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CES

7th Creativity in Education Summit

17-18 September 2025, UNESCO hEADQUATERS, PARIS

Aligning Assessment to Foster Creative Thinking and Improve Teaching and Learning

The 2025 Creativity in Education Summit, jointly organised by the OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI), UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE), and the Global Institute of Creative Thinking (GIoCT), was an unique platform convening policy makers, educators, AI and technology experts and international organisations to exchange ideas, showcase global best practices, and promote collaborative solutions.

This year’s theme emphasisd the common need to ensure alignment of assessment practices with pedagogical approaches that value creativity as a core educational outcome. The Summit provided the opportunity to explore how digital tools, artificial intelligence, and inclusive methodologies can help build more adaptive, integrative and meaningful models of practice.

Summit in a Snapshot

As noted in the opening ceremony, this annual Summit is our “deadline for handing in homework”, a moment to present the results of our collective effort, and this year, the “homework” has been richer and more substantial than ever.

Across two and a half days, participants experienced pre-Summit visits to the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO) and the Institut Supérieur Maria Montessori (ISMM), followed by keynote speeches and policy discussions with ministers and experts on assessment for creative thinking at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The programme also featured hands-on workshops linked to the OECD Teacher Professional Learning Programme and parallel sessions with case studies and exchanges on innovative practices.

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Highlights from the CES 2025 include:

 

  • First High-Level Forum, enabling ministers and policymakers to directly shape the vision for future education;
  • Official launch of the CES Network, connecting research, practice, and policy across borders for long term engagement;
  • Advancement of the Professional Learning Programme with the OECD and GIoCT, embedding creativity in teachers’ formation;
  • The joint rollout with UNESCO IITE and GIoCT micro-courses and credentials on AI tools for creative classrooms;
  • The initiation of the Island Nations Education Project, making creativity a force for sustainable education in vulnerable regions.
  • The release of two key publications: CES@MAG, Issue 01/Summer 2025 and the international Creativity in Schools Award Case Studies Collection

CES Network Official Launch

The official launch of the CES Network marked a milestone in the evolution of the Creativity in Education Summit, transforming it into a year-round platform that connects policy, practice, and research.

Frankie Lowe, Founder of GIoCT, described the network as a constellation of educators, policymakers, and school leaders working together to turn summits into sustained action through pilot programmes, open resources, teacher training, and award standards. Minister Uhilamoelangi Fasi of Tonga emphasised that for small island na- tions, education and creativity are tied to survival and dignity, while Minister Ali Haidar Ahmed of the Maldives highlighted creativity as a prerequisite in the face of climate change, technology shifts, and labour market demands. Zhan Tao, Director of UNESCO IITE, pledged continued support, and Professor Mark Runco underlined the opportunity to bridge research and practice. Early-career fellow Anäelle Camarda stressed the value of linking universities with classrooms.

The session closed with a shared commitment to make the CES Network a global “do-tank,” fostering collaboration and affirming creativity as education’s most renewable resource.

International Creativity in Schools Awards Presentation

The Creativity in Schools Award Ceremony celebrated outstanding achievements in fostering creativity in education. The co-organisers, GIoCT and UNESCO IITE, shared the background and vision behind the Awards, followed by a message from Andreas Schleicher, Chair of the International Jury Committee, emphasising the importance of recognising schools that champion creative thinking. Valerie Hannon, also a mem- ber of the Jury, reflected on the judging process and the significance of the awards in encouraging innovation in education. The three Grand Winners—from Turkey, Tanzania, and France—then presented their projects, with the other seven schools in the Top 10 also showcasing their work. Concluding the ceremony, Ahlem Gharbi, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of France to UNESCO, warmly congratulated the winners and underlined the broader significance of creativity in education.

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Speakers and Moderators

Presented in order of their first appearance in the Summit

Frankie Lowe

Founder of Global Institute of Creative Thinking; Frankie Lowe Foundation

Tao Zhan

Director, UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education

Lucia Dellangelo

Deputy Director, Directorate, Education and Skills, OECD

Asha Singh Kanwar

Professor; Chair, UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education Governing Board

Ali Haidar Ahmed

Minister of Higher Education, Republic of Maldives

Uhilamoelangi Fasi

Minister for Education & Training, Kingdom of Tonga

Mark A. Runco

Director, Creative Research and Programming, Southern Oregon University; Trustee, GIoCT

Anäelle Camarda

Researcher, Maria Montessori Higher Institute/ LaPEA-Paris-Cite Univeristy

Pamela Burnard

Professor of Arts, Creatives, and Education, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge; Member of Advisory Committee, GIoCT

Mohammad Oemar

Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Indonesia to UNESCO

Cecilia Barbieri

Chief of Section of Global Citizenship and Peace Education UNESCO

Mohamed Jemni Director

ICT Department, ALECSO Vice Chair, UNESCO IITE Governing Board

Didier Jourdan

Governing Board, UNESCO IITE; Chair holder of the UNESCO Chair “Global Health & Education” and Head of the WHO collaborating Center for “Research in Education & Health”

Cassie Hague

Policy Analyst, Centre for Education Research and Innovation, OECD

Anjelica Giordano

Centre for Education Research and Innovation, OECD

Janette Hughes

Ontario Tech University, Canada

Ahlem Gharbi

Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of France to UNESCO

Valerie Hannon

Co-Founder The Innovation Unit and the Global Education Leaders

Marie Hundevadt

Project Manager, Inland University of Norway

Szilvia Nemeth

Managing Director, T-Tudok Centre for Knowledge Management and Educational Research

Ahmed Ansary

Founder President of Aisa e-University

Andreas Schleicher

Director for Education and SkillsSpecial Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General, OECD

Svetlana Knyazeva

Unit Chief of Digital Pedagogy and Learning Materials, UNESCO IITE

Tatiana Murovana

Program Specialist,
Institute for Information Technologies in Education, UNESCO

Bill Lucas

Chair of Advisory Committee GIoCT; Professor of Learning University ofWinchester

Janet Looney

Director, European Institute of Educational and Social Policy (IESP)

Tone Lisbeth Mork

Chair of the Commission on Education of Rehabilitation International (RI)

Natalia Amelina

Unit Chief, Teacher Professional Development and Networking, UNESCO IITE

Todd Lubart

Professor,
Psychology-Université de Paris

Maria Cecilia Calani Baranauskas

Professor, University of Campinas Member, UNESCO IITE Governing Board

Salah Khalil

Founder and CEO, Macat International Ltd

Baptiste Barbot

Professor, Catholic University of Louvain

Rebecca Frankum

OECD, Analyst Transitions in Upper Secondary Education

Lena Gray

Fellow, University of Oxford, Association for Educational Assessment

Anabela Serrao

Member of the Board of Directors IAVE (Institute of Educational Evaluation), Portugal

Nicola Jane Gray

Governing Board, UNESCO IITE

Dorothy Gordon

Governing Board, UNESCO IITE

Co-Organisers

The Global Institute of Creative Thinking (GIoCT)
GIoCT started as an institute in the UK, and now a registered charity. GIoCT’s mission remains the same from the beginning, to nurture creative thinkers, empower those we teach, and inspire futures. GIoCT wants to make a purposeful contribution with the seeds we plant to bring about meaningful lifelong learning. The main activities of the institute include evidence- based advocacy, international conferences and workshops, teacher-professional learning courses, and creative thinking programmes run in collaboration with schools.
The OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI)
OECD performs research driven work to achieve lifelong learning for all. It goes beyond formal education systems and reflects on the future of teaching and learning. While having a particular focus on emerging trends and issues, CERI aims to set a forward- looking and innovative agenda for a changing education landscape. The goal of CERI is to produce work that is thoroughly integrated with empirical analysis and innovation awareness, with specific emphasis on accumulating statistical evidence and developing key indicators to solidify its research work.
Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE)
UNESCO IITE is a specialised agency established by UNESCO to promote the innovative use of ICT in education. Situated in Moscow, Russia, the institute focuses on assisting member states in developing policies and capacities related to ICT in education. Its activities include research, advocacy for ICT-enabled pedagogy, promoting ICT skills among teachers, sharing knowledge on best practices, enhancing inclusive education, and developing partnerships to support educational goals related to the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).

Partners

Principal Founding Partner

CES Annual
Conference

The Creativity in Education Summit is an event that has become a flagship gathering of educators, researchers, policy makers, and industry leaders from around the world. Since its inception in 2019, the Creativity in Education Summit has been a platform for stimulating discussions, innovative ideas, and impactful actions aimed at transforming education for the 21st century.

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frequently asked questions

Where is CES 2025 hosted?

UNESCO Headquarters, or Maison de l’UNESCO in Paris, France. 

UNESCO does not have public parking facilities. We recommend using public transport:

  • By Metro: Ségur-UNESCO, Cambronne, Ecole militaire
  • By Bus: 28, 80
  • Velib’Sation: n° 15009 Suffren, 140 avenue de Suffren

At least 30–45 minutes before the start of the Summit, to allow time for security and badge collection..

You must present a valid government-issued ID. Security badges will be issued at the entrance.

All attendees must go through airport-style security screening. Please note: only closed water bottles can be brought into the meeting rooms to avoid any possible incidents with the electrical installations on the podium and tables.

No. Only registered participants with confirmed badges will be allowed entry.

Participants from outside the EU/Schengen Area may require a short-stay visa to enter France. If a visa is necessary, please indicate this during the registration process. An official invitation letter will be issued to support your visa application. Kindly allow up to seven working days for the invitation letter to be processed and delivered. We recommend beginning your visa arrangements well in advance to ensure timely approval.

Yes. UNESCO HQ is wheelchair accessible and offers facilities for persons with reduced mobility. If you require accessibility assistance, please indicate this during the registration process so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Participants will be offered coffe break, lunch and reception (on the evening of the first day, 17th September).

Yes, a supervised cloakroom is available, but large suitcases are discouraged.

The working language of CES 2025 will be English. There will be no simultaneous interpretation.

Yes. Journalists must register in advance and bring press credentials.

No, the summit will not be live-streamed. However, video recordings of selected sessions will be made available online after the event.