Set at Yasmina British Academy in Abu Dhabi, the World School Summit brought together leaders from education, technology, policy, and business to confront the sector’s most pressing challenges. Organized by T4 Education, the event convened global voices from EdTech, K–12, and higher education to reflect on the Summit’s central theme: Leadership for a Better World.
Across two days of panels, masterclasses, debates, and student-led discussions, a unifying sentiment emerged: education is at a turning point, shaped by technological acceleration, shifting learner expectations, and the urgent need for equitable, relevant systems. As various leaders reminded the audience, educators remain the “custodians of the next generation”, a responsibility that grows more complex by the year.
In a refreshing shift, this year’s event introduced a debate-driven format where panelists took a stance for or against provocative ideas shaping the education landscape. Audience members voted both before and after each discussion, revealing how perspectives evolved in real time. Several debates challenged long-held assumptions shaped by experiences within the U.S. education system, encouraging a more thoughtful examination of the industry’s ongoing transformation.
The Purpose of Education: From Grades to Growth
The Summit revisited a longstanding question: Is the primary goal of education to achieve good grades? The debate revealed the tension between academic performance as a gateway to opportunity and the broader mission of nurturing adaptable, empowered learners.
Those favoring a grades-first view emphasized that credentials still open doors to jobs, scholarships, and mobility, making measurable outcomes hard to dismiss. Others argued that an overreliance on grades narrows learning, overshadowing skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity that today’s world demands.
The takeaway was clear: grades matter, but they can’t be the only marker of success. A balanced approach, one that maintains academic rigor while expanding how learning is measured, will be essential for preparing learners not just to perform, but to reach their full potential.
AI and the Teacher: Augmentation, Not Replacement
One of the most charged debates centered on whether AI will eventually replace teachers, a question intensified by UNESCO’s projection of a 44 million teacher shortfall by 2030.
Those arguing for AI’s necessity emphasized its ability to scale individualized instruction and fill widening staffing gaps. Yet the counterpoint resonated more strongly throughout the Summit: the core of learning is a social contract that cannot be automated.
Teachers were described as the “stewards of learning”, the human anchors who provide context, belonging, values, and emotional safety. AI may personalize content, streamline instruction, and reduce administrative burden, but it cannot replace the trust, empathy, and cultural relevance that define meaningful education.
The consensus: AI should accelerate human potential, not attempt to replicate it. The future lies in hybrid models where teachers guide learning, and AI removes friction, expands reach, and supports the moments that matter most.
Higher Education in Transition: Relevance Under Pressure
Another central discussion explored whether universities remain fit for purpose in a world where learner expectations, labor markets, and technology are evolving faster than institutions can adapt.
Concerns about underemployment, rising tuition, and outdated curricula fueled calls for modernization, particularly around integrating industry, adopting micro-credentials, and designing more inclusive pathways into high-growth careers. Universities were urged to become more agile, more connected to employers, and more responsive to the real-world skills required.
At the same time, defenders of the traditional model highlighted the enduring “earning premium” of a degree and the university’s unique role in shaping critical thinking, citizenship, and intergenerational mobility. The debate made one thing clear: relevance, not tradition, will define the future of higher education. Institutions that embrace flexibility, partnership, and lifelong learning will lead the next chapter.
Profit in Education: Values, Access, and the Path Forward
The sharpest divide emerged around the role of profit in education. Arguments against for-profit models centered on equity: education should serve children, not shareholders, and profit-driven systems risk widening gaps and excluding the most vulnerable.
Those more open to market-based approaches pointed to the innovation, accountability, and agility that competition can drive, especially in regions where public systems struggle to meet demand. Importantly, both sides agreed on a fundamental truth: outcomes matter more than ideology, and global education faces a funding challenge that no single model can solve alone.
This conversation underscored a broader theme of the Summit: transforming education requires collaboration across public, private, and social sectors, but always with learner impact as the guiding principle.
A Summit of Insight, Reflection, and Shared Responsibility
This year’s Summit highlighted how education systems worldwide are grappling with shared challenges, from AI equity and ethics to innovation trends, curriculum redesign, and the pursuit of change that lasts. Across sessions and debates, a common thread emerged: the future of learning will depend on building systems that are not only technologically advanced but human-centered, inclusive, and resilient.
“The Summit was not about finding simple answers, but providing the necessary forum for healthy debate and knowledge sharing to solve the most pressing challenges facing future learners.”
—Stephen Raymond, Education AI Studio & Growth Client Partner at Globant.
Javier Scher, SVP of Technology & Head of Education AI Studio at Globant, and Stephen Raymond, Education AI Studio & Growth Client Partner at Globant.
The experience provided a valuable global perspective, reinforcing the importance of designing solutions that meet the diverse needs of learners across rapidly evolving educational ecosystems. At Globant’s Education AI Studio, we help institutions harness AI to build more inclusive, adaptive, and impactful learning experiences. Discover how we can support your transformation.
