Thank you to everyone who attended the International Baccalaureate (IB) Global Conference, Singapore, in March 2025. Your energy, openness, and commitment to education shaped a truly meaningful conference centered on our shared theme, Our humanity, connected.
Over 1,600 educators from 40 countries came together in Singapore, united by a common purpose: to explore how we remain connected in an era of constant change. Throughout the conference, we reflected on the powerful role that human connection plays in education, within our school communities and the wider world.
Together, we engaged in rich conversations around the evolving landscape of teaching and learning, and the skills and competencies young people need to thrive both academically and beyond. The theme Our humanity, connected encouraged us to place human qualities - self-awareness, empathy, and innovation, at the center of our practice, reminding us that these are essential in preparing students for an uncertain future.
As we move forward, we carry with us a renewed commitment to keeping our humanity at the heart of education, ensuring that we continue to empower students with hope, resilience, and a deep sense of connection to one another and the world around them.
Day 1
On the first day, we were treated to a performance by the talented students of ACS (International). The students delivered a beautiful rendition of “Blossoms of Early Spring.”
We proudly hosted IB alumna Delice Mascarenhas, who completed her DP (Diploma Programme) at Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai, India. With a background in psychology, stakeholder management, and business strategy, she has spent over five years working in startups across roles ranging from talent consulting to the Founder’s Office. Alongside her professional journey, Delice has remained deeply committed to social impact, progressing from a volunteer to becoming the youngest woman to lead the Mumbai chapter of Make A Difference. An entrepreneur at heart, she has launched two ventures: UptimizeYou and The Glee Box, focused on personal branding and children’s emotional intelligence. She is also a professional emcee, having hosted over 100 events, and credits her DP experience for shaping her confidence, adaptability, and leadership.
We remember her words with, “The future belongs to those who are curious, who keep learning, and unlearning.”
Our first keynote speaker, Dr Darnell Fine, is an international school principal and an experienced education leader. A skilled facilitator of adult learning, he specializes in curriculum, assessment, and culturally responsive teaching, and has delivered hundreds of workshops and keynote presentations across the U.S., Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. As a curriculum consultant, he reviews manuscripts and curricula for publishing companies, arts organizations, and universities. He is a recipient of the 2012 Learning for Justice Award for Excellence in Culturally Responsive Teaching and was named a 2021 Emerging Leader by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Dr Fine holds a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University, a Teacher Support Specialist Endorsement from Georgia State University, a Master’s in Creative Writing from London, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California.
We remember his presentation with the quote, “I think it’s important to listen deeply and fully understand perspective. If there is a family or a student that has a misconception, as educators, it’s our responsibility to address the misconception, and hope that they are enlightened.”
Highlights from Day 1
Day 2
The second day opened with a touching performance from Global Indian International School, East Coast Singapore, who inspired us with a dance routine to “Rhythm of Resilience”.
The general session started with hearing from our community voice, Paul Lee. Paul completed his IB education at Bangkok Patana School in Thailand. He is currently the Director of Plastify, a sustainability-focused startup that transforms Singaporean plastic waste into functional, everyday products. Passionate about environmental impact and innovation, Paul is dedicated to creating practical solutions to global waste challenges. He credited his IB experience for shaping his entrepreneurial mindset and inspiring his commitment to building a more sustainable and responsible future.
We were honored to host keynote speaker Sandra Milligan, who delivered a thought-provoking session on reimagining the future of education through assessment and recognition. In her keynote, she challenged the limitations of traditional, high-stakes exams, highlighting how they often fail to capture the full range of skills and competencies students need to thrive in an uncertain world. Sandra explored the urgent need for a paradigm shift, from an industrial model of education to a next-generation approach that empowers students as active producers of their own learning. She emphasized the importance of evolving assessment practices to focus not on ranking learners, but on understanding and recognizing each student’s unique strengths. Her session also introduced the concept of more holistic credentialing systems that reflect the diverse, “spiky” profiles of learners. Sandra encouraged IB educators and school leaders to broaden how they assess and celebrate competencies, particularly those reflected in the IB Learner Profile and Approaches to Learning, in order to better support students in achieving a truly world-class education.
Day 3
We wrapped up the conference with a memorable student performance titled “Nature in Poem & Ink” from the students of EtonHouse Nature Pre-School.
We were honored to hear from community voice speaker Yeo Min, a graduate of SJI International (Singapore)’s Class of 2024 and an accomplished student-athlete. Successfully balancing the demands of the IB with high-level athletic training, Min graduated with an impressive score of 43 and was recognized with both the SJI International Internal Scholarship and the Outstanding Achievement Award for her sporting success. As a member of Team Singapore, she has represented her country in multiple international canoe sprint competitions, earning podium finishes and national recognition, including the Best Sportsgirl Award for Canoeing in 2024. Alongside her academic and athletic achievements, Min’s journey has been shaped by significant personal challenges, which have further strengthened her resilience and character. At the conference, she shared reflections on balancing academics and sport, and the perseverance required to navigate both personal and professional challenges.
We concluded with our keynote speaker Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential voices in education, he is the founder and leader of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which has shaped global conversations around educational quality, equity, and innovation. With over two decades of experience working alongside ministers and education leaders worldwide, Andreas has played a pivotal role in advancing data-driven policy and transforming education systems across countries and cultures. His work continues to bridge research, policy, and practice, helping educators and leaders better understand and respond to the evolving needs of learners in a rapidly changing world.
Highlights from Day 2 and 3
Breakout sessions
Apart from the general sessions, participants had the opportunity to engage in over 80 peer-to-peer and IB staff breakout sessions, thoughtfully organized into four distinct tracks.
The sessions covered a wide range of the most relevant topics for IB educators and the larger global community today: Educational technology and innovation, Belonging and well-being, Learning and teaching and Leadership.
Session highlights included the following.
- Mindfulness and metacognition: Empowering learners in the early years and beyond: Bianca Stark and Caryl Crisostomo from UWC Thailand International School explored how mindfulness and metacognition can support young learners in developing self-awareness, self-regulation, and confidence. Drawing on neuro-education research, they shared play-based, practical strategies that help foster curiosity, attention, and self-efficacy in the classroom. Through collaborative activities and reflection, attendees gained actionable ideas to apply in their own contexts, with a focus on creating a more holistic, intentional, and joyful learning culture.
- Upholding principles of assessment: A shared endeavour: Jenny Gillett and Kay Evans John from the International Baccalaureate explored how maintaining valid and equitable assessment is a collective responsibility across the IB community. The session provided insight into the rigorous processes behind exam development and grade awarding, ensuring consistency across time zones. Attendees also examined the critical role of teachers, students, and schools in upholding assessment integrity, with practical strategies for fair predicted grades, effective supervision, and aligned internal assessment marking. The session further emphasized the importance of vigilance and fostering an ethical mindset to support a culture of academic honesty.
- Growing the IB impact in your community: Strategies to build parent awareness and cohort growth: James Stranko, from the International Baccalaureate, led an engaging session on how schools can effectively communicate the value of an IB education to parents and stakeholders. Drawing on regional and global best practices, he shared practical strategies to build awareness, strengthen school positioning, and drive enrolment growth. Attendees left with tangible actions to enhance their school’s visibility and engagement, alongside insights into how the IB is evolving its global marketing and communication efforts to expand its impact.
Attendees can log in to the conference app to download session slides shared by presenters. See the full conference programme here.
We would like to express heartfelt thanks to our community of passionate educators, presenters, exhibitors and sponsors for joining us in Singapore. The success of this conference would not have been possible without you.
Want to see more #IBGC2025 highlights? Relive our attendees’ favourite moments of the conference on social media with #IBGC2025!
See social media highlights here.
 Global Conference, Singapore, in March 2025. Your energy, openness, and commitment to education shaped a truly meaningful conference centered on our shared theme, Our humanity, connected.){kind=icon}