Pre-conference workshops
These full-day workshops take place on Thursday, 18 March 2027.
Pre-conference workshops are designed for educators seeking to enhance their professional and leadership skills. The workshops dive deeply into educational practices that support starting and sustaining IB programmes. Some workshops are IB-specific, and others are more general but have a direct impact on the IB in your schools and communities. These sessions are led by IB workshop leaders, and senior IB staff, and they are expected to include a variety of teaching strategies and interactive experiences with adult learners in mind.
View the pre-conference workshops here
Coordinator forums
These forums offer coordinators from interested, candidate and authorized IB schools the opportunity to collaborate with IB authorization staff, IB World Schools staff and fellow coordinators. They will focus on the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme/Career-related Programme. The forums for interested and candidate schools will discuss how the authorization process can serve as a vehicle for developing sustainable IB programmes. Authorized IB World Schools will discuss programme implementation while also receiving support that best meets their needs.
IB staff sessions
IB staff will give presentations on important IB messages, including programme updates and other topics relevant to serving the needs of schools.
General sessions
General sessions are offered each conference day and may include the following inspirational speakers:
- Keynote speakers: Deliver inspiring, high-level presentations in their respective fields. These talks set the tone of the conference, provide fresh perspectives by sparking thinking and inspiring action.
- Topic experts: Examine trending topics in education while providing tangible strategies for classroom or whole-school application.
- IB Leadership: Share important IB messaging and developments relevant to serving the needs of schools.
Breakout sessions
There will be over 80 breakout sessions during the conference, covering a wide range of the most relevant topics for IB educators and the larger global community today. Sessions are applicable to single, multiple or all four IB programmes. 'Continuum' sessions are relevant for schools that offer three sequential IB Programmes.
- IB staff sessions focus on important professional development, including IB programme updates and topics relevant to serving the needs of schools in all stages of authorization.
- Peer-to-Peer sessions, led by educators at all levels, focus on new approaches to teaching and learning, professional applications, scholarly analyses, best practices and case studies.
Breakout sessions are categorized in 3 different levels indicating the expected IB proficiency level of participants:
- Introductory: For participants with fewer than five years of experience (IB and non-IB).
- Advanced: For participants with five to eight years of experience (IB and non-IB).
- Experienced: For participants with eight or more years of experience, including those who do not teach IB programmes.
Presentations will fall under one of the following strands:
Educational technology and innovation
The use of technology, tools and innovative practices to support and enhance learning.
- Topics may include artificial intelligence in education, technologies for hybrid learning environments, emerging software and hardware for educational purposes, and cutting-edge research in education.
Belonging and well-being
A holistic approach that promotes a sense of belonging, quality education, and access for all students. This strand also includes the skills and competencies young people need to flourish in an interconnected world.
- Topics may include belonging, access, student and educator wellbeing and social-emotional learning.
Learning and teaching
Competencies and strategies needed to facilitate lifelong learning.
- Topics include the frameworks of all four IB programmes, as well as non-IB curriculums, and may cover an array of topics such as student agency, assessment, and sharing best practices among teachers and coordinators.
Leadership
Advanced content for education leaders.
- Topics may include governance and strategic vision, building partnerships, creating school culture and climate, thought leadership, change management, coaching and mentorship.
School leaders' sessions
The School Leaders Sessions are designed for both experienced and aspiring educational leaders, offering up to five engaging presentations led by IBEN members, IB leadership, and expert speakers. These sessions provide targeted insights into key leadership areas including Leading an IB World School, Pedagogical Leadership, Strategic Leadership, and Thought Leadership, with each presentation aimed at supporting professional growth, sparking new ideas, and strengthening leadership impact within the IB community.
