Reimagining Education for an AI-Driven and Borderless World
East meets west — a global stage for education leaders shaping the future of learning.
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35 Editions, One Enduring Purpose
It started in 2011 with one belief that education's future is best shaped when the world's most committed minds share the same room.
" World Education Summit was born from that belief.
15 years later, WES stands as the world's longest-running and most influential global platform for education leadership. 35 editions. Dozens of cities. Thousands of leaders. One conversation that has never stopped evolving.
From its earliest edition, WES has carried this conversation across continents to Dubai, Bahrain, Malaysia, and beyond. It has followed education's most urgent questions wherever they led.
It has sat at the intersection of policy and practice, of technology and humanity, of what education is today and what it must become tomorrow. It has given voice to school principals and cabinet ministers in the same breath. It has put EdTech founders across the table from the very institutions they aspire to serve.
What began as a platform has become a movement. What started as a summit has grown into a legacy.
And the next chapter across Dubai and Barcelona in 2027 is being written right now. →
WES — the world's longest-running education leadership platform. Tracing 37 editions across 16 years, 12 cities, 7 countries.
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Two destinations. One unstoppable journey. Following 35 editions of insight, innovation and impact — WES heads to two world capitals to write the next chapter.
Reimagining Education for an AI-Driven and Borderless World
East meets west — a global stage for education leaders shaping the future of learning.
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AI, Innovation and the Reinvention of Education
The west coast premiere — global education innovators together in the city of dreams.
View DetailsCome for the Conversation, Leave with the Future
Hear how education systems across 50+ countries are solving the same problems you face - differently
The right conversation with the right person can change the direction of an institution. WES is built for those moments.
Ministers, chancellors, founders, and reformers - on one stage, in one room, accessible to you.
The WES Awards shine a global spotlight on excellence. Your work deserves to be seen at this level.
No theory for theory's sake. Every session is built around what is actually working, and what you can take home.
Institutions, governments, and companies that met at WES are still working together years later.
The people who lead, build, and shape education, all in one place
Insights, conversations, and stories from the WES community.
"It was a privilege to be a panelist at the World Education Summit. The forum provided an excellent platform to gain valuable insights into the future of education. The diverse range of topics discussed offered a wealth of information, adding depth, variety, and opportunities for reflection. The nuanced perspectives on the changes that are set to transform the education landscape in the near future were both insightful and thought-provoking. They also helped bring greater clarity to the roadmap for achieving excellence in education. Thank you for such an enriching experience."
"I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to moderate a panel on the second day of the summit. This gave me the opportunity to plan and steer a discussion regarding the 2030 outlook for education on behalf of the audience. Likewise, my colleagues very much enjoyed the summit and the opportunity to meet and network with new colleagues. Hearing perspectives from around the world is very interesting indeed."
”Beyond the high level of reflection offered by the summit, what I particularly appreciated was the context, which fostered a fruitful exchange of human relationships and interconnections, making the event a true hub for exchange and co-construction engineering and philosophical thinking on the education of the future.”
”It was truly an honour to be part of the 35th World Education Summit in Dubai. The event was exceptionally well organised, and the quality of dialogue throughout the sessions reflected both strategic depth and genuine commitment to the future of education. What I valued most was the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with fellow leaders who are not only navigating change but actively shaping it. The discussions around innovation, leadership responsibility, and the evolving learning economy were particularly impactful. It was refreshing to be in a space where ideas were challenged constructively and where collaboration felt authentic rather than competitive. The summit created a powerful platform for reflection and forward thinking, and I returned inspired, energised, and equipped with new perspectives that will positively influence my work.”
"I really enjoyed the summit and very much appreciated being invited. I have been to and spoken at many conferences over my career, but I would highly recommend that colleagues attend ELETS WES. I was impressed by the attentiveness of the staff — they were welcoming, professional and disciplined in getting things done. I was only there for one day, but I was engaged from start to finish. It was on the one hand smaller, relaxed and more intimate than other conferences I have been to, and yet I left feeling that I had achieved more in one morning than I might in three days at other conferences. The follow-up from the conference was fantastic."
