On the 14th of July, Heritage International School, with the support of the British Council, is organising an international online conference entitled “Getting Back to Global for the 2020s” tackling how we get on with the rest of the 2020s and what are the global challenges for us in the new decade in international education.
The conference will be opened by HE Ambassador Fisher, the UK ambassador to Moldova, followed by a list of the best educators on the globe, sharing their experience in international education from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Romania, the United States and Moldova.
A whole range of topics will be presented, such as the role of British Council in international education, interculturality, opening learning in the lockdown, technology used to make global connections, the power of networking for continuous professional development, but also rethinking the next normal, learning species for the next normal, and where to look for hope in the next decade. Many amazing examples of best practices from these countries will be shared with the audience in the most spectacular gathering of truly international and experienced educators.
The conference will end with a closing speech from HE Ambassador Hogan, the ambassador of the USA to Moldova, to crown this discussion on the importance of international collaboration in the 21st century world.
Robert Ford is Director of Heritage International School in Chisinau, Moldova, the first international school in Moldova based on global learning principles and following the IPC and Cambridge International Assessment curriculum. Rob was previously Principal of Wyedean School, Gloucestershire, UK where he led a school nationally and internationally known for its innovative holistic curriculum and developed model of global learning. Rob has been a senior leader in leading schools in Wales and England. He is committed as an educator and school leader to the principles of international education & global learning. Rob is a long serving British Council Ambassador and has worked with and advised schools and school boards around the World on global learning, leadership, curriculum, school improvement and education policy. Read his blog ‘Mail from Moldova’
Tatiana Popa – English teacher and Head of Global Education at Heritage International School in Moldova. Tatiana is also an eTwinning ambassador and teacher trainer on the use of web tools and implementing collaboration projects in the country for eTwinning Moldova and other organisations. eTwinning European Prize winner, experienced global educator and blogger at 'An English Teacher'.
John Rolfe MBE is the UK Schools Outreach Manager at the British Council based in London. He is passionate about the inclusive and impactful power, key value and wide benefits of international education. He has a degree in United States Studies and Comparative Education. He developed the British Council International School Award programme both in the UK and globally and leads on the international networks of British Council Schools Ambassadors.
Sharon Tonner-Saunders is a lecturer of Education at the University of Dundee, Scotland. She has a vast expertise in embedding Technologies-ICT, Music and Intercultural Learning into educational settings to create inclusive learning environments. Prior to her current role at the University, Sharon was a primary school teacher who was responsible for teaching ICT to pupils aged between 4–12 years. During this time, Sharon was awarded the British Council's eTwinning Award for Excellence in using innovative methods to connect children with their peers around the world. This followed shortly with Sharon becoming a British Council eTwinning Ambassador where her role is to promote and train European educators how to use technologies to create collaborative projects with schools around the world. Sharon has a deep passion for creating inclusive learning environments that break down cultural and communication barriers through the use of music and various technologies. She is currently leading a large collaborative project, with over 2000 students across the world, called Hands Of The World. The aim of her award-winning project is to develop young peoples’ intercultural awareness and preserve their linguistic identities through the use of music, Makaton sign language and innovative technologies. See Sharon’s online profile.
Joanna Speak is an experienced school leader and currently Headteacher of an inclusive, urban primary school in the UK. As a British Council Ambassador, she has delivered training and presentations at an international level on themes such as international collaboration, school culture, global issues, core skills and deeper learning.
Arjana Blazic is a language arts teacher, education technology consultant, course designer and international speaker. Currently she is working as a Teacher Trainer with the International Expert Team for the Curricular Reform at the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education. Arjana’s research is focused on technology-enhanced teaching and learning. Her special interest lies in researching the impact of digital technologies on teacher professional development and the ways in which ICT contributes to building teacher capacity.
Bart Verswijvel is a Belgian educator and expert trainer who works as a Senior Pedagogical Adviser for European Schoolnet. Bart works with Ministries of Education, schools and communities of teachers. His special interest is in active learning and innovative practices in a context of innovative learning spaces with the support of technology. Bart promotes and investigates innovative ways of continuous professional development for teachers. He designs and delivers online and onsite courses and workshops. Bart is an international keynote speaker and a host of Twitter chats, hackathons, webinars and Teachmeets. Bart’s power is to spread the joy of learning. Store your knowledge in friends, is his favourite quote.
Antti Piiroinen is a teacher of German and Swedish at Mankkaa secondary school, Espoo Finland (pupils aged 12-16), an eTwinning ambassador and active member of the teachers´ union in Espoo; EF language school leader for Finnish pupils in Torquay, Oxford, Brighton, Dublin and Los Angeles (summer time) 2011-2016
Mirela Tanc is a Romanian language teacher, but also a winner of the national selection of good practices in secondary education, "Creators of Education" of the Ministry of Education. 2019; First Runner Up Pattern Recognition-E2 Singapore 2018; Winner the Global e-innovation Award 2017; SuperTeach facilitator; T4 Ambassador; Certified Teacher Edtech4Future; EdChatEu facilitator; Book Creator Certified Author; Founder teacher of ACCED; TEDx Speaker; Let's Do It Ambassador; Member of the Advisory Board for the Global Educational Conference Network; Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert; MIE Trainer; Skype Master Teacher; Member of Harvard Learning Community; Global Ambassador Teach SDGs; Out of Eden Learn-Harvard-Educator; Pulitzer Center Global Educator; MSFTEduChat Host; Empatico Participate Fellow; United Nations Delegate for UN Data Forum Dubai 2018; Building Education 2018 Speaker; NextGen Conference Speaker 2019; Global Advisory Board Member Foremost Foundation.
Daniela Munca-Aftenev – a transformative leader in Moldovan cross-cultural education and exchange programs, with more than nineteen year expertise in managing educational projects, online teaching methodology, project-based inquiry, global classroom development, diplomacy, service-learning, alumni development, and ESL/EFL (teaching English as a second / foreign language). The go-to person for major national and international organizations, such as the US Embassy to Moldova, American Councils for International Education Moldova, IREX Moldova, Ministry of Education, Culture and Research and other agencies wanting high-quality, creative, and impactful educational programs in Moldova.
Consuelo Johnson is an 8th grade math teacher at Rose Hill – Magnolia Elementary School. I live in Rose Hill, NC, which is located in the southeastern part of the state. I have been teaching math for 8 yrs. Before that, I taught ESL (English as Second Language) for 13 yrs. I have a BS degree in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in Math, a Master’s in TESOL and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction: Technology. In 2019, I have participated in two study visits that consisted of traveling to Moldova and Costa Rica, which resulted in me partnering with a school in Moldova through the NC – Moldova Bilateral Partnership. Recently, I have just been awarded one of the Governor’s Educator Discovery Award.
Koen Timmers is a Belgian researcher, lecturer, and author. In 2018 he was announced as one of the best teachers globally by Bill Gates as part of the Global Teacher Prize. Koen is Executive Director of TAG inc., a 501(c3) non-profit registered in USA (Florida) and is lecturer and researcher at the Teacher Training department at PXL university college Hasselt. Koen holds a master’s degree in Technology Enhanced Learning, Innovation and Change (Sheffield, 2014). In 2015 he launched the Kakuma project in which 400 educators across 6 continents offer free education to African refugees via Skype. In 2020 he built his own 2 schools in the camp in partnership with UN Refugees Agency. He also launched several global educational projects focusing on several UN Sustainable Development Goals including the Climate Action Project involving 100,000 schools over 90 countries which were supported by the Dalai Lama, Charlize Theron, UNESCO, WWF, NASA, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, scientists, National Geographic, etc. These projects were covered by (national) media across 45 countries. Koen developed Innovation Lab schools in Tanzania, Kenya, Palestine and in collaboration with several organizations including Dr. Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots. The labs aim to offer a free quality education to hundreds of thousands of students. This project involves a new curriculum focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Koen is a Microsoft Expert Educator Fellow, winner of the HundrED award, National Geographic Certified Educator and TeachSDGs founding ambassador. He’s co-author of the book “Teaching in the Fourth Industrial Revolution” which is available at Amazon. Koen spoke about Technology Enhanced Learning in Washington, Beijing, Paris, Moscow, Vienna, Dubai, London, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, and at the the European Parliament and European Commission. He developed several educational apps and founded his own online school Zelfstudie.com currently having 20,000 online students.
There is a small ritual at the end of many of Roman Dumych’s physics and geography lessons at Heritage International School. With ten minutes left on the clock and the day’s material covered, he
With over 25 years of experience in education, Victoria Fiodorov combines the academic rigor of law with the pedagogical sensitivity required for working with adolescents. After two decades spent in
How do we help young people grow into confident, grounded adults in a world that is changing before our eyes? It all starts with their courage to step outside their comfort zone and the way they
There are questions every parent asks, sooner or later, when choosing a school for their children. Beyond academic rigor and certifications, who are the people behind the lessons? What values guide
The international “World Scholar’s Cup” competition returns for the sixth consecutive year to Heritage International School, where all students from schools across the Republic of Moldova are invited
Some teachers teach a subject; others shape people. Dorina Calinovscaia belongs, without a doubt, to the second kind. As a psychology teacher and high school coordinator at Heritage International
What’s the difference between an ordinary school and one that changes lives? We found the answer on a February afternoon at Heritage International School, watching Inga Corlăteanu teach. She’s an
Trust, community, communication — these are the values of the new director of the Heritage International School. Casey M. Barnes has always been in education in different forms and in different
Heritage International School has always believed that education extends far beyond textbooks and classrooms, that the most powerful learning happens when we bring the world to our students and
Heritage students have once again demonstrated remarkable achievement in the prestigious Cambridge International exams, securing top grades across a wide range of subjects. Their success highlights
Five students from the Republic of Moldova, two of whom are already part of the Heritage International School community and three who are just beginning their journey, have been selected as the
We are preparing for a beautiful new chapter in the Heritage story, and today we have the honour of officially introducing Casey M. Barnes, who will be joining our team as Director starting August 1,
