Panel Discussion
Beyond Borders: Uniting Global Voices for International Collaboration
Date Thursday, Nov 28 Time – RoomSchoeneberg I / II / III
The future of education depends on international collaboration, where innovation and regulation cross borders to create inclusive, scalable, and sustainable learning opportunities. Led by ICDE, this session will explore how diverse learning communities and global networks can work together to address the digital divide and expand access to education. By fostering mutual understanding and respect, we can shape education policies and practices that truly reflect the needs of our global society.
Torunn Gjelsvik
Secretary General, International Council for Open and Distance Education, ICDE, Norway
Torunn Gjelsvik from Oslo, Norway, is the Secretary General of ICDE - International Council for Open and Distance Education. With specialization in open, flexible, distance and online learning, Torunn is a strong advocate for inclusive, scalable and sustainable education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Gjelsvik holds a Masters’ degree in Nordic languages and literature, and her education background includes French, History, Management and Strategic communication. She started working with development of distance and online education in 2000, and has held various national and international leadership positions within the field.
Gjelsvik’s international experience covers advocacy, policy advice, international networks and partnerships, global events and cross-country project management related to the global field of open, flexible, distance and online education. She is often seen as a speaker or panelist at international education conferences around the globe.
Links
Margaret Korosec
Dean of Online and Digital Education, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
Margaret Korosec is an innovative, people-centred, and strategic leader recognised for her innovative approach, unwavering commitment to people, and strategic vision in higher education. With a blend of creativity, intentionality, and a holistic systems perspective, she pioneers new pathways for learners in the evolving landscape of education.
As Dean of Online and Digital Education at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, Margaret spearheads initiatives that redefine how education is accessed and experienced. She champions flexible models of education that cater to diverse learner populations and circumstances, advocating for open, online, and part-time provision to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.
At the heart of Margaret’s leadership is a passion for leveraging the convergence of design, technology, and education. She navigates this intersection with finesse and thrives on witnessing how communities flourish. Under her guidance, the University of Leeds is positioned to grow its online and professional learning offer, facilitated by internal and external strategic partnerships.
Prior to her current role, Margaret made significant contributions to the expansion of online education portfolios at the University of Derby Online Learning and Western Governors University (WGU). Her experiences witnessing the transformative power of education on individuals’ lives and communities solidified her dedication to advancing online and flexible learning initiatives.
Margaret’s leadership is defined by her steadfast commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and the non-negotiable pursuit of educational opportunity. She continues to inspire and empower learners, educators, and institutions alike, shaping the future of education with vision and purpose.
Jacques Dang
Secretary of the Board, L'Université Numérique, France
As secretary of the board for L'Université Numérique, the French digital university, and AUNEGe, the French OER repository for management & economics, Jacques leads collaborative initiatives in technological R&D, in cooperation with French universities, high-tech companies and academic partners around the globe. The projects involve next-generation networks, open and distance learning as well as evaluation and learning analytics.
Jacques also chairs, together with the ICDE Secretary General, the francophone working group for the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on OER; this working group includes representatives from UNESCO, national UNESCO commissions, virtual universities or ministries for Higher Education from various francophone countries in West & Central Africa. He represents L'Université Numérique for participation in the UNESCO dynamic coalition for OER.
He is a member of the board of various international initiatives, including ICoBC, the International Council on Badges & Credentials.
Links
Zakhar Symchych
Head Of Development, Atmospheric School, Ukraine
Zakhar Symchych is a Ukrainian educator and Deputy Director of Development at Atmospheric School, one of the most innovative leaders in distance education in Ukraine. Zakhar holds a Master’s degree in Philology with a specialization in comparative studies and has dedicated his career to implementing high-quality, technology-driven learning solutions for students across Ukraine. In his current role, Zakhar is responsible for the strategic advancement of artificial intelligence applications within the school’s digital learning ecosystem, continuously enhancing student engagement and personalized learning paths.
With Zakhar’s significant contribution, Atmospheric School has become an essential educational lifeline for Ukraine, providing accessible and high-quality education even under challenging circumstances. Today, the school supports thousands of students, including children living in active conflict zones and internally displaced families striving to maintain stability and continuity in their children’s education. Thanks to Zakhar’s efforts in integrating AI and modern technology, Atmospheric School can meet the diverse needs of these students, offering a reliable, innovative learning experience that overcomes geographical and socio-economic barriers.
Zakhar’s contributions go beyond his strategic role—he regularly collaborates with ed-tech experts, government representatives, and humanitarian organizations, advocating for the development of digital solutions for education during a time of crisis. His work reflects an unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive, resilient, and adaptable educational model that empowers the young generation of Ukraine to access education during this critical time.
Links
Rebecca Heiser
Researcher and Evaluation Consultant, Athabasca University, Canada
Rebecca E. Heiser is an accomplished adult educator and distance researcher whose leadership emerges from learning design and evidence-based approaches to inform local, national, and international policy and practices. Working across contexts, including K12, non-profit, corporate, higher education and governmental agencies, Dr. Heiser aims to support lifelong learning through distance learning modalities. She serves as the Interviews Editor with the American Journal of Distance Education, and her research interests include quality dimensions in transnational distance education, internationalization strategies, equitable and human-centred technologies for learning, and systems perspectives of online and distance education.
Lisa Jacka
Senior Lecturer, University of Southern Queensland , Australia
Dr. Lisa Jacka, a Senior Lecturer in Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of Southern Queensland, is renowned for her innovative work in educational technology. Her PhD research on integrating virtual worlds in teacher education has led to numerous publications, including her book Using Virtual Worlds in Educational Settings: Making Learning Real. Dr. Jacka’s contributions have earned her a Vice-Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Student Engagement in 2015, recognizing her innovative online learning designs. She advocates for active learning strategies, encouraging interactive and hands-on experiences to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
Richard Powers
Online Operations & Learning Designer for Virtual Exchange, University of Stuttgart (Professional School of Education), Germany
A well-known and recognized e-Learning expert, Prof. Emer. Richard Powers is currently a Professor, Trainer and Learning Designer with the University of Stuttgart in Germany, where he teaches blended learning courses to develop competences in digitalization and diversity for pre-service teachers across five universities. He is an EU eTwinning Ambassador for Germany.
He teaches Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Project-Based Learning with eTwinning & Erasmus+ for Interculturality, and Digital Accessibility. Prof. Powers won the 2022 Teaching Award for Excellence at Stuttgart University, receiving Euro 10.000 for his research and future projects.
Remotely, Professor Powers develops, implements and evaluates UDL and synchronous "online-live" training programs for 4,000 faculty at City Colleges of Chicago.
He routinely teaches and trains faculty in Stuttgart and Chicago how to teach online with Moodle, ILIAS and Brightspace in webinars via Webex and Zoom. His DAAD and eTwinning/Erasmus+ virtual exchange & blended mobility classes involve student teachers from Germany, Turkey, the Ukraine, North Macedonia, France, Spain, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria and Nepal.