The Ge4 Network is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the 2024 Ge4 Global Education Annual Summit, held at the University of Trento, Italy, from June 19-21, 2024. The summit’s central theme, “Global Education for a Sustainable Future,” provided a dynamic platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences on how education can contribute to a more sustainable world.

The event facilitated meaningful connections and the sharing of best practices among partners from around the globe. The organizing committee from the University of Trento, including Prof. Maurizio Marchese, Vice-Rector for the Development of International Relationships; Grazia Callovini, Head of International Relations; Francine Ricordi Oliveira, Manager of International Relations; and academic staff from the Faculty of Engineering, including Prof. Fabrizio Granelli, Giacomo Moretti, and Marco Toffolon, played a crucial role in the success of the summit through their invaluable contributions to the keynotes and panels.

Special thanks are extended to Roberto Battiston, Harm Ellens (Australia), Roberto Verdecchia, Nilo Bugtai (Philippines), Sophie Telliez (France), Izael Da Silva (Kenya), Maneesha Ramesh (India), and Massimo Zortea for sharing their expertise and enriching the discussions.

Summit Highlights

The Annual General Meeting featured the President’s Address and the Ge4 Annual Report, which highlighted the progress and achievements of the Ge4 Network over the past year. The Ge4 Financial Report 2023 provided a detailed overview of the financial status and sustainability of the network. Important resolutions for the future direction of the Ge4 Network were discussed and passed. Additionally, new institutions and members were introduced and welcomed into the Ge4 Network community.

Key Sessions and Lectures:

• The summit commenced with opening remarks by Prof. Flavio Deflorian, the Rector of the University of Trento, Italy.
• The first keynote lecture, titled “Space Economy: A Window on the Future,” was delivered by Prof. Roberto Battiston, former President of the Italian Space Agency and Professor at the University of Trento.
• The first panel session, “Sustainability in ICT and AI,” featured contributions from Harm Ellens, Director at Virtual Ink Australia & IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission (Australia), and Roberto Verdecchia, Assistant Professor at the University of Florence (Italy). The session was moderated by Prof. Fabrizio Granelli from the University of Trento.
• The second keynote lecture, “Sustainable Development,” was presented by Izael Pereira Da Silva, UNESCO Chair on Climate Change Resilience and Sustainability, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Research and Innovation at Strathmore University, Kenya.
• The second panel session, “Engineering for Human and Sustainable Development,” included contributions from Massimo Zortea, Adjunct Professor at the University of Trento; Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh, UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation & Development, and Professor at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India; Nilo Bugtai, Professor and Founding Director at De La Salle University – Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Technologies, Philippines; and Izael Pereira Da Silva. This session was moderated by Guido Zolezzi, UNESCO Chair Holder in Engineering for Human and Sustainable Development, and Professor at the University of Trento.
• A master class on internationalisation was conducted by Sophie Telliez, Deputy Head of the Office for Global Engagement at EPF Graduate School of Engineering, France.
• Breakout sessions in the World Café format covered the topic “Global Education Experience from 4 Corners of the World,” moderated by Nordin Yahaya, Vice President of the Ge4 Network.

The Ge4 Network eagerly looks forward to the Ge4 Summit 2025 in Chihuahua, Mexico.