GPE will participate at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference.

Six panels will be showcasing the efforts of GPE KIX and its partners to accelerate the generation and uptake of evidence and innovation in the education sector, strengthening education systems in lower-income countries. One panel will focus on the role of civil society in shaping education policy and advocacy, with a spotlight on GPE’s Education Out Loud.

• A systemic approach to policy reform through the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange: The Case of the Maldives
  Wed, March 6, 18:00-19:30, Zoom Rooms, Zoom Room 105
  
  • The panel will focus on the systemic approach of the GPE KIX Hub in Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and the Pacific and its activities in strengthening the education system of countries like the Maldives. It addresses the challenges of patchwork reform by emphasizing a demand-driven approach led by local governments and representatives. The presentations will cover various aspects, including the use of geospatial data for policy formulation, curriculum reform integrating 21^st century skills, and a teacher professional development framework, showcasing how these activities contribute to the systemic strengthening of education systems in the region.
• Fostering agency and resistance: Out-of-school and at-risk children claim their right to education through alternative and innovative education programs
  Mon, March 11, 18:30-20:00, Miami Regency Hotel, Floor: Terrace Level, Turtle North
  
  • The presentations will draw on the findings from four GPE KIX projects that focus on tackling the challenge of out-of-school children and youth including those at risk of dropping out. Focus will be paid to the shortcomings of mainstream education systems in meeting the needs of marginalized groups, such as those facing poverty, social status, geography, gender and disabilities. The presentations will discuss barriers to education, innovative programs, and the potential for alternative education approaches to create positive change, emphasizing the importance of a cohesive and consolidated advocacy effort for inclusive education systems.
• Innovations on teacher professional development from the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange - Research learnings from country experiences
  Tue. March 12, 09:30-11:00
  
  • The panel will discuss the challenges and transformations needed in teacher Professional development (TPD) globally, emphasizing the limitations of traditional practices and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on findings from the GPE KIX on TPD, the panel will explore innovations, gender equality dimensions, and inclusiveness in TPD programs across more than twenty countries. Additionally, it will address the difficulties in translating successful research results into national education policies and explore strategies to enhance the uptake of evidence-based TPD practices at the country level.
• Moving evidence into action through inter-country knowledge exchange: Lessons from the GPE KIX
  Wed. March 13, 08:00-09:30
  
  • The panel will discuss the efforts of GPE KIX in bridging the gap between research and education policy and practice. With a focus on inter-country knowledge exchange, KIX collaborates with over 70 low- and middle-income countries to provide contextualized, relevant evidence for education system transformation. The panel, featuring representatives from KIX regional hubs and applied research projects, will share findings and lessons on facilitating knowledge exchange, engaging research users, and co-creating research to scale impactful innovations in education policy and practice.
• The strength of contextual knowledge for sector analysis and planning
  Wed. March 13, 09:45-11:15
  
  • Representatives from four KIX regional hubs, covering Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean, will discuss how they promote locally produced research evidence to strengthen national education systems. The panel will explore the challenges and advantages of being local policy experts, reflecting on strategies to establish credibility, the role of the KIX hubs in amplifying voices, and the adaptation of data and research evidence to suit local needs.
• System approach for transformation: The case of Indonesia
  Thu, March 14, 11:15-12:45, Miami Regency Hotel, Floor: Third Level, Stanford
  
  • The panel will discuss how Indonesia’s recent efforts have leveraged system transformation and reform governance to enhance education quality. Despite Indonesia's significant financial commitment and policy reforms, the lack of a systemic approach has previously hindered desired results in improving learning outcomes. The panel will delve into the governance process, shedding light on the roles of relevant stakeholders and grassroots movements in shaping and driving the reform agenda, in addition to providing insights into how to adapt such initiatives across a diversity of contexts within the country's decentralized educational system.
• The power of collective civil action: Exploring advocacy and accountability in global and national education policy through Education Out Loud
  Thu, March 14, 11:15-12:45, Miami Regency Hotel, Floor: Third Level, Pearson 1
  
  • The panel will focus on the role of civil society in shaping education policy and advocacy, with a spotlight on GPE’s Education Out Loud, a support mechanism for advocacy and social accountability and the flagship education accountability program globally. The program supports civil society through funding and technical support to influence education policy for vulnerable and marginalized communities, and has convened a group of global learning partners to build a strong evidence base for civil society accountability and advocacy work. The discussion aims to share insights on how the use of protest can enhance the impact of advocacy and accountability efforts in education policy, while also taking a formative, forward-looking perspective to highlight what is not yet known regarding the role of civil society in education dialogue and policy.
• Strengthening policy formulation and sector analysis in West Africa: Innovations as key drivers of educational reform
  Thu. March 14, 11:15-12:45
  
  • The panel will discuss a metanalysis of educational innovations gathered from Ministries of Education across West, Central, and Indian Ocean regions of Africa. These homegrown innovations address longstanding educational challenges such as inadequate teacher professional development, low-quality literacy and numeracy, gender inequalities, and outdated assessment systems. The panel aims to explore the integration of these innovations into national education systems, emphasizing a bottom-up approach that starts within the national context, aligning with the goals of GPE KIX.
• Roundtable on reclaiming and mainstreaming African indigenous practices in early childhood education
  Thu. March 14, 13:30-15:00