PCAH2025 Overview


Join us in Paris (and online) for PCAH2025!

June 10-14, 2025 | Sorbonne University International Conference Center (CICSU), Paris, France

The-Paris-Conference-on-Education-PCE2022-Eiffel-TowerBienvenue à Paris!

Paris has always been a city driven by strident ideas, where discussions and debates are lively, open and frequently heated, overspilling into protests, strikes and even revolution. As such, the French capital is among the world’s most important cultural and intellectual centers, and a city of great history and energy.

“Liberty, equality and fraternity” was the 18th century revolutionary call to arms and battle cry that was soon adopted and institutionalised, as the driving motto behind a new country that would throw off the shackles of absolutist aristocratic rule and commit to a new future for the country, based on enlightenment ideals and new understandings. These would have enormous ramifications within France and beyond as the concepts of liberty, equality and fraternity have spread around the world as a slogan, philosophy, aesthetic and political goal. During this period of revolution violence and competing ideologies, radical ideas and ideals around meritocracy and democracy emerged and were implemented in ways that still influence today, from the study, practice and policies of education, and the heuristic that education is for all, to artistic, design, and cultural production.

Over the course of its history, Paris has been the venue for real and intellectual battles over ideas, ideals and ideologies; between conservative and reformist, secular and religious, multicultural and national, East and West, and all shades of left and right. The French educational system and its fiercely independent, highly vocal, and hugely influential teachers and lecturers are always at the centre of national and indeed international politics and policy. Added to this vigorous public intellectual arena are politicians, writers, journalists, artists, and filmmakers, each bringing a wide variety of perspectives and experience.

What resonates globally, and in this time of globalisation is the openness and rigour of the debates in Paris, and which underlines the continued relevance of this open intellectual space, when in many other places around the world ideas are stifled or banned, any form of opposition is dangerous, and open discussion can be seditious. Paris, city of light, therefore has an enormous and special intellectual place in the heart of all educators and free thinkers regardless of nationality, and especially in today’s uncertain global social-political context.


New Revolutions

As the world recovers from the huge disruptions wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been forced to undergo a period of revolution in the ways in which we engage as professors and students, and teachers and learners. The pandemic has shown that the notions of freedom, equality and fraternity have been brutally called into question by curfews, school or university closures, travel restrictions, and lockdowns. This highlighted and exacerbated the digital divide, where rich countries were able to innovate solutions thanks to solid and reliable technological infrastructure, enabling communication both within and between countries, but also raising worrying questions about the power and reach of government and private enterprise reliance and surveillance. The deep and lasting impact on our expectations and our practices in terms of communication and education is only beginning to be understood, as are the benefits, limitations, and dangers of technology.

We look forward to seeing you again, and to your active participation in the event.

PCAH2025 will be held alongside The Paris Conference on Education (PCE2025). Registration for either conference will allow delegates to attend sessions in the other.

The PCAH2025 Programme Committee

Key Information
  • Venue & Location: Sorbonne University International Conference Center (CICSU), Paris, France
  • Dates: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 ​to Saturday, June 14, 2025
  • Early Bird Abstract Submission Deadline: January 10, 2025*
  • Final Abstract Submission Deadline: March 14, 2025
  • Registration Deadline for Presenters: April 25, 2025

*Submit early to take advantage of the discounted registration rates. Learn more about our registration options.

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Speakers

  • Anne Boddington
    Anne Boddington
    IAFOR, Japan
  • Jun Arima
    Jun Arima
    University of Tokyo, Japan
  • Christopher Cripps
    Christopher Cripps
    Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France
  • Charlotte Faucher
    Charlotte Faucher
    University of Bristol, United Kingdom
  • Donald E. Hall
    Donald E. Hall
    Binghamton University, United States
  • Takehiro Kano
    Takehiro Kano
    United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), France
  • Jean-Michel Leniaud
    Jean-Michel Leniaud
    École Pratique des Hautes Études, France
  • Ljiljana Markovic
    Ljiljana Markovic
    European Centre for Peace and Development (ECPD), Serbia
  • Melina Neophytou
    Melina Neophytou
    IAFOR, Japan
  • Milica Papić
    Milica Papić
    Belgrade Youth Office, Serbia
  • Frédéric Ramel
    Frédéric Ramel
    Sciences Po, France
  • Paolo Sabbatini
    Paolo Sabbatini
    World Sinology Center, China
  • Giorgio Tenneroni
    Giorgio Tenneroni
    Municipality of Todi, Italy
  • Riccardo Travaglini
    Riccardo Travaglini
    General Workers Union (GWU), Malta

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Programme

To be Announced

  • Internationalisation of Higher Education in France: Challenges and Opportunities
    Internationalisation of Higher Education in France: Challenges and Opportunities
    Keynote Presentation: Christopher Cripps
  • Cooperation in Times of Crisis:  Education, Leadership, and Global Citizenship
    Cooperation in Times of Crisis: Education, Leadership, and Global Citizenship
    Discussion Panel: Anne Boddington, Jun Arima, Christopher Cripps, Donald Hall
  • Notre Dame de Paris: Holy Place, Sacred Edifice, and World Heritage Site
    Notre Dame de Paris: Holy Place, Sacred Edifice, and World Heritage Site
    Keynote Presentation: Jean-Michel Leniaud
  • The Future of Cultural Diplomacy: The Legacy of Marco Polo
    The Future of Cultural Diplomacy: The Legacy of Marco Polo
    Keynote Presentation: Paolo Sabbatini
  • Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
    Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
    Panel Presentation: Paolo Sabbatini
  • Senior Academic Leadership
    Senior Academic Leadership
    Workshop Session: Anne Boddington, Ljiljana Markovic, Donald E. Hall
  • Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
    Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
    Discussion Panel: Paolo Sabbatini, Milica Papic, Riccardo Travaglini, Giorgio Tenneroni

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Conference Committees


The International Academic Board (IAB)

Professor Anne Boddington, IAFOR & Middlesex University, United Kingdom
Dr Joseph Haldane, IAFOR & Osaka University, Japan, & University College London, United Kingdom
Professor Jun Arima, IAFOR & University of Tokyo, Japan
Professor Virgil Hawkins, IAFOR Research Centre & Osaka University, Japan
Mr Lowell Sheppard, IAFOR & Never Too Late Academy, Japan

Dr Susana Barreto, University of Porto, Portugal
Professor Grant Black, Chuo University, Japan
Dr Evangelia Chrysikou, Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London, United Kingdom
Professor Donald E. Hall, Binghamton University, United States
Professor Brendan Howe, Ewha Womans University, South Korea & The Asian Political and International Studies Association (APISA)
Dr James W. McNally, University of Michigan, United States & NACDA Program on Aging


Conference Programme Committee

Dr Dan Baker, Independent Consultant, France
Professor Grant Black, Chuo University, Japan
Professor Georges Depeyrot, French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), France
Dr Joseph Haldane, IAFOR and Osaka University, Japan, & University College London, United Kingdom
Professor Ljiljana Markovic, European Center for Peace and Development (ECPD), Serbia

Conference Programme Committees (CPC) are formed as generative bodies, reflecting upon the academic themes identified by the International Academic Board (IAB) and generating the academic programme for the conference(s) they are assigned to, by applying the IAFOR Themes to a given location.

To join the PCAH2025 Conference Programme Committee, send your CV and a brief Letter of Motivation, describing why the committee should consider your application, via the below application form:


The International Academic College (IAC)

Dr Hasan Al-Wadi, University of Bahrain, Bahrain
Dr Shamim Ali, Riphah International University , Pakistan
Professor Umberto Ansaldo, The University of Sydney, Australia
Professor Shingo Ashizawa, Kansai University of International Studies, Japan
Dr Brian Aycock, International Christian University, Japan
Professor William Baber, Kyoto University Graduate School of Management, Japan
Professor Emeritus Sue Ballyn, University of Barcelona, Spain
Ms Keiko Bang, Bang Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore
Professor Geoff Beattie, Edge Hill University, United Kingdom
Professor Denis Binder, Chapman University, United States
Dr Sarah Louisa Birchley, Toyo Gakuen University, Japan
Dr Holger Briel, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, China
Mr James Joseph Briganti, Michigan State University, United States
Professor Bruce Brown, Royal College of Art, United Kingdom
Lord Charles Bruce, Japan Society of Scotland, United Kingdom
Dr Eddie Bruce-Jones, SOAS, University of London, United Kingdom
Professor Chung-Ying Cheng, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, United States
Distinguished Professor Tien-Hui Chiang, Zhengzhou University, China
Mr Marcus Chidgey, Founder & CEO at Loqiva, United Kingdom
Dr George D. Chryssides, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
Dr Christine Coombe, Dubai Men’s College, United Arab Emirates
Professor Melinda Cowart, Texas Woman’s University, United States
Professor Georges Depeyrot, French National Center for Scientific Research, France
Professor Jean-Marc Dewaele, Birkbeck, University of London, United Kingdom
Professor Tatiana Dobrosklonskaya, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia
Dr Richard Donovan, Kansai University, Japan
Dr Murielle El Hajj Nahas, Lusail University, Qatar
Professor John Nguyet Erni, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
Professor Said M. Faiq, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Dr William C. Frick, University of Oklahoma, United States
Dr Alfonso J. García Osuna, Hofstra University & The City University of New York, United States
Professor Gerard Goggin, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Dr Fernando Darío González Grueso, Tamkang University, Taiwan
Professor Stephen J. Hall, Sunway University, Malaysia
Dr June Henton, Auburn University, United States
Mr Harry Hill, Japan United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC), Japan
Dr Rodney F. Hill, Hofstra University, United States
Dr Tamsin Hinton-Smith, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
Professor Curtis Ho, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, United States
Dr Daniel Hoffman, University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States
His Excellency Professor Toshiya Hoshino, UN Inspectorate General, Immediate Past President of IAFOR, and former Japanese Ambassador to the UN
Professor Tom Houghton, Curtin University, Australia
Professor Brendan Howe, Ewha Womans University & The Asian Political and International Studies Association (APISA), South Korea
Professor Kay Irie, Gakushuin University, Japan
Professor Hiroshi Ishida, University of Tokyo, Japan
Dr Maxime Jaffré, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates
Mr Matthew Kay, Nature Publishing, United Kingdom
Mr Michael Liam Kedzlie, Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, New Zealand
Professor Anshuman Khare, Athabasca University, Canada
Mr Daniel Kjellsson, Future Talent Council, Sweden
Dr Yukinori Komine, Harvard University, United States
Dr Rachel Lam, Independent Consultant, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Dr Celia Lam, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, China
Ms Fan Li, LePing Social Entrepreneur Foundation & Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR), China
Dr Tzu-Bin Lin, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
Professor Robert Logie, Osaka Gakuin University, Japan
Dr Jacqueline Lottin, Higher Colleges of Technology, United Arab Emirates
Professor Craig Mark, Kyoritsu Women's University, Japan
Professor Ljiljana Marković, European Centre for Peace and Development (ECPD), Serbia
Dr Yvonne Masters, Independent Researcher, Australia
Professor José McClanahan, Creighton University, United States
Professor Dennis McInerney, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong
Professor David McLoughlin, Meiji University, Japan
Dr Michael Menchaca, University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States
Professor Keith W. Miller, University of Missouri, United States
Dr Alyson Miller, Deakin University, Australia
Dr Yutaka Mino, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Japan
Professor Kuniko Miyanaga, Human Potential Institute, Japan
Professor Johannes Moenius, University of Redlands, United States
Professor Joshua Ka Ho Mok, Lingnan University, Hong Kong
Dr Bernard Montoneri, Independent Researcher, Taiwan
Professor Thomas Brian Mooney, Charles Darwin University, Australia
Dr Amanda Müller, Flinders University, Australia
Dr Jo Mynard, Kanda University of International Studies, Japan
Ms Karen Newby, Par les mots solidaires, France
Dr Cynthia Northington-Purdie, William Paterson University, United States
Dr Keiichi Ogawa, Kobe University, Japan
Professor Mark Pegrum, The University of Western Australia, Australia
Dr Anemona Peres, European Border and Coast Guard Agency,
Dr Alexandru I. Petrisor, Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism, Romania
Dr Elena Raevskikh, Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Dr Thanassis Rikakis, University of Southern California, United States
Professor Richard Roth, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, United States
Dr James Rowlins, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore
Dr Justin Sanders, Woven by Toyota, Japan
Dr Monty P. Satiadarma, Tarumanagara University, Indonesia
Dr Linda Schwartz, Ambrose University, Canada
Dr Shahrokh (Sharo) Shafaie, Southeast Missouri State University, United States
Dr Sharo Shafaie, Southeast Missouri State University, United States
Mr Lowell Sheppard, HOPE International Development Agency, Japan
Dr Jeffrey Sommers, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States
Dr Marcelo Staricoff, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
Dr Pearl Subban, Monash University, Australia
Dr Philip Sugai, Doshisha University, Japan
Professor Gary E. Swanson, University of Northern Colorado (fmr.), United States
Dr Amy Szarkowski, Harvard Medical School, United States
Professor Svetlana Ter-Minasova, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia
Dr Devayani Tirthali, Independent Researcher, India
Dr Brian Victoria, Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, United Kingdom
Dr Deborah G. Wooldridge, Bowling Green State University, United States
Dr Seiko Yasumoto, The University of Sydney, Australia
Dr Tingting Ying, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, China

