In a world shaped by rapid technological change, social fragmentation, and planetary risk, what should education prepare young people for? For years NCEE partnered with the OECD to bring senior policymakers and thought leaders from some of the world’s highest-performing education systems together to address this question.
Education for Human Flourishing: A Conceptual Framework is an innovative vision that redefines the purpose of schooling beyond academic achievement and workforce readiness. It highlights five core competencies—adaptive problem solving, ethical competence and understanding, appreciating and acting in the world—and emphasizes the importance of nurturing human meaning, agency, and security in the era of AI.
On February 19, educators, researchers, policymakers, and system leaders from around the world joined us to explore what it truly means to center education on human flourishing in a time defined by both uncertainty and extraordinary possibility.
Our panelists challenged us to think differently about the future of education. Melanie Stewart reminded us that we must actively choose hope over fear, and summon the courage to keep going. Andreas Schleicher urged us to make education less transactional and more deeply social and relational, arguing that what makes learning distinctly human is exactly what will matter most in an AI-driven world. And Tracey Burns encouraged us to reframe how we think about education itself, broadening its boundaries, strengthening adaptability and resilience, and preparing systems (and people) to pivot when the unexpected happens.
We closed with a powerful reminder: education for human flourishing isn’t an add-on or a one-time initiative. It’s a recentering of purpose. If we are serious about preparing young people for a complex and rapidly changing world, we must widen our definition of success and commit to shaping the future of education—together.
Watch the full video and see the slides from the event, and connect with us to add your voice to this important conversation.
