RE-ACT 2025: Reimagining education in an era of crisis and transition

Live broadcast

• Day 1 (June 19): Click here
• Day 2 (June 20): Click here
• English subtitles (Day 1 & 2)
• French subtitles (Day 1 & 2)

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE RE-ACT 2025 PROGRAM HERE (updated at 10:24 CET on June 18, 2025)

^first international conference on the future of higher education

At a time of unprecedented global challenges, higher education institutions are at a crossroads, forced to reassess their role in society. The international conference RE-ACT 2025 - Reimagining Education in an Era of Crisis and Transition - provides an essential forum for educators, researchers, policy-makers and students to explore innovative strategies together. Organized by the Institut des Défis de l'Université Paris Cité and the Learning Planet Institute, the conference will be held in Paris, France, on¹⁹ and²⁰ June 2025. RE-ACT 2025 aims to foster dialogue and share ideas on transforming educational paradigms to better navigate the complexities of our times.

Organizers:

• Challenge Institute
• - led by Université Paris Cité
• Learning Planet Institute

Partner institutions :

• UNESCO
• United Nations University: Hub UNU-FLY

The best for the world: Redefining university missions in an era of global crises

At a time of intersecting global challenges, higher education institutions are under unprecedented pressure to redefine their societal goals and business models. Increasingly, teaching and research focused on sustainability, environmental education, cultural heritage, equity, inclusion and the principles of multicultural diversity are under attack. These pressures threaten the integrity of academic institutions that strive to foster a sense of belonging, advance social justice and ensure accessibility while promoting inclusion and stewardship of the planet.

The Challenges Institute of the Learning Planet Institute and Université Paris Cité invites researchers, education leaders, policymakers, innovators and students to contribute to a crucial international conference that will examine the evolving mission of universities in what François Taddei (LPI) and Pavel Luksha (GEF) have called a “perfect storm” of disruption. As we pass through this decisive historical moment, how can universities move from being “best in the world” to “best for the world”? This conference creates a unique convergence of research presentations, advocacy dialogues and reflections on institutional resilience and renewal. It will serve as a platform to explore how higher education can address complex global challenges while reimagining its fundamental role in society. We invite you to join this critical conversation about the future of higher education and its potential to guide humanity towards sustainable and regenerative futures. Together, we will explore how universities can transform from knowledge factories to sanctuaries of wisdom, ethical leadership and human flourishing in a time of profound transitions. Topics for discussion will include

Reimagining university missions in the age of polycrisis

• Critical analyses of university responses to climate emergency, democratic erosion, technological disruption and social inequality
• Universities as guardians of the global commons and socio-cultural heritage
• The potential end of the 'golden age” of universities and the path to renewal
• Reconceptualizing the role of universities in societal transitions

AI, knowledge creation and transforming education

• Artificial intelligence: an existential challenge and an opportunity for higher education
• Implications of AI/AGI for universities' teaching, research and service missions
• Moving from transmitting knowledge to cultivating wisdom in an AI-saturated world
• Technological acceleration and the future of academic work

From global competition to managing the planet

• Moving beyond “best in the world” institutional measures to “best for the world" orientations
• Universities building bridges for a sustainable, regenerative future
• Fostering global citizenship through higher education
• Balancing local action and global impact in university initiatives

Resilience and reinvention

• Case studies of universities overcoming multiple crises
• Transformative governance models for higher education institutions
• Academic freedom and institutional autonomy in turbulent times
• Fostering collective action and intelligence within university communities

Contact information :

For general questions about the conference, please contact : IDD@learningplanetinstitute.orgFor specific requests concerning institutional participation, please contact :Raphael Costambeys-KempczynskiOlivier Bréchard