spotlighting distinguished diplomats, we’ll be discussing new ideas, policy developments, and possible solutions to critical international challenges.
Ambassador H.E. Serdar Kiliç on Turkey and Its Relations With the World | Watch the Recording!
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SAVE THE DATE! : January 12, 2021: 2:00 PM ET Ambassador Motaz Mounir Zahran of Egypt
WACA ENGAGE AMERICA SPEAKER SERIES:
New Programs to be Announced Soon…
WACA COVER to COVER:
COVER TO COVER: Featuring Glenn Robinson
Most violent jihadi movements in the twentieth century focused on removing corrupt, repressive secular regimes throughout the Muslim world. But following the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, a new form of jihadism emerged—global jihad—turning to the international arena as the primary locus of ideology and action. With this book, Glenn E. Robinson develops a compelling and provocative argument about this violent political movement’s evolution.
WACA KNOW NOW:
New Programs TO BE Announced Soon…
PODCASTS:
The World Affairs Councils of America produces original podcasts every month from WACA programs Cover To Cover, Know Now and other Feature Council Podcasts that examine critical international topics with leaders, policy experts, and public intellectuals. Listen directly from the WACA website, or on iTunes or PodBean.
SCWA President, Chip O’Brien shares his in-person WACA 2019 Conference pictures:
Watch all 2019 National Conference session videos on WACA’s YouTube page here!



