In response to current global challenges, the educational scholar, Gert Biesta, argues for a pedagogical model that (re)directs young peoples’ attention to the world so that they may encounter what the world is asking from them. By prioritising our students’ ability to act in response to the world, Biesta challenges us to think of education as ‘world-centred’ as opposed to ‘child-centred’ and asks us to support students in recognising and responding to the needs of the communities and ecosystems within which we live.

This symposium invites educators to engage with Biesta’s idea of ‘world-centred’ education in relation to the unique context of international education and our commitment to creating inclusive spaces that foster a sense of dignity and belonging.