In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Amjad Barham, Minister of Education and Higher Education of the State of Palestine. This episode explores the emergency strategies implemented to sustain learning amidst the profound disruptions and humanitarian challenges caused by ongoing conflict. Barham highlights the view of education as "oxygen," evolving from traditional classrooms to virtual schools to ensure continuity for hundreds of thousands of displaced students. He discusses the necessity of overcoming severe financial crises and physical barriers like checkpoints, while simultaneously strengthening partnerships to provide internet access and emotional support for teachers and students. Barham also shares examples of Gaza's online exams and tent-based education, reflects on the challenge of reconstruction and integrating technological advancements like AI, and explores how the dream of "safe schools" serves as the fundamental roadmap for restoring security and stability across the system

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Romeela Mohee, Higher Education Commissioner at the Higher Education Commission of Mauritius. This episode explores the strategic reforms being implemented to transform Mauritius into a credible regional education hub and a "knowledge bridge" between Africa and Asia. Romeela highlights the system's evolution from expanding access to ensuring that higher education is responsive, agile, and aligned with national development ambitions. She discusses the necessity of addressing the mismatch between traditional qualifications and evolving industry needs, while simultaneously implementing a national blueprint on microcredentials to foster a more flexible, lifelong learning ecosystem. Romeela also shares examples of how Mauritius is pioneering industry-academia co-designed microcredentials in sectors like AI and tourism, reflects on the challenge of integrating artificial intelligence through the first national guidelines of their kind in Africa, and explores how demographic trends, such as a declining number of local students, are prompting strategies to triple international enrollment from Africa and Asia

In this episode of EWF Conversations, EWF Programme Director Fabrizio Trifirò talks to Julia Rubiano, Secretary of Education of Bogotá, Colombia. This episode explores the strategic reforms being implemented to improve quality and equity within Bogotá’s education system. Julia highlights the administration's focus on early childhood and foundational learning through a coordinated intersectoral approach that integrates education with health and social services. She discusses the necessity of addressing core operational inefficiencies, such as teacher absenteeism and service delays, while simultaneously implementing evidence-based strategies for learning recovery. Julia also shares examples of how the city is fostering safe, protective learning environments through the "Schools with Emotions" initiative, reflects on the challenge of finding a balanced, evidence-based approach to AI and social media, and explores how demographic trends like declining birth rates might offer opportunities to transition toward single-school-day models and smaller classroom sizes.