Our Development Manager, Cecilia Mañosa Nyblon, recently attended the Global Learning in the UK: Past, Present and Futures forum; hosted by DERC at University College London (UCL). In this article, she shares her reflections on the event.

A powerful day of inspiration, connection, reflection, and celebration, where experts, practitioners, and students came together to share the transformative potential of global learning to shape sustainable and socially just futures.

On 1st July 2026, the Development Education Research Centre at UCL hosted Global Learning in the UK: Past, Present and Futures. This special one-day forum celebrated 20 years of impactful teaching, educational projects and research at the Development Education Research Centre, a leading hub for knowledge generation, new thinking, quality output and teaching on development education, global learning, education for sustainable development and global citizenship.

About the event

The event brought together diverse professionals from across the UK who are interested in transformational educational approaches; providing a valuable moment to reflect on the importance of global learning within the current global context, showcase active projects and initiatives in the UK, and, crucially, serve as a springboard for future research, collaboration, and innovation.

Learning for Sustainability Scotland was delighted to participate in this timely forum. We were grateful for the opportunity to showcase the cross-sectoral, pan-thematic work of our Centre on a poster display, thanks to the support of the University of Edinburgh’s Moray House School for Education and Sport.

Across the day, recurring themes of hope, agency, collaboration and evidence-informed practice highlighted the importance of education in responding to complex global challenges. Discussions reinforced that global learning is not an ‘add-on’ but an essential approach for equipping learners to engage critically with issues of sustainability, justice and democracy.

While the event reflected perspectives from across the UK and beyond, many of the discussions resonated strongly with the education reform currently underway in Scotland; reinforcing the importance of ensuring that Learning for Sustainability remains embedded across the curriculum, teacher education and professional learning.

The interactive ‘Pedagogy of Hope’ workshop was a particularly timely reminder that, in the face of climate anxiety, conflict and growing inequalities, educators have an important role in creating spaces where young people can critically engage with difficult issues while also imagining positive and just futures.

Professor Karen Pashby from Manchester Metropolitan University provided a keynote that challenged participants to continue questioning whose voices are represented within global citizenship education, the critical role of deep reflexivity, and how education can better address power, justice, and plurality.

What’s next?

The event reaffirmed the value of strengthening relationships across the UK and internationally. We look forward to building on conversations with colleagues at the Development Education Research Centre and other partner organisations to explore collaborative research, professional learning opportunities and knowledge exchange that can strengthen Learning for Sustainability in Scotland and beyond.

More than a celebration of two decades of the Development Education Research Centre’s work, the forum was a reminder that collaboration, critical reflection and hopeful action are essential if education is to respond meaningfully to today’s interconnected challenges. We left inspired by the collective commitment across the sector and encouraged by the opportunities to work together towards more just, peaceful and sustainable futures.