PREMILINARY AGENDA

9:30 am IN-PERSON REGISTRATION | Security entrance

Andres Bello Auditorium, HQ Inter-American Development Bank
1300 New York Avenue NW Washington, D.C. United States

Master of Ceremonies by Matilde de los Milagros.

10:00 am OPENING
● Welcome remarks by Ilan Goldfajn, IDB President (VIRTUAL), and Demetrios Marantis, Global Head of
Corporate Responsibility, JP Morgan.

10:15 am FIRESIDE CHAT

The educational system is failing to develop the skills that allow young people to navigate our current reality and respond
to the demanding challenges of the 21st century. What should the future of education look like in order to enable
sustainable and equitable development?

● Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills.

Moderated by Ferdinando Regalía, IDB Social Sector Manager.

10:30 am PANEL 1 | Skills beget skills: from foundational skills to career pathways
Human beings need to develop literacy and numeracy skills in order to achieve more advanced skills. Today, more than
ever, strengthening these abilities is needed to close the learning gaps, and increase our student’s autonomy. The panel
will analyze evidence-based alternatives to improve literacy and numeracy by using cutting-edge technology and
pedagogy.

● Harry Anthony Patrinos. Adviser, Office of the Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia at the World
Bank.
● Amber Gove, Fellow at the International Development Group, and Director of International Education.

● María Brown Pérez, Minister of Education of Ecuador.

● Ricardo Zárate, Minister of Education and Science in Paraguay.

Moderated by Emma Naslund-Hadley, IDB Education Specialist.

Q&A

11:10 am COFFEE BREAK

11:25 am KEYNOTE: Skills for Youth: An urgent need for change

● Jeffrey D. Sachs. Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University/President of the UN

Sustainable Development Solutions Network
11:40 am PANEL 2 | 21st century skills: Skills that matter.
The discussion on 21 century skills is on the agenda of most educational systems in the region. But what does the
evidence and experience tell us about what skills really matter for personal, economic, and social development today? Is it
possible to develop these skills in a public or private educational setting? If so, what needs to change?

● Robert E. McGrath, Professor of Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Senior Scientist for the
VIA Institute on Character.
● Alejandro Adler, Dean of Student Life and Wellbeing at Upper Canada College.

● Robert Silva García, President of the Central Board of Directors of the National Public Education
Administration of Uruguay.
● Kay McConney, Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training.

Moderated by María Loreto Biehl, IDB Education Specialist.

Q&A

12:10 m FIRESIDE CHAT | Skills to close the gap: Disrupting Education

Closing the gap between what young people learn and what they require for their labor and social inclusion is urgent and
essential to increase productivity, equity and well-being. Is it possible to do it differently? This conversation explores
disruptive alternatives, from non-traditional actors for developing XXI Century Skills.

● Ben Nelson, Founder and Chancellor of Minerva University.

● Vanessa Gibson, Investment Climate Director of the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency – CINDE.
(VIRTUAL)

Moderated by Mercedes Mateo, IDB Education Chief.

12:25 m ART PERFORMANCE | MUEVETE PROGRAM IN COLOMBIA

Voices from the field. Introduction of Muévete in Colombia.
Performance by Melissa Merry, Sebastian Jose Hatun, and Leandro Andres Santiago.

12:45 m CLOSING

1:00 pm PRIVATE LUNCH [BY INVITATION ONLY]