Greetings from Tohoku University

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 22nd International Education Development Forum (IEDF2025), which will be held from October 17-19, 2025, here at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. This is the first time that Tohoku University has had the honor of hosting this important forum. IEDF2025 is co-sponsored by the Graduate School of Education, Tohoku University, and the Sendai Tourism, Convention and International Association.

Under the theme"International Educational Development Towards and Beyond 2030: Whose Agendas, and What Goals and Approaches?" IEDF2025 will serve as a platform to promote discussions and collaborations that address emerging global challenges.

Hosting this forum in Sendai, a city known as a center of learning and resilience, is deeply meaningful. As the "City of Trees" and a global symbol of recovery, Sendai has not only rebuilt itself after the Great East Japan Earthquake, but has also emerged as a leader in fostering a disaster culture - one that values preparedness, knowledge sharing, and collective memory to strengthen societies against future challenges. Rooted in this commitment to resilience and innovation, Sendai provides a uniquely meaningful setting for participants to reflect on and advance global conversations about the role of international education development in addressing complex development challenges beyond 2030. We hope this dynamic and inspiring environment will foster deep engagement and collaboration to build more inclusive and sustainable futures.

On October 17, we will open the Forum with an international symposium dedicated to exploring pathways for education and research in the context of the post-2030 Agenda. Following the symposium, on October 18-19, participants will present their research, engage in dialogues with advisors from partner universities, and exchange views with peers from partner universities across the Asia-Pacific region.

We look forward to welcoming all participants to Sendai and engaging in meaningful discussions that will help shape the future of international education and development.