RE-ACT 2025: Reimagining Education in the Age of Crises and Transitions

1^st International Conference on the Future of Higher Education

In an era marked by unprecedented global challenges, higher education institutions are at a crossroads, compelled to reevaluate their roles in society. The RE-ACT 2025 International Conference—Reimagining Education in the Age of Crises & Transitions—provides a pivotal forum for educators, researchers, policymakers, and students to explore innovative strategies collaboratively. Hosted by the Institut des Défis of Université Paris Cité and the Learning Planet Institute, the conference will be held in Paris, France, on 19^th & 20^th June 2025. RE-ACT 2025 aims to foster dialogue and share insights on transforming educational paradigms to better navigate the complexities of our time.

Organisers:

• Institut des Défis
• Université Paris Cité
• Learning Planet Institute

Partner Institutions:

• UNESCO
• United Nations University: UNU-FLY Hub

Best for the World: Redefining University Missions in an Era of Global Crises

In an era of intersecting global challenges, higher education institutions face unprecedented pressures to redefine their societal purpose and operational models. Increasingly, teaching and research that focus 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 as they strive to foster a sense of belonging, advance social justice, and ensure accessibility while promoting inclusivity and planetary stewardship.

The Institut des Défis (the Challenge Institute) of the Learning Planet Institute & the Université Paris Cité invites researchers, education leaders, policymakers, innovators and students to contribute to a critical international conference examining the evolving mission of universities amid what François Taddei (LPI) and Pavel Luksha (GEF) have termed a « perfect storm » of disruptions. As we navigate this decisive historical moment, how might universities transition from being « best in the world » to becoming « best for the world »?

This conference creates a unique convergence of research presentations, advocacy dialogue, and celebratory reflection on institutional resilience and renewal. It will serve as a platform to explore how higher education can address complex planetary challenges while reimagining its fundamental purpose in society.

We invite you to join this critical conversation about the future of higher education and its potential to guide humanity toward sustainable, regenerative futures. Together, we will explore how universities can evolve from being knowledge factories to becoming sanctuaries of wisdom, ethical leadership, and human flourishing in an age of profound transitions.

Topics of discussion will cover:

🎯 Reimagining University Missions in an Age of Polycrisis

• Critical analyses of university responses to climate emergency, democratic erosion, technological disruption, and social inequality
• Universities as stewards of planetary commons and socio-cultural heritage
• The potential end of the « Golden Era » of universities and pathways toward renewal
• Reconceptualising the university’s role in navigating societal transitions

🎯 AI, Knowledge Creation and Educational Transformation

• Artificial intelligence as both an existential challenge and an opportunity for higher education
• Implications of AI/AGI for university teaching, research, and service missions
• Shifting from knowledge transmission to wisdom cultivation in an AI-saturated world
• Technological acceleration and the future of academic work

🎯 From Global Competition to Planetary Stewardship

• Moving beyond « best in the world » institutional metrics toward « best for the world » orientations
• Universities as bridge-builders for sustainable, regenerative futures
• Fostering planetary citizenship through higher education
• Balancing local action with global impact in academic initiatives

🎯 Institutional Resilience and Reinvention

• Case studies of universities successfully navigating multiple crises
• Transformative governance models for higher education institutions
• Academic freedom and institutional autonomy in turbulent times
• Nurturing collective agency and intelligence across university communities

📧 Contact Information:

For general inquiries regarding the conference, please contact: IDD@learningplanetinstitute.org

For specific inquiries regarding institutional participation, please contact:
Raphael Costambeys-Kempczynski
Olivier Bréchard