Dr Conrad Hughes

Speaker Summary

Conrad Hughes is the Director General of the International School of Geneva, the world’s first international school. He is a senior research fellow with UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education, a research assistant at the University of Geneva and sits on the education board of the University of the People. Hughes, who holds two doctorates, has published widely on critical thinking, prejudice and 21st Century competences. He teaches Theory of Knowledge.

Areas of Expertise

Equity and Inclusion – Research – Whole School Improvement

Full Profile

Conrad Hughes designs and implements educational systems for the future. Conrad Hughes (PhD, EdD) is Campus and Secondary Principal at the International School of Geneva, La Grande Boissire, the oldest international school in the world where he also teaches philosophy. He holds two doctorates. Hughes led two major projects with UNESCO-IBE to rethink the guiding principles for learning in the 21st Century and preventing violent extremism through education. He has published three books on different aspects of 21st Century learning. Understanding Education and Prejudice (2017) looks at how schools and universities can reduce prejudicial thinking in students and instructors; in Educating for the 21st Century (2019), he investigates how educational systems can address societal challenges such as sustainability, the rise of AI, post-truth politics, mindfulness and future-proof knowledge. His latest book, Education and Elitism (2021), discusses how access to high quality education can be widened.

Hughes has implemented these ideas on the ground in his school and through open-access online lessons, touching the lives of thousands of people.

Dr Hughes is a member of the advisory board for the University of the People, senior fellow of UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education and research assistant at the University of Geneva’s department of psychology and education. He is a regular contributor to the World Economic Forum’s Agenda blog and speaks in conferences across the globe.

Publications
  • Education and Elitism: Challenges and Opportunities (2021, Routledge)
  • Understanding Prejudice and Education: The Challenge for Future Generations (2017, Routledge)
  • Educating for the 21st Century: Seven Global Challenges (2018, Brill)

Sessions Featuring Dr Conrad Hughes: