Taking inspiration from other well-known art and entertainment festivals, the China Festival of Education combines thought-provoking professional learning with generous time to engage with other participants in meaningful discussions and network in a vibrant, supportive setting.
At the heart of the Festival lies our belief that learning should be exciting, engaging, and enjoyable. This event is more than just a traditional education conference—it’s a vibrant festival of thought-provoking debates, captivating speakers, and opportunities to connect with fellow educators and network.
In our exchange of ideas we prioritize truth-seeking, embracing open inquiry and the diversity of viewpoints. By fostering professional and respectful discourse, we nurture a spirit at the festival driven by intellectual curiosity and mutual respect.
Throughout the festival, you will have access to street-food catering, open entertainment, and informal seating to ensure that your time away from sessions allows for fun and connection with other participants.
Our conference is fully bilingual, offering sessions in both English and Mandarin. Regardless of your native language, you will hear from speakers in your preferred language and participate in rich discussions. We believe that the bilingual nature of the conference reinforces our values and adds depth and complexity to our inquiry.
Experience thought-provoking sessions from global experts, addressing the most pressing challenges and opportunities impacting the future of education. Participants will be invited to submit questions to our speakers.
Format: Duration: 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Keynotes delivered in English and Mandarin. Translation available live in English and Mandarin.
Engage in practical workshops designed to ignite your creativity and encourage the adoption of fresh, research-informed teaching practices. A professional learning expert organizes a working session consisting of a presentation on a key issue of practice followed by group work or group discussion.
Format: Duration: 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Workshops offered in English and Mandarin. Translation not available.
Listen to brief presentations on projects, units of study, innovative practices, or ideas from leading practitioners. These succinct yet inspirational talks are grounded in hands-on experience. One speaker takes the stage for a 10-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A. There will be an opportunity for participants to continue the conversation with the speakers after the session.
Format: Duration: 20 minutes. Spotlights offered in English and Mandarin. Translation not available.
Network with attendees who share similar positions or share common interests through scheduled meetups. Participants gather around “campfires” setup across the campus and engage in spontaneous, informal discussion. While there is a host to welcome everyone to the meetup, there is no principal speaker.
Format: Duration: 30 minutes. Meetups offered in English and Mandarin. Translation not available.
A review of the current news headlines underscore, more starkly than ever, the urgent need for intentional, future-oriented reflection on a renewed purpose for education that prepares students to thrive in a transforming world.
The impact of technology and artificial intelligence is the headlining topic of current educational discourse. However, we have intentionally chosen not to foreground this theme solely, not because we underestimate its importance, but to recognize the profound shifts occurring across various domains–environmental, technological, demographic, socio-political, and economic. These changes collectively indicate a landscape of significant disruption and transformation, all of which will have impact in our students’ lifetimes.
Rather than introducing a new theme each year, our festival follows a multi-year methodology, nurturing an on-going professional conversation and open inquiry into an evolving set of issues and trends:
Wellington College China is the founder and lead sponsor for the China Festival of Education. Wellington College International Shanghai will be the hosting campus, located in the vibrant New Bund area of Pudong. The festival embodies the school’s dedication to fostering educational excellence and collaboration, reflecting the core values and innovative spirit of Wellington College China.
While the festival is generously sponsored by Wellington College China, it is designed to serve the broader educational community, including both international and national schools. It aims to bring learners, practitioners, thought leaders, and visionary changemakers from diverse backgrounds to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and promote best practices in education for the benefit of all.
Founded in 2010 by Wellington College in the United Kingdom, the Festival of Education began as a modest gathering and has since developed into a major event on the education calendar in the UK. In 2015, Wellington College China hosted the inaugural China Festival of Education, marking the first international iteration of the festival outside the United Kingdom.
In September 2023, EducationScape began collaborating with Wellington College China to shape the future of the China Festival of Education and expand the festival’s reach to the USA and Thailand.
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