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GCEN Symposia & Study Tours

Part of Global Cities Education Network

Education system leaders gather annually for the Global Cities Education Network (GCEN) symposium, a dynamic, four- to five-day learning experience involving school site visits, collaborative exchanges, and presentations from experts, with a focus on specific areas of expertise from the host city.

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Overview

Symposia and international study tours have been a core offering of the Global Cities Education Network (GCEN) for 14 years. The study tours equip leaders with takeaways that they leverage not only in the immediate aftermath of the experience, but also for years to come.

This was by far one of the top three professional development experiences I've had in my career...Being able to get outside the U.S. and what we traditionally do to see new traditions really helped [me] rethink many of our approaches.
Superintendent (U.S.)
2024 Helsinki Study Tour

Impact

Education system leaders who participate in GCEN symposia and study tours consistently rate these collaborative learning experiences highly. While these international convenings have evolved over time, their impact has remained the same.

Learning New Strategies from International Colleagues and Experts

Real innovation happens when leaders look beyond their own borders. By stepping into foreign educational systems, leaders gain fresh perspectives, uncover transformative practices, and work with their local teams to bring those ideas to life back home. Through GCEN, global insights become local impact—from adopting Melbourne’s social-emotional learning models to integrating Helsinki’s whole-child framework and Montevideo’s tech-enabled classrooms.

Unlocking Funding to Support New Initiatives Inspired by Study Tours

Experiencing an international educational system in action gives leaders more than just inspiration—it provides tangible proof of what works. By understanding the underlying conditions that drive success, participating leaders return home with the evidence needed to generate buy-in and justify investment. GCEN participants regularly turn their study tour and symposium observations into real-world action, using these insights to win board approvals, secure funding grants, and drive policy efforts.

Catalyzing Reflective and Transformational Leadership

A major benefit of GCEN symposia and study tours is the peer network created in the room. Uniting leaders who navigate similar challenges creates a rare environment for candid feedback, fresh perspectives, and deep professional growth. Because these leaders hail from around the globe, they are constantly challenged to break past traditional limits and expand their vision of what education can achieve.

Featured Articles

5 Education Trends Surfaced by Global Systems Leaders

In October 2023, global education system leaders traveled to Lexington, Kentucky, for the annual GCEN symposium to collaborate around shared problems of practice and to witness and learn about innovative solutions in Lexington and abroad.

How Global Study Tours Spark Innovation in US Schools

When district leaders prioritize research-backed approaches in their schools, they can direct their critical funds toward innovations that will improve student outcomes. Three leaders reflect on how global learning opportunities let them see how other countries approach teaching and learning.

Previous Symposia & Study Tours

GCEN has hosted 13 annual symposia in cities around the world, from Hong Kong to Helsinki.

 

Explore the symposia agendas:

Shanghai Symposium, November 2025
Helsinki Symposium, November 2024
Lexington Symposium, October 2023
Estonia Symposium, October 2022
Surrey Symposium, April 2021
Melbourne Symposium, March 2019
Denver Symposium, November 2017
London Symposium, November 2016
Shanghai Symposium, November 2015
Toronto Symposium, October 2014
Singapore Symposium, October 2013
Seattle Symposium, January 2013
Hong Kong Symposium, May 2012

Partner with Us

Learn with and from system-level decision makers, while building relationships that last, by supporting a GCEN symposia and study tour.

Embedded Partnerships: Build relationships with leaders across systems through a study trip that allows conversations and planning to unfold over several days in a small group experience.

Context-Based Lessons: Through site visits, cultural experiences, and extended engagement, you will learn alongside system leaders as they explore how their international peers are responding to shared challenges.

Practitioner Trust: Be seen as thought partners, not vendors, by directly engaging in GCEN’s high-trust, participant-centered environment.

 

Interested in exploring partnership options? Email Rebecca Banks to learn more.

It’s so easy to get stuck in your own context and only know the way you do things. An opportunity like this...it's hard to quantify what an amazing experience that is.
Kellie Ady Senior Director of Education Strategy and Learning Innovation
PowerSchool