Excursion to Schloss Leopoldskron

MCI students engage in global dialogue on the future of education and the SDGs

A group of bachelor & master students from the department Nonprofit, Social & Health Care Management as well as MCI staff members, took part in an inspiring international forum held at Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg on Thursday, 30 October 2025. The event, jointly organized by the Ban Ki-moon Center for Global Citizens (BKMC) and Salzburg Global Seminar, brought together policymakers, educators, and youth leaders to explore the theme “Education for the Post-2030 Agenda.” The session marked the third edition of the Forum, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement.

Opening the afternoon, Monika Fröhler, CEO of the Ban Ki-moon Center, set the tone for a day of deep reflection on the transformative power of education. In his remarks, Martin Weiss, President of Salzburg Global Seminar, emphasized that education remains “the bedrock of all global challenges,” while Ambassador Ham Sang Wook of the Republic of Korea underlined the importance of global citizenship education in fostering a sense of belonging beyond national borders. Dr. Heinz Fischer, 11th President of Austria and Co-Chair of the BKMC, reminded participants that education lies at the heart of democracy, social justice, and sustainability, calling for reforms that truly empower those left behind. Video messages from Eva Maria Holzleitner the Austrian Federal Minister of Women, Science and Research, and from Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Co-Chair of the BKMC, further reinforced the importance of Global Citizenship Education and called for urgent global solidarity and investment in education grounded in human rights, equity, inclusion, and empathy to empower ethical global citizens, raise collective ambition, and ensure a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future for all.

The discussions throughout the afternoon focused on rethinking education systems for an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Speakers such as Amanda Abrom (Global Schools Program, SDSN), Professor Catherine Hoppers (University of Calgary), and Katharina Reisenbauer (UN Youth Delegate for Austria) explored how curricula must evolve to include interdisciplinary, inclusive, and pluralistic approaches. They stressed that education should nurture empathy, critical thinking, and intercultural awareness – skills essential to tackle global risks such as misinformation, climate change, and social inequality. Professor Hoppers’ message of “Ubuntu – I am because you are” resonated strongly with the audience, urging recognition of diverse knowledge systems and indigenous perspectives in shaping future learning.

The keynote by Professor Katrin Kohl, Co-Chair of the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, challenged participants to reconsider the very purpose of education. Drawing on the World Risk Report, she highlighted the urgent need for education systems that can navigate “networked risks” through compassion, creativity, and collaboration. Rather than focusing solely on knowledge acquisition, she argued for an approach that cultivates meaning, optimism, and global responsibility, equipping learners of all ages to transform uncertainty into opportunity.

MCI students played an active role in the discussions, sharing insights during breakout sessions on climate risk, misinformation, conflict, and societal disruption. Two MCI students, Julia Prado Figueira da Silva and Jennifer Ladig, served as rapporteurs, summarizing the key outcomes from their respective groups and presenting them during the closing plenary. Their contributions reflected the global engagement that define MCI’s educational mission.

As the Forum concluded, participants looked ahead to the next phase of global cooperation on Education for the Post-2030 Agenda. The conversations at the event underscored that education remains humanity’s most powerful tool for achieving the SDGs, fostering peace, and empowering future generations. Looking to the future, the call was clear: education must not only prepare learners for the world as they find it – it must prepare them to shape a more just, sustainable, and inclusive one.

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