5th Istanbul Education Summit

Organized by Turkish Maarif Foundation with the aim of establishing Istanbul as a dynamic center where diverse experiences converge and contemporary issues in education are discussed, the Istanbul Education Summit has, since 2021, become an institutionalized platform for ideas and policies that deeply examine the social and cultural impacts of the educational world. Highlighting perspectives on the future, institutional approaches, and innovative practices, the 5th Istanbul Education Summit will be held on December 5–6, 2025, under the main theme “Healing the World Through Education.” The event will begin with an opening session graced by Her Excellency Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye..

Held each year under a different focus theme, the Summit aims to bring together policymakers, academics, teachers, researchers, opinion leaders, and representatives of civil society on a common platform for discussion. The first Istanbul Education Summit was held online in 2021 under the theme “New Trends and Transformation in Education.” It continued in an in-person format in 2022 with “The Future of Schools: Post-Pandemic Educational Needs” and in 2023 with “Leading the Change in Education.” In 2024, the Summit returned to an online format with the theme “Education for a Fair and Equitable Society and a Sustainable Future.”

The 2025 Istanbul Education Summit, with its main theme “Healing the World Through Education,” will provide a comprehensive forum for discussing educational policies, social impacts, and learning approaches grounded in human values.

The High-Level Session will address the strategic directions and policy foundations of education in contributing to a better world. The panel “Revealing the Known in the Mirror of Education” will analyze the causes and effects of global challenges from an educational perspective.

The panel “Beyond the Curriculum: The Art of Humanity” will explore how knowledge transcends technical accumulation to find meaning in moral values and wisdom. The session “Above the School: The Ecosystem of Collaboration” will focus on how individuals can strengthen their cultural belonging while preserving their unique identities and actively contributing to a global culture of cooperation.

Throughout the Summit, emphasis will be placed on the shared responsibility of improving the world through the collective efforts of schools, families, communities, and institutions. The closing session, titled “A Call from Youth to Tomorrow: From Idea to Action,” will provide a platform for young people to present their ideas and share their contributions to the future.

The Summit will also feature presentations on “Best Practices in Education” organized by Maarif Schools around the world, along with an exhibition of the 5th International Maarif Photography Competition.