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Conference Review Committee

Dr Malektaj Khosravi, Islamic Azad University, Iran
Dr Kikue Kotani, Nihon University (retd), Japan
Dr Lai Hoon Lim, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Malaysia
Dr Reena Mittal, MJPRU, Bareilly, India
Dr Hina Nandrajog, Vivekananda College, University of Delhi, India
Dr Hansel Hope Perez, Our Lady of Fatima University, Philippines
Dr Rasiah Rasiah, Halu Oleo University, Indonesia
Dr Chayanika Uniyal, University of Delhi, India
Dr Nadine Zahreddine, Antonine University, Lebanon


IAFOR's peer review process, which involves both reciprocal review and the use of Review Committees, is overseen by the Conference Programme Committee under the guidance of the International Academic Board (IAB). Review Committee members are established academics who hold PhDs or other terminal degrees in their fields and who have previous peer review experience.

If you would like to apply to serve on the PCAH2025 Review Committee, please visit our application page.

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IAFOR Research Centre (IRC) – “Innovation and Value Initiative”

The IAFOR Research Centre (IRC) is housed within Osaka University’s School of International Public Policy (OSIPP), and in June 2018 the IRC began an ambitious new “Innovation and Value Initiative”. Officially launched at the United Nations in a special UN-IAFOR Collaborative Session, the initiative seeks to bring together the best in interdisciplinary research around the concept of value, on how value can be recognised, and measured, and how this can help us address issues and solve problems, from the local to the global.

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Anne Boddington
IAFOR, Japan

Biography

Professor Anne Boddington is Executive Vice-President and Provost of IAFOR, and oversees the academic programs, research and policies of the forum.

Anne Boddington is Professor Emerita of Design Innovation and has held executive and senior leadership roles in Higher Education including as Dean of Arts & Humanities at the University of Brighton, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Business & Innovation at Kingston and Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at Middlesex University.

In 2022 she concluded chairing the Sub Panel (32) for Art & Design: History, Practice & Theory as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) and has extensive experience in the governance and conduct of peer review, research evaluation and assessment in REF2014 (Sub Panel Deputy Chair and Equality Diversity Advisory Panel [EDAP]) and RAE2008. A former member of AHRC’s Advisory Board, she is the current Chair of the Advisory Board for the UKRI’s National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) programme (£30M), Deputy Chair and a Trustee of the Design Council, the government’s strategic advisor for design, and a member of both the InnoHK Scientific Committee (Hong Kong) and the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ).

