Lahore- Beaconhouse launched the 12th edition of its Non-Profit School of Tomorrow (SOT) Events — A World of Tomorrow: From Darkness to Light featuring over 60 international thought leaders in 24 LIVE SESSIONS over three days through a series of one-on-one conversations, panel discussions, presentations, workshops and parliamentary-style debates. The 3-day virtual conference aims to answer difficult questions for a world facing challenges of the Covid 19 impact on education, economies and a safer, balanced future. The SOT Conference is especially honoured to host the iconic Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia in an exclusive interview with Mr Kasim Kasuri, CEO Beaconhouse on 22 November.
In the opening session, Kasim Kasuri, CEO Beaconhouse & Chair of SOT Events, engaged in a candid conversation with students and teachers from Beaconhouse Pakistan, Malaysia, and UAE, supported by Dr Lawrence Burke, Beaconhouse’s Chief Education Advisor. The panellists discussed the potential intervention of artificial intelligence in schools, discussed the impact of Covid 19 on learning, suggesting that some positive learnings must be sustained, and stressed that schools must change in order to prepare students for a future world.
The panel session, ‘Forever the Middle Child: unpacking the ‘Forgotten Years’ of Middle School’ highlighted the need to pay equal attention to the education of middle school students, recognising a number of social, developmental, and emotional issues that emerge in adolescents. This session brought together middle school students, teachers, and parents to share personal experiences and perspectives.
Panel discussions ran concurrently on topics such as the impact of new US leadership on the world with Mr Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Sir Tim Hitchens, former British diplomat, and Mr Michael Kugelman, Deputy Director, Asia Program, Wilson Center. Workshops conducted by Mr Iain Riley and Mr Benjamin W. Decker, meditation expert, explored the development of student agency in schools and mindfulness-based interventions for children to improve cognitive performance showcasing key classroom activities.
The SOT Conference paid tribute to the late Sir Ken Robinson, globally renowned thinker on learning innovation and creativity, with panellists discussing how his work has shaped global educational landscapes. The panel discussion featured Lord Jim Knight, Former UK Minister of State for Schools, Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE, Global Director of Education, KidZania, Mr Lee Daley, Co-Founder & Chairman, Hello Genius and Ms Cris Rowan, technology specialist.
Another highlight of Day 1 of the SOT Conference was an interview featuring Dr Roger Schank in conversation with Mr Nassir Kasuri, Executive Director of Beaconhouse. Dr Roger Schank, an artificial intelligence researcher and revisionist educator, believes that schools should not exist in their present form and is an outspoken critic of the global education system.
The School of Tomorrow conference continues to stream LIVE on November 21 and 22 on its website (www.sotevents.com) and the social media platforms Facebook and YouTube (SOT Events & Beaconhouse School System Official).
SOT Events are made possible by the generous support of corporate sponsors. The organisers gratefully acknowledge the support of United Bank Limited as the Lead Sponsor for SOT Edition XII.
The non-profit School of Tomorrow Event Series was launched in 2000 and is organised by Beaconhouse as part of its ongoing commitment to its social responsibility
