Ahead of the Global Learning Conference 2026 in Kigali, President Paul Kagame met international education and sustainability leaders at Urugwiro Village. The conference, co-hosted by Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, will explore the intersection of education, health, environment and sustainability
At Urugwiro Village, Paul Kagame received Prof. Subra Suresh, Founder and President of the Global Learning Council; Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR); Dr. Lee Howell, Executive Director of the Villars Institute; and Dr. Gururaj Deshpande, Co-founder of the Deshpande Foundation. The meeting took place on the eve of the conference’s official opening in Kigali.
Co-hosted by the Ministry of Education of Rwanda, the Global Learning Conference in Africa brings together educators, policymakers, entrepreneurs and multi-generational learners. Organisers describe it as a platform for cross-sector collaboration aimed at designing resilient pathways for the future of learning and education, while encouraging innovations that address global challenges.
The conference programme focuses on the intersection of education, health, environmental stewardship and sustainability. Alongside the main sessions, an AI hackathon and a student robotics competition will take place, providing opportunities for young participants to demonstrate technological skills and problem-solving approaches in practical settings.
Institutional representatives have indicated that convening diverse stakeholders allows for broader dialogue on systemic issues affecting learning systems worldwide. Local observers and participants view the event as contributing to Kigali’s growing profile as a host city for international forums, while also creating engagement opportunities for students, researchers and education practitioners within Rwanda and across the region.
Source: Rwanda High Commission in Singapore