Since the 1990’s Anne has worked across the UK and internationally with a wide range of quality assurance, professional, statutory, and regulatory bodies in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Hong Kong, and India.

As an independent consultant she now works as a strategic advisor and mentor and is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in practice, developing effective governance, supporting career development, reducing bureaucracy, and improving organisational design, integrity, and productivity in the changing workplace.


Previous Presentations

Panel Discussion (2024) | International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Citizenship in Times of Change and Crisis
Jun Arima
University of Tokyo, Japan

Biography

Professor Jun Arima is the President of IAFOR, and the senior academic officer of the organisation. In this role, Professor Arima is the Honorary Chair of the International Academic Advisory Board, as well as both the Academic Governing Board and its Executive Committee. He also sits on the IAFOR Board of Directors.

Jun Arima was formerly Director General of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), UK from 2011 to 2015 and Special Advisor on Global Environmental Affairs for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan, from 2011 to 2015. He has previously held various international energy/environment-related positions, including: Head of Division, Country Studies, International Energy Agency (IEA); Director, International Affairs Division, Agency of Natural Resources and Energy, METI; and Deputy Director General for Environmental Affairs at METI’s Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau. In the COP (UN Convention on Climate Change) 14, 15 and 16, he was Japanese Chief Negotiator for AWG-KP.

Since 2015 Jun Arima has been a Professor at the University of Tokyo, Japan, where he teaches Energy Security, International Energy Governance, and Environmental Policies in the Graduate School of Public Policy. (GraSPP). He is also currently a Consulting Fellow at the Japanese Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI). He is also Executive Senior Fellow at the 21st Century Public Policy Institute, Principal Researcher at the International Environmental and Economic Institute (IEEI), Distinguished Senior Policy Fellow, at the Asia Pacific Institute of Research (APIR), Senior Policy Fellow on Energy and Environment, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and was the Lead Author, the 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC).

Panel Discussion (2025) | TBA

Previous Presentations

Panel Discussion (2024) | International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Citizenship in Times of Change and Crisis
Christopher Cripps
Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France

Biography

Mr Christopher Cripps is an experienced leader in International Higher Education with over three decades of expertise in Strategy, Development, Transnational Education, Study Abroad, Executive Education, Corporate Relations, Branding, and Marketing. Throughout his career, he has been at the forefront of developing innovative strategies that enhance global academic partnerships and international engagement.

Since June 2024, Mr Cripps has served as Vice-President for Europe and International Affairs at Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France. Prior to this role, he was Senior Advisor for Global Engagement and Diplomatic Affairs to the President of Sorbonne University, France. He has also held significant positions as Director of International Affairs at Sorbonne University, PSL University, Ecole Centrale Paris (now CentraleSupélec), and Grenoble Ecole de Management, providing him with a broad understanding of French higher education across multiple sectors, including business schools, engineering institutions, and universities.

His proven track record of designing and executing successful international strategies, forming high-impact partnerships between leading universities, establishing overseas campuses, and fostering relationships between academia and the global corporate sector has taken him across the globe. He has worked extensively in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, China, India, Brazil, and the Middle East.

Mr Cripps served as an expert on a panel commissioned by the French Prime Minister’s Office to advise on the internationalisation of French Higher Education (2015-2016). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and International Relations from the United States and an MBA from the United Kingdom. He is also a frequent conference speaker, a consultant, and a certified professional coach.

Keynote Presentation (2025) | Internationalisation of Higher Education in France: Challenges and Opportunities
Charlotte Faucher
University of Bristol, United Kingdom

Biography

Charlotte Faucher is Senior Lecturer in Modern French History at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. She is a specialist of European soft power in the contemporary period and has published on the topic of culture and international relations, including her monograph Propaganda, Gender, and Cultural Power (Oxford University Press, 2022) and the co-edited Soft Power Beyond the Nation (Georgetown University Press, 2024) and Histoire(s) de la diplomatie culturelle française (Editions de l'Attribut, 2024). The latter was published to mark the centenary of the creation of the Institut Français, France’s agency for cultural diplomacy, and was part of a series of events and publications supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr Faucher is currently a Research England Policy Fellow in partnership with the British Council, working on a project investigating UK soft power in Europe over the past 40 years. The project’s key output will contribute to the process of defining a shared vision and strategy for the United Kingdom’s soft power initiatives.


Panel Discussion (2025) | Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
Donald E. Hall
Binghamton University, United States

Biography

Donald E. Hall is Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Binghamton University (SUNY), USA. He was formerly Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering at the University of Rochester, USA, and held a previous position as Dean of Arts and Sciences at Lehigh University, USA. Provost Hall has published widely in the fields of British Studies, Gender Theory, Cultural Studies, and Professional Studies. Over the course of his career, he served as Jackson Distinguished Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English (and previously Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages) at West Virginia University. Before that, he was Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English at California State University, Northridge, where he taught for 13 years. He is a recipient of the University Distinguished Teaching Award at CSUN, was a visiting professor at the National University of Rwanda, was Lansdowne Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the University of Victoria (Canada), was Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Cultural Studies at Karl Franzens University in Graz, Austria, and was Fulbright Specialist at the University of Helsinki. He has also taught in Sweden, Romania, Hungary, and China. He served on numerous panels and committees for the Modern Language Association (MLA), including the Task Force on Evaluating Scholarship for Tenure and Promotion, and the Convention Program Committee. In 2012, he served as national President of the Association of Departments of English. From 2013-2017, he served on the Executive Council of the MLA.

His current and forthcoming work examines issues such as professional responsibility and academic community-building, the dialogics of social change and activist intellectualism, and the Victorian (and our continuing) interest in the deployment of instrumental agency over our social, vocational, and sexual selves. Among his many books and editions are the influential faculty development guides, The Academic Self and The Academic Community, both published by Ohio State University Press. Subjectivities and Reading Sexualities: Hermeneutic Theory and the Future of Queer Studies were both published by Routledge Press. Most recently he and Annamarie Jagose, of the University of Auckland, co-edited a volume titled The Routledge Queer Studies Reader. Though he is a full-time administrator, he continues to lecture worldwide on the value of a liberal arts education and the need for nurturing global competencies in students and interdisciplinary dialogue in and beyond the classroom.


Previous Presentations

Keynote Presentation (2023) | There is No New Normal
Takehiro Kano
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), France

Biography

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Takehiro Kano is the Permanent Delegate of Japan to UNESCO, a position he has held since 2023. He possesses extensive experience in diplomacy and international relations, cultivated through various high-ranking roles within Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and other government institutions.

Ambassador Kano graduated from the University of Tokyo, Japan, with a Bachelor of Law in 1989 and later earned a Master of Economics from Selwyn College, Cambridge University, United Kingdom. Since joining MOFA in 1989, he has held influential positions such as Director of the Climate Change Division, International Cooperation Bureau, and Director General of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department.

His diplomatic career included key postings as Minister at Japan’s Permanent Mission to the International Organisations in Vienna, Austria, and as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines. Additionally, Ambassador Kano served as a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo from 2012-2014.

A prolific author, Ambassador Kano has published works on international peace cooperation, climate change negotiations, and nuclear diplomacy, including Environmental Diplomacy: Climate Change Negotiations and Global Governance (Sinzansha Publisher Co.,Ltd, 2013), Nuclear Diplomacy: A Perspective from Vienna, the City of IAEA (Shinzansha Publisher Co.,Ltd, 2017), and Japan’s international peace cooperation: time to move on (‘Diplomacy’ Vol 81, Sep-Oct. 2023). His breadth of expertise, particularly in global governance and security policy, positions him as a leading figure in Japan’s international diplomatic efforts and the nation’s contributions to UNESCO's global initiatives.


Previous Presentations

Panel Discussion (2024) | International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Citizenship in Times of Change and Crisis
Jean-Michel Leniaud
École Pratique des Hautes Études, France

Biography

Professor Jean-Michel Leniaud is one of France's leading historians of art and architecture. He has combined a career in scholarship, research, and administration, with one in the conservation, curation, and restoration of cultural heritage.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Monuments Center (Centre des Monuments Nationaux), a body run by the French Ministry of Culture responsible for the conservation, restoration, and management of some 85 major historic sites and buildings owned by the French State, including Notre-Dame Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Paris). President of the Society of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, Professor Leniaud sits on the scientific council of the public institution for the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris, established by President Macron in the wake of the devastating fire of 2019.

Professor Leniaud is now Emeritus Director of Studies at the École Pratique des Hautes Études, a grand établissement of higher education noted for its pedagogy of research training through practice, and a part of the University of Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL), and Professor of Architectural History at the École du Louvre, a grande école situated within the museum, and which specialises in the study of archaeology, art history, and anthropology.

Previously he was Professor of Contemporary Art History at the École Nationale des Chartes (ENC) from 1992 to 2016, and its director from 2011 to 2016. The ENC, founded more than 200 years ago, is a grand établissement dedicated to historical research and the training of historians and curators, and is now also part of the PSL University.

Professor Leniaud's career began in the administration of historic monuments at the Ministry of Culture, and from 1977 to 1990, he served as Inspector of Historic Monuments and Regional Curator (Rhône-Alpes), and subsequently held various positions at the national level in the administration of monuments. From 2011 to 2022, he chaired the Scientific Council of the French National Institute of Cultural Heritage (Institut National du Patrimoine), the academy responsible for training curators and conservators.

He has been the chief curator of several major exhibitions, including ‘Viollet-le-Duc: Visions of an Architect’, held at the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine museum in Paris from 2014 to 2015. ‘Viollet-le-Duc’ was an enormously influential architect and visionary, and was responsible for the restoration of medieval monuments, including Notre-Dame de Paris.

Professor Leniaud is the author of numerous books and articles on the history of art, architecture, and heritage. Most recently, he directed a publication on the history of the cathedral; Les Résurrections de Notre-Dame - Chantiers et ferveurs was published by Mengès in 2024.

Keynote Presentation (2025) | TBA
Ljiljana Markovic
European Centre for Peace and Development (ECPD), Serbia

Biography

Ljiljana Markovic is a Professor of Japanese Studies in the European Centre for Peace and Development (ECPD) of the United Nations University for Peace, and Special Advisor to the Executive Director and ECPD Academic Director. She is also a Visiting Professor at Toho University and Osaka University, Japan, and Gabriele d'Annunzio University, Italy.

