The Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne proudly welcomed over 400 delegates from across the globe as the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI) 2025 commenced on Monday, 10 February.
Hosted in the Arts West Building, this year’s Congress, themed Redefining Education: Purpose and Possibility, sets the stage for a dynamic exchange of ideas, research, and policy discussions aimed at transforming education in a rapidly changing world.
The opening ceremony began with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony on South Lawn, acknowledging the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which the conference takes place.
Delegates were then ushered to the Kathleen Fitzpatrick Lecture Theatre, where the Congress was officially welcomed by Conference Co-Chairs, Professor Larissa McLean Davies and Professor Pasi Sahlberg. They introduced ICSEI President Dr. Jim Spillane, who spoke about ICSEI’s return to Australia as a homecoming and emphasised the need for greater practitioner involvement in a researcher-dominated space.
Professor Jim Watterston then delivered his final keynote as Dean of the Faculty of Education, titled Rethinking Education in Turbulent Times. He encouraged attendees to stop looking in the rear-view mirror when thinking about education’s future and addressed key challenges, including equity, self-determination, and autonomy for young people. He emphasised the importance of believing in teachers and highlighted the difficulty of changing entire educational systems when outcomes are dictated by what is measured.
Following his address, The Hon. Ben Carroll, Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, officially opened the Congress, reinforcing the significance of education in Victoria. He expressed pride in the state’s commitment to education, particularly in supporting First Nations students and addressing areas of disadvantage. Minister Carroll acknowledged Professor Watterston’s passion for education, highlighting the unmatched impact of his contributions. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to strengthening the teaching workforce through initiatives like the Be That Teacher campaign and underscored the life-changing role of education.
With a program featuring masterclasses, roundtable discussions, and keynote presentations aligned with key sub-themes—including rethinking the purpose of education, bridging global divides, and navigating the intersection of education and emerging technologies—ICSEI 2025 promises to be a momentous event in the global education landscape.
This conference has been generously supported by the Victorian Department of Education.
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