"For me, the round tables were the most valuable part of the experience. The structure allowed for genuine exchange rather than performance. We approached the themes from very different contexts, yet again and again the conversation found common ground. In a space that could easily have defaulted to surface agreement, there was instead depth, disagreement without division, and thoughtful listening. Those moments felt both intellectually rigorous and quietly hopeful. They reminded me that when dialogue is well designed, convergence does not require conformity. Thank you for creating the conditions for that kind of conversation."
"Overall a great experience and an opportunity to share our expertise and experiences together as educators at the round table."
"Thank you for convening such an important dialogue through the World Education Summit. The transformation of education is a space I began working on several years ago, even before COVID accelerated the urgency of this conversation globally. It was particularly encouraging to see a summit of this nature come to life in Dubai. What made the summit particularly valuable was the opportunity to bring together educators, policymakers, and industry leaders to begin addressing this challenge collectively. The future of education will not be solved by institutions alone — it requires a collaborative ecosystem that bridges learning, technology, and real-world application. Dubai is uniquely positioned to lead this shift."
"WES 2026 was an inspiring and energizing experience. I particularly valued the rich conversations around AI-driven transformation in education and the opportunity to connect with global leaders who are actively shaping the future of learning. The diversity of perspectives — from institutional leadership to EdTech innovation — made the discussions both practical and visionary. Presenting and receiving recognition at such a dynamic international platform was deeply meaningful to me. I left Dubai feeling motivated and grateful for the new collaborations and partnerships initiated during the event."
"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate, speak, and receive an award at the 35th World Education Summit in Dubai. It was a truly enriching experience to learn from and connect with educators and higher education leaders from around the world. The Summit also provided a valuable platform to engage with distinguished educational leaders and explore meaningful collaborations and partnerships aimed at expanding access to higher education, as well as advancing academic and research initiatives globally."
"My impression of WES was that it was an excellent event, replete with opportunities to meet interesting and inspirational leaders and to attend thought-provoking and challenging discussions. While many of the themes on the future of education have been discussed in China for a few years since COVID, it was very refreshing to hear alternative cultural perspectives on many of the issues that arise from it. Thus, it proved a strong stimulus to developing more best practice in my own educational environment. The organization was wonderful, friendly, and the support offered was extremely helpful. Thank you for hosting such a great event."
"This summit is one of the lifetime experiences for both of us. Through the summit we deeply felt that combining AI technology is our future of education. The summit gave us a great opportunity to build up relationships with other experts of the field. It was a great learning experience as well. I believe through this summit, education will be more efficient and easier to be absorbed in the future."
"The 35th Elets World Summit in Dubai was a fantastic event. The organisation was very professional and supportive throughout the months leading up to the event. I thoroughly enjoyed the keynotes and panels and encouraged colleagues to join specialist panels for their own development. A highlight was the networking opportunity with a different network to those I have attended in recent years — it helped me keep abreast of developments in the Middle East region in particular."
"It was truly an honor to attend the summit and an even greater privilege to be recognized with the Leadership & Advocacy Award in the education sector. The platform provided exceptional visibility and meaningful engagement with global education leaders, policymakers, and innovators. What I appreciated most was the quality of dialogue around the future of education, AI integration, global mobility, and institutional excellence. The summit created a powerful space where thought leaders and practitioners could align ideas with action and build partnerships that extend beyond the event itself."
"The World Education Summit 2026 in Dubai was truly inspiring. It was a privilege to connect with visionary, passionate, and forward-thinking educators from around the world, all sharing ideas, projects, and insights on the most pressing issues in education today while exploring creative solutions together. I deeply value the opportunity to be part of such a vibrant community — engaging in meaningful, enlightening, and thought-provoking conversations with like-minded colleagues, and contributing to a global network of people committed to making a positive impact through education."
"It was truly an honour to be part of the 35th World Education Summit in Dubai. The summit was exceptionally well-organized and brought together visionary educators, innovators, and thought leaders under one roof. The discussions around the future of education, especially the integration of AI and innovation in classrooms, were both insightful and forward-thinking. Winning the Innovation in Education Award at such a prestigious platform made the experience even more memorable."
"Looking back at my professional journey, there have been a few conferences that genuinely shaped the path of SIS Intercultural Study Abroad. It had been a long time since I experienced that same feeling of renewed inspiration — until Elets. The summit brought a fresh energy, a renewed vision of the future of education, and, above all, the chance to meet people from diverse backgrounds from whom I could learn a great deal. That spirit of exchange and openness is what makes gatherings like this truly meaningful. I feel honored to have been part of the event."
"The experience was both inspiring and energising. What stood out most for me was being surrounded by global educators, leaders and innovators who are actively shaping the past, present, and becoming of education. Receiving the Innovation in Education Award was a meaningful moment — not just personally, but as recognition of the work we are doing through Merkabah Management Systems. Since the event, I have had the opportunity to reconnect with several fellow award recipients, and we are already exploring ways to collaborate so that the great work and ideas shared at WES continue to be implemented and expanded worldwide."
"Thank you for an inspiring and well-organized summit. It was a privilege to join global leaders, innovators, and investors exploring the future of education. The platform provided exceptional visibility and meaningful engagement with global education leaders, policymakers, and innovators. The summit created a powerful space where thought leaders and practitioners could align ideas with action and build partnerships that extend beyond the event itself. Congratulations to the organizing team for delivering such a forward-looking and meaningful event."
"I dare to say that the World Education Summit Dubai 2026 delivered a mind-blowing and insightful version of what the future of education is going to look like."
"It was a pleasure to be invited to this summit. Being away from the UK and a fairly new addition to the international context, this was a great opportunity to continue professional development and meet other colleagues in this field. The event was well organized on a range of relevant topics that can help leaders anticipate the current challenges in education and how to tackle them. Networking was good and a step forward to making connections — which is so important when we are abroad. Your process for evaluation and winners was impressive; the rigorous evaluation secured a level of credibility that will impact on my career moving forward."
"It was a great summit. We are super grateful for the recognition of our AI education system."
"The summit provided a valuable platform for meaningful dialogue, knowledge exchange, and networking with distinguished education leaders and professionals. I particularly appreciated the forward-looking discussions on innovation, quality assurance, and the evolving landscape of global higher education. The diversity of perspectives shared during the sessions made the experience both enriching and inspiring."
"It was truly an honour to attend the 35th World Education Summit in Dubai. The event was not only professionally enriching but also deeply inspiring. I especially valued the conversations around inclusive education, innovation, and leadership in today's evolving educational landscape. Hearing diverse perspectives from global educators reinforced my belief that when children feel safe, seen, and supported, meaningful learning truly begins. The networking opportunities were equally impactful. I left the summit feeling motivated, affirmed in my calling, and excited to implement fresh ideas within my own school community."
Elets World Education Summit 2027
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A look back at the conversations, connections, and milestones that have defined every WES gathering — from packed plenaries to candid moments between sessions.
President
Prince Sultan University
Pro Vice Chancellor & President
Curtin University Dubai
Pro Vice Chancellor
Amity University Dubai
Vice Chancellor
Abu Dhabi University
Pro Vice-Chancellor International
De Montfort University
Provost
American University in the Emirates
Vice Chancellor - Academic Affairs
Dubai Medical University
Vice Chancellor for Support Services
Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities
Founder & Chairman
Citizens School
Mayor of Municipality
Argenta Emilia Romagna-Italy
President
Liwa University
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Ajman University
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