Professor Markovic is the author of a large number of publications in the fields of Japanese Studies and Economics. She completed her bachelor’s and master's degrees at Cambridge University, United Kingdom, before pursuing her doctorate at Chuo University, Japan. For many years, she was a Professor at the Faculty of Philology at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, with terms as Dean (2016-2020) and Vice Dean of Financial Affairs (2008-2016). She has served as the Chairperson of the International Silk Road Academic Studies Symposium since 2017.

Professor Markovic received the Gaimu Daijin Sho Award from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 2010. In the following year, she received the Dositej Obradovic Award for Pedagogical Achievement. Professor Markovic recent accolades include the Medal of Merit by the President of Serbia in 2020, the Isidora Sekulic Medal for Academic Achievement in 2021, and the Order of the Rising Sun (Gold Rays with Rosette) in 2022, an Imperial Decoration awarded by the Government of Japan for her "outstanding contribution to establishing and improving friendly relations with Japan”.

Workshop Presentation (2025) | Senior Academic Leadership

Previous Presentations

Panel Discussion (2024) | International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Citizenship in Times of Change and Crisis
Melina Neophytou
IAFOR, Japan

Biography

Dr Melina Neophytou is the Academic Operations Manager at IAFOR, where she works closely with academics, keynote speakers, and IAFOR partners to shape academic discussions within The Forum, bring conference programmes together, refine scholarship programmes, and build an interdisciplinary and international community. She is leading various projects within IAFOR, notably The Forum discussions and the authoring of Conference Reports and Intelligence Briefings, and she oversees the Global Fellows Programme.

Born in Germany and raised in Cyprus, Dr Neophytou received her PhD in International Development from Nagoya University, Japan, in 2023, specialising in political sociology, the welfare state, and contentious politics. She received an MA in International Development from Nagoya University, with a focus on Governance & Law, and a BA in European Studies from the University of Cyprus, Cyprus.


Forum Discussion (2025) | TBA
Milica Papić
Belgrade Youth Office, Serbia

Biography

Milica Papić is currently the Director of the Belgrade Youth Office within the City Administration of Belgrade, Serbia. Prior to this role, she gained extensive experience at the National Bank of Serbia, where she served as a Supervisor and earlier as a Junior Financial Analyst in the Market Risk Group within the Department for Supervision of Voluntary Pension Funds.

In addition to her public sector work, Ms Papić is engaged in academia. She most recently held the position of Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade, Serbia, where she taught Project Management. She is a doctoral candidate in Economics at the same institution, with an academic record marked by excellence. She previously completed her Master’s and Bachelor’s studies in Finance, Banking, and Insurance at the University of Belgrade.

Ms Papić has participated in several international programmes, including the 2024 Seminar for Serbian Female Politicians in China and the 2023 “How Europe Works” conferences in Vienna, Italy and Brussels, Belgium, organised by the Robert Schuman Institute.

Her professional and academic interests lie at the intersection of public policy, financial systems, and youth development.


Panel Discussion (2025) | Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
Frédéric Ramel
Sciences Po, France

Biography

Frédéric Ramel is Full Professor of Political Science at Sciences Po Paris and Research Fellow at the Centre for International Studies (Centre d'études et de recherches internationales - CERI), France. He previously served as ther Head of the Political Science Department at Sciences Po from2016 to 2022, and was the first Scientific Director of the Strategic Research Institute at the École Militaire from 2009 to 2013. He coordinates the CNRS Research Group on Multilateral Action (GRAM) and also the research programme DATAWAR, financed by the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) dedicated to the role of quantitative data in the interpretation of armed conflicts. Professor Ramel has published in several peer-reviewed journals, including Global Studies Quarterly, Journal of Political Science Education, International Studies Perspectives, and International Peacekeeping, as well as several manuscripts. His latest publications include Espace Mondial [World Space] (Presses de Sciences Po, 2024) and Benevolence in International Relations: A Political Essay (Bristol University Press, 2025), with a foreword from Chris Brown, Emeritus Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom. His current research focuses on multilateralism, peace, and the planetary and sensitivity in international relations.

Photograph by Alexis Leconte.


Panel Discussion (2025) | Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
Paolo Sabbatini
World Sinology Center, China

Biography

Professor Paolo Sabbatini is currently Ambassador for Cultural Communications between Italy and China at the World Sinology Center, China. He is also an emeritus senior member of the Italian Foreign Service and an International Spokesperson for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, interacting with entities such as the European Union and the United Nations. As such, he teaches how to incorporate diplomacy and international relations in every field of culture and economics. Professor Sabbatini is a member of several academic institutions, among which the Academy of Fine Arts in Perugia, Italy; ECPD/UPeace University established by the United Nations in Belgrade, Serbia; and several Chinese Universities.

Keynote Presentation (2025) | The Future of Cultural Diplomacy: The Legacy of Marco Polo
Panel Discussion (2025) | Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
Giorgio Tenneroni
Municipality of Todi, Italy

Biography

Mr Giorgio Tenneroni is the current President of the Municipal Council of Todi, Italy. Since April 15, 2025, he has also been the Coordinator of ANCI Giovani Umbria, the regional commission of young local councillors and mayors. He studies Law at the University of Perugia, Italy. His first paper, “Vita umana e dignità: un dialogo tra etica e diritto” was recently published in the international scientific journal Medicina e Morale (2024).

Mr Tenneroni’s interest in a political and administrative career began in 2018, when he was elected as president of the student council in his high school. In 2019, he was elected as student representative in the Provincial Student Council of Perugia and Representative Deputy and President of the Council’s school building commission. In 2022, he was elected as a member of the City Council of his hometown, Todi, becoming the youngest City Councilor in the history of the City; he was also at the time the youngest elected councilor in charge in the Umbria Region. In 2023, he was appointed as President of the City Council of Todi, becoming the youngest President of a City Council in Italy.

He has spoken at major national and international conferences with notable figures such as art critic Vittorio Sgarbi and Colonel Capitano Ultimo, an expert on anti-mafia policy. He also participated in international meetings as a speaker, including the 2024 Global Forum on Hehe Culture in Tiantai-Taizhou, China and the Second World Meeting on Human Fraternity in Rome, Italy and Vatican City State, where he spoke on a panel alongside the mayors of New York and Rome.

Panel Discussion (2025) | Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
Riccardo Travaglini
General Workers Union (GWU), Malta

Biography

Mr Riccardo Travaglini began his career as an accounting consultant in Italy, specialising in start-ups and subsidised loans. In 2019, he relocated to Malta and joined the General Workers Union (GWU), where he has held various roles. As a business developer and project manager, he facilitated GWU's integration into the European Employment Services (EURES) network, contributing to the execution of numerous European projects. He also established international agreements with both private and public entities.

In the field of international relations, as President of IRTUC Italy-Malta, Mr Travaglini focuses on maintaining excellent relationships and fostering collaborations with Italian trade unions. In this capacity, he represents GWU and IRTUC at the European coordination meetings of ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation), facilitating dialogue, information exchange, and joint actions among the various IRTUCs across Europe. Additionally, he represents GWU within ETUC's Trade and External Affairs Commission, discussing ETUC's external relations, analysing trade agreements between the EU and other countries, drafting responses to the European Commission, and establishing subcommissions to accompany EU negotiators on international missions.

Mr Travaglini is a member of the Information Commission within the European Labour Authority (ELA), contributing to discussions and initiatives regarding labour-related information dissemination.


Panel Discussion (2025) | Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
Internationalisation of Higher Education in France: Challenges and Opportunities
Keynote Presentation: Christopher Cripps

France is a global leader in higher education, consistently ranking among the top six to eight destinations for international students and often standing as the leading non-English-speaking country alongside Germany among the list. Internationalisation has been a core priority for many French institutions for decades, with dedicated teams working to attract students and faculty from all over the world and develop global collaborations for academic programmes and research.

Since the 1990s, English-taught programmes have expanded from business schools to engineering schools and, increasingly, universities, strengthening France’s appeal. Many French business and engineering schools now require students to study or work abroad for at least a semester to earn their degree, reinforcing France’s strong commitment to global mobility and the international employability of its graduates. Today, around 30-35% of students in French institutions gain significant international experience during their studies.

Global geopolitical shifts are creating new opportunities for students facing restrictions in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, causing many of them to turn to France, where student numbers are rising thanks to a more dynamic and accessible higher education landscape. France also remains attractive to researchers in science, technology, and the humanities, benefiting from world-class institutions and cutting-edge research.

However, challenges persist. The French language can be a barrier, and France is not always a first-choice destination for students and academics from key growth markets such as India and South Korea. Strengthening these ties requires proactive engagement and clear messaging on France’s academic excellence.

This keynote will explore how France is working to build on its strengths while addressing challenges, drawing comparisons with internationalisation models in other countries to identify best practices and strategies for the future.

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Cooperation in Times of Crisis: Education, Leadership, and Global Citizenship
Discussion Panel: Anne Boddington, Jun Arima, Christopher Cripps, Donald Hall

This panel discussion will focus on the challenges and opportunities for multi-institutional collaboration in response to changing national priorities in higher education and research. What possibilities exist for institutional leaders to work together to achieve educational and research goals when extramural funding is threatened or suspended? When old alliances are threatened or fracturing, how does higher education continue to work toward global awareness and productive cross-cultural and interdisciplinary dialogue? What new opportunities exist for educational institutions to serve as thought leaders in challenging times? Panellists will speak from their own institutional and national perspectives, but also engage in an active dialogue around collaborative possibilities.

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Notre Dame de Paris: Holy Place, Sacred Edifice, and World Heritage Site
Keynote Presentation: Jean-Michel Leniaud

Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the world’s most iconic and exceptional sites, and one that has inspired and fascinated people for centuries. But why exactly? This presentation will try to address this question by exploring the Cathedral’s historical, architectural, spiritual, and cultural layers of meaning.

First, Notre Dame must be seen in the context of the appeal of the city in which it is situated; Paris, the City of Lights. Second, the site of the cathedral: on an island, at the junction of two branches of the river, facing east, a topography dedicated for millennia to the encounter of man with the divine, a sacred place. Third, its age; some of the sacred installations inside the cathedral date from the fourth century, with the structure itself dating from the twelfth century. Notre Dame serves as a venue to both the everyday ritual practice of the Christian faith, as well as large celebrations marking major holidays, and extraordinary historical encounters between religion, the State, and the nation.

Finally, the architectural memory of Notre Dame will be considered; from the Gothic masterpiece of the cathedral itself to to its interior furnishings, including the Baroque decor of the choir and the major restorations of the mid-nineteenth century. Added to this, is the memory of liturgical, political, literary, and aesthetic events which have taken place at Notre Dame, such as the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, Victor Hugo’s eponymous novel,set in the cathedral, and the conversion of Poet-Ambassador Paul Claudel.

The spectacular and dramatic fire of September 2019 underlined the great mystical power of the Cathedral. The suffering of Notre Dame only served to heighten its importance as one of the greatest of humanity’s monuments. Its subsequent restoration project provoked many emotions, and contentious debates. Following in the spirit of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc’s legacy, the latest restoration of Notre Dame now represents a major new chapter in its history, and that of cultural heritage practice.

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The Future of Cultural Diplomacy: The Legacy of Marco Polo
Keynote Presentation: Paolo Sabbatini

Marco Polo’s legacy is not only a historical curiosity but a living paradigm of cultural diplomacy. His journey to China, meticulously documented in Il Milione (c.1300), represents one of the earliest and most influential accounts of intercultural exchange. As I explored in The Billion (2024), my book on Marco Polo curated in collaboration with Maestro Sandro Pazzi, his experiences offer valuable lessons on diplomacy beyond state actors: fostering dialogue, understanding, and intellectual synergy between civilisations.

This keynote will examine Marco Polo’s role as a cultural intermediary, reflecting on how his narratives particularly shaped Western perceptions of China and vice versa. His encounters with Kublai Khan and his adaptation to the Yuan court demonstrate the power of cultural diplomacy as a form of mutual enrichment, rather than unilateral influence.

Today, in a world increasingly defined by soft power, global cultural exchanges, and digital connectivity, we must ask: what can we learn from Marco Polo’s method of engagement, storytelling, and cross-cultural curiosity? This presentation will link historical lessons to contemporary diplomacy, discussing how Italy and China can leverage their cultural heritage, education, and arts as tools for mutual understanding. In an era of growing geopolitical tensions, Marco Polo’s approach reminds us that diplomacy does not only happen in embassies, but also in the realm of cultural exchange, knowledge, and human curiosity.

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Education and Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Peace
Panel Presentation: Paolo Sabbatini

Cultural diplomats personally witness how education remains one of the most powerful instruments of diplomacy today. One such example is how the Italian model of cultural diplomacy, rooted in a centuries-old tradition of academic cooperation, language promotion, and artistic exchange, has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness in fostering peace and dialogue with cultural institutions across the globe.

This panel will explore how an approach to cultural diplomacy, particularly through education, can be a successful model for international cooperation. Drawing from decades of organising diplomatic initiatives, international conferences, and cultural diplomatic experience leading cultural institutions in Shanghai, Cairo, Prague, and Brussels, panellists will illustrate how culture education has historically used language programs, academic networks, and cultural institutes as pillars of global influence.

Special attention will be given to key strengths of cultural diplomacy, such as:

  • The Cultural Institutes as centres of intercultural dialogue,
  • The language as a vehicle for engagement,
  • Strategic partnerships with universities and cultural organisations,
  • The importance of heritage preservation as a diplomatic tool.
  • The increasing role of digital education in diplomacy, reflecting on how online platforms, virtual exchanges, and cultural programming can help overcome political and geographic barriers, will also be addressed. By bridging practical experience with theoretical analysis, panellists will demonstrate and lead through discussion why cultural diplomacy – when embedded in education, historical awareness, and strategic cultural engagement – remains an essential tool for global peacebuilding.

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    Senior Academic Leadership
    Workshop Session: Anne Boddington, Ljiljana Markovic, Donald E. Hall

    This roundtable and interactive session will explore the career paths of academic leaders and provide tips on the skills needed to succeed in leadership positions. Speaking from a variety of national and professional contexts, the session leaders will describe their individual paths to leadership roles and the trade-offs that often accompany a career in higher education leadership and administration. Following the brief presentations, audience members will be asked to provide their own thoughts and observations on successful and unsuccessful leadership styles, as well as engage in an active discussion of the potential for academic leaders to make positive changes within their institutions and professional organisations.

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    Youth and Cultural Diplomacy
    Discussion Panel: Paolo Sabbatini, Milica Papic, Riccardo Travaglini, Giorgio Tenneroni

    Traditionally, discussions on cultural diplomacy have been framed by academics and seasoned diplomats. However, contemporary diplomacy is evolving, and the role of youth leaders, municipal governance, and regional cooperation is becoming increasingly significant. The panel I am curating will challenge conventional diplomatic frameworks by integrating young politicians, regional representatives, and cultural stakeholders into the discussion, thereby demonstrating the power of intergenerational diplomacy.

    This panel will challenge how cultural diplomacy can be more inclusive and dynamic, engaging both institutional leaders and emerging voices who are shaping international cultural relations. We will particularly focus on twinning agreements between municipalities and UNESCO cultural sites as effective diplomatic tools, using the proposed Turin Fenestrelle–Great Wall of China twinning agreement as a case study.

    This panel will serve as a live demonstration of modern cultural diplomacy, where policymakers, young leaders, and regional actors collaborate to redefine the future of international cultural engagement. By integrating municipal governance, youth activism, and interregional partnerships, this session will set a new precedent in academic and diplomatic discussions.

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