GENE Roundtables gather participating Ministries and Agencies twice a year to share national experiences and strategies.

GENE has organised 51 Roundtables since 2001.

Hosted by participating Ministries and Agencies and facilitated by the GENE Secretariat, the roundtables involve:

  • sharing National Reports

  • identifying cross-cutting issues

  • sharing policy learning

  • forging a common European agenda on the increase and improvement of Global Education

The European Commission participates in the Roundtables as an observer.

On 17-18 October 2024, GENE Roundtable 51 gathered virtually over 50 policymakers from Ministries and Agencies of Foreign Affairs and Education across 21 European countries, fostering collaboration on the evolving landscape of Global Education.

The Roundtable began with an opening by GENE Chairperson Prof. Annette Scheunpflug, who emphasised, "Education can never be thought without a reflection on the future." This thought guided discussions as participants shared national reports and engaged in policy networking.

Agnieszka Skuratowicz from DG INTPA highlighted the need for a transformative approach to education amid societal, economic, and technological changes. Her remarks set the tone for our discussions and collaborative efforts to address the global challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Niall Tierney, Director for Global Programmes and Global Citizen Education at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland, underscored the urgency of enhancing global citizenship education (GCE) and reaffirmed Ireland's commitment to the principles outlined in the Dublin Declaration.

Youth participation was a key theme, with insights from Natasha Maimba, Ireland's UN Youth Delegate, who stressed the importance of education in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and closing the digital divide for equitable access.

Throughout the Roundtable, participants engaged in working groups that explored critical topics such as the UN Summit of the Future and its implications for Global Education, the evolving EU context for policymakers, and the importance of making a case for Global Education in both Foreign and Development Policy. Discussions also focused on national strategy development, the role of the private sector in Global Education, and the vital connection between Global Education and youth, as well as teacher education and coordination.

GENE Roundtable 50
18-19 April | Madrid, Spain

GENE Roundtable 50 brought together over 100 Global Education Policymakers from Ministries and Agencies across Europe for insightful discussions. The event delved into the international education landscape, emphasising community engagement and key findings from studies like the ICCS. The panels explored global issues like climate change and the Asia-Pacific region's focus on Global Education.

Discussions also centered on the follow-up to the European Declaration on Global Education to 2050 (The Dublin Declaration). Esteemed speakers highlighted the importance of education in the green transition and the need for trust-building through Global Education. The roundtable aimed to realise the vision outlined in the Dublin Declaration, fostering collaboration and policy development for a brighter future in Global Education.

GENE Roundtable 49
19-20 October | Athens, Greece

Over 50 Policymakers from Ministries and Agencies, of Foreign Affairs and Education, from across Europe, came together in-person to share reports on national situations, identify cross-cutting issues, and learn together through policy networking for more and better Global Education.

GENE Roundtable 49 was a resounding success, bringing together policymakers from Ministries and Agencies across Europe in Athens. The event featured engaging discussions, policy networking, and knowledge sharing to enhance Global Education. Mr. Panagiotis Passas, Director General for International and European Affairs, Education for Hellenic Diaspora and Intercultural Education,

delivered an inspiring address and emphasised that professionals in the field of education share common values such as human rights, democracy, understanding, dignity, inclusion, and sustainability. He highlighted the transformative power of education, which instills hope for a better world.

The roundtable also explored GENE's future program, visited local schools showcasing impressive Global Education projects, and hosted workgroups on evaluation models, teacher education, and inter-ministerial cooperation. The event fostered collaboration and joint solutions, leaving a lasting impact on the field of Global Education.

Past GENE Roundtables

  • Roundtable 48: Online (Spring 2023)

    GENE Roundtable 48 took place online on 24 and 25 April and provided opportunities for Ministries and Agencies of Foreign Affairs and Education to share and learn from each other through national updates and working group sessions.

    The Roundtable kicked off with high-level interventions by Mr. Sean Fleming, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora, Ireland, Mr. Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Luxembourg, and Ms. Erica Gerretsen, Director, Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace (INTPA.G), European Commission.

    Another highlight on the agenda was the follow-up to the new European Declaration on Global Education to 2050, taking stock of work going on at national level and connecting at European level to realise the vision of the Declaration.

  • Roundtable 47: In-person (Autumn 2022)

    GENE Roundtable 47 was organised in the framework of the European Congress on Global Education to 2050 (GE2050). The Roundtable registered the presence of representatives of the delegations attending the Congress and the participation of Ms. Agnieszka Skuratowitz, Head of Unit of INTPA G3 – Directorate-General for International Partnerships - European Commission, who acknowledged the important achievement of the new Declaration and reiterated the Commission's full support for the implementation of the next steps of this strategic vision.

  • Roundtable 46: Online (Spring 2022)

    GENE Roundtable 46 took place online on 4 April 2022. The main topics on the agenda were the national reports and priorities, GENE program updates, and the process for a new European Declaration on Global Education to 2050. The Roundtable provided space for ministries and agencies to share the tasks that they are currently working on and to also discuss their burning issues through the facilitation of the Mentimeter. Participants joined breakout sessions to discuss in-depth key issues they have in common for the next year.

  • Roundtable 45: Online (Autumn 2021)

    GENE Roundtable 45 took place online on 17 and 18 November 2021. Hot on the heels of COP 26, one of the main topics on the agenda was the process for a new European Declaration on Global Education to 2050 (including Climate Change Education). The Roundtable provided opportunities for over 50 Ministries and Agencies to consider what this new declaration can mean, how we might build on current priorities and national processes, what the vision behind the declaration might be and how we might create this together. Read more about the process for a new European Declaration on Global Education to 2050.

    Moreover, Ms. Agnieszka Skuratowicz, Head of Unit of INTPA G3 – Directorate-General for International Partnerships - European Commission delivered the opening statement of GENE Roundtable 45, highlighted the importance of the work of GENE and underlined the Commission’s commitment to Global Education as a way to overcome fear and division and increase space for democratic participation across policy areas, with international cooperation, and bringing together the local and global dimensions. Read the full opening statement by Ms. Agnieszka Skuratowicz here.

  • Roundtable 44: Online (Spring 2021)

    GENE Roundtable 44 kicked off on 29 April 2021 with exciting and forward-looking high-level interventions by Ms. Henriette Geiger (Director, DG INTPA, European Commission), Ms. Cristina Moniz (Vice-President, Camões - Institute for Cooperation and Language, Portugal) and a keynote speech by Prof. Elina Lehtomäki (University of Oulu, Finland). With a strong consensus that Global Education is now more important than ever, the roundtable continued with policy learning and networking sessions with over 60 Policymakers from across Europe.

    On Day 2, the roundtable participants enjoyed a number of inspiring presentations and workshops. Ms. Ida Mc Donnell (Team Lead, OECD Development Co-operation Report) gave an important keynote on the need for new narratives of solidarity and asked important questions for the future of foreign and development policy and global education.

    In a parallel keynote for education policymakers, Dr. Beatriz Pont (Project Lead, OECD Directorate for Education and Skills) reflected on ways to bridge the policy-implementation gap and shared a rich and data-informed perspective for change. Both shared perspectives in the plenary session and provoked questions that will inspire a long-term vision for global education.

    Finally, Mr. Mark Little (CEO, Kinzen) gave the closing keynote with a thought-provoking input on countering misinformation and the implications for educators and for global education. Participants also shared policy learning from national exemplars and considered the future of global education in the context of digitalisation, formal and nonformal education, alignment of global education, and awareness-raising strategies.

  • Roundtable 43: Online (Autumn 2020)

    The Roundtable was held online in October 2020 with over 50 policymakers from across Europe in attendance. Mr. Evarist Bartolo (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malta) gave a thought-provoking opening, reminding participants that global educators and policymakers must put human beings at the heart of geopolitics and multilateralism if we are not only to interpret the world but also to change it towards greater justice. Watch Mr. Bartolo’s opening here.

    Mr. Ruairí de Búrca (Director General of Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland) gave an inspiring opening input that underlined the critical importance of Global Education in policy and practice. Watch it here.

    Ms. Agata Sobiech, speaking on behalf of Ms. Henriette Geiger, Director at the European Commission (DG DEVCO), represented the views of the European Commission on the importance of GE/DEAR and the work of GENE.

    Representatives of Ministries and Agencies from across Europe, including from recent and forthcoming EU presidencies, responded, welcoming the Commissions positions and stressing the importance of strengthening GE/DEAR within the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027 and, as part of it, the Neighbourhood, Development, International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).

    Prof. Joe O'Hara, President of EERA - European Educational Research Association gave an insight into the panorama of education research in today's world. GENE's Chairperson, Prof. Annette Scheunpflug concluded with a reflection on the unwritten future of Global Education. Watch Prof. Joe O'Hara’s presentation here.

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Roundtable 42: Online (Spring 2020)

On 8 May 2020, GENE ran its first-ever virtual Roundtable, which gathered 60 policymakers, representing 26 countries. National representatives shared country reports, identified issues of common concern, exchanged policy perspectives and solutions to current challenges.

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Roundtable 41: Valletta, Malta (Autumn 2019)

The event included the award ceremony for the Global Education Ideas Award at the Maltese Chamber of Commerce, as well as workshops on cross-cutting policy issues, presentations of Global Education in Malta and guest speakers from Latin America.

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Roundtable 40: Berlin, Germany (Spring 2019)

The Roundtable featured presentations, discussions, workshops, Open Space, country reporting and learning from German experiences in Global Education, as well as an address by the German Parliamentary Secretary of State, Ms. Maria Flachsbarth.

  • Roundtable 39: Brussels, Belgium (Autumn 2018)

  • Roundtable 38: Oslo, Norway (Spring 2018)

  • Roundtable 37: Nicosia, Cyprus (Autumn 2017)

  • Roundtable 36: Brussels, Belgium (Spring 2017)

  • Roundtable 35: Florence, Italy (Autumn 2016)

  • Roundtable 34: Lisbon, Portugal (Spring 2016)

  • Roundtable 33: Brussels, Belgium (Autumn 2015)

  • Roundtable 32: Vienna, Austria (Spring 2015)

  • Roundtable 31: Brussels, Belgium (Autumn 2014)

  • Roundtable 30: Brussels, Belgium (Autumn 2013)

  • Roundtable 29: Dublin, Ireland (Spring, 2013)

  • Roundtable 28: The Hague, the Netherlands (Autumn 2012)

  • Roundtable 27: Warsaw, Poland (Spring 2012)

GENE Roundtables are held under the Chatham House Rule to create a space for policy learning that allows policymakers to share their perspectives informally.

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This website was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union and the Ministries and Agencies that support GENE. Its contents are the sole responsibility of GENE and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.