ICET 2021

In the online closing ceremony. Dr. Gita Subrahmanyam, International Education Expert of Research and Consultancy, delivered a closing keynote presentation entitled “Transformations to adapt to global disruptions.” Dr Gita’s closing keynote summarized and emphasized the vision, mission, and future projections of ICET with references to ICET 2021 presentations. She summarised some of the key findings of the UNESCO-UNEVOC Trends Mapping Study on the Future of TVET Teaching to offer insights on what skills will be most demanded over the next 10 years as well as the impacts of these shifts on the future of teaching and learning. Dr Gita Subrahmanyam combines an academic role at various University of London institutions with international development research and consultancy in the fields of education and employment. In 2020, she conducted the UNESCO-UNEVOC Trends Mapping Study on the Future of TVET Teaching, which examined the implications of global disruptions on the future of teaching and learning (focusing mainly on technical and vocational education and training, or TVET), with recommendations for steps that education and training systems should take to prepare teaching staff to deliver the skills learners need in the 21st century and beyond. Dr Subrahmanyam will present some of these findings at ICET 2021. We would like to thank Dr Gita for her mind opening presentation which proposes solutions in transformations in the region to adapt to global disruptions.

“Empowering Teachers: lessons post-covid.” Ms. Kim Insley, Teacher Educator, from University of London. In the Opening Ceremony of ICET 2021, Ms. Kim Insley, teacher educator, from University of London presented a keynote entitled “Empowering Teachers: lessons post-covid.” Kim Insley is a lecturer in education at UCL Institute of Education (IOE), London, which is number 1 in the world for Education Research and as part of University College London (UCL) a member institute of University of London Worldwide. Kim is Programme Director of the PGCE:Teacher Development programme taught through the University of London Worldwide; a fully online professional development programme for teachers. We would like to thank Kim for this mind opening presentation on how successful teachers have been able to adapt their pedagogies to support online teaching. It was inspiring to explore new skills teachers may have needed to learn to adapt their Pedagogies. We would like to also thank the University of London for their invaluable contribution and support for ICET 2021.

“We need some space: grasping for the COVID dividend in education.” by Mr. Chris Sowton, International Educational Consultant. In the Opening Ceremony of ICET 2021, Mr. Chris Sowton, an international educational consultant, presented a keynote entitled “We need some space: grasping for the COVID dividend in education.” Chris Sowton has been working in the field of English Language Teaching for 25 years. He has worked for a range of institutions, including Cambridge University Press and the British Council, and taught at institutions including Cambridge University and King’s College London (University of London). He has written extensively in the field, as author or co-author on more than 20 ELT books, including CUP’s Unlock series and the recently published Teaching in Challenging Circumstances. He has conducted teacher training and educational research in many countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, India, Somaliland, China and Indonesia. He has an MA, a DELTA and is currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of Bath. Further information can be found at www.chrissowton.com We would like to thank Chris for this enlightening and inspiring presentation on how teachers and educational leaders can make meaningful changes in the post-pandemic era. It was a pleasure to explore those 5 spaces for learner well-being in the new era.

Mr. Alan Hama Saeed, Minister of Education of Kurdistan Regional Government, delivered a keynote speech in the Opening Ceremony of ICET 2021. In his speech, Mr Alan mentioned the challenges and transformation the pandemic brought in educational service. He also summarized the experiences of Kurdistan Region in education during the pandemic and talked about the projects and programs to respond to the pandemic situation and facilitate the reach for education in these hard times. He emphasized the fact that quality of education will not and should not be the same in the post-covid era, and stated that the ICET conference will help explore new perspectives in teacher development and effective use of e-learning opportunities. Mr. Alan Hama Saeed, also stated his appreciation and gratitude for Stirling Schools, its international partners in ICET Organizing Committee, and supporting partners for organizing this important conference. He highlighted the need for these kinds of organizations to contribute to the educational quality in the region. On behalf of the ICET Organizing Committee, Mr. Alan Hama Saeed, Minister of Education of Kurdistan Regional Government, also delivered plaques of appreciation to the presidents or representatives of the respected universities that contributed to ICET 2021 as “supporting partners.”

17 reputable universities of Kurdistan and Iraq along with 4 international institutions, including University of London and Cambridge Assessment, officially supported the ICET 2021. During the Opening Ceremony, presidents or representatives of the respected universities that contributed to ICET 2021 as “supporting partner” received the plaque of appreciation for their invaluable contribution and support for ICET 2021.