From 14 to 16 April 2026, the Global Education Network (GEN) Annual Meeting takes place in Madrid, bringing together 52 members from 41 countries. The meeting gathers representatives of civil society organisations and public authorities, offering a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategic planning among national coordinators of the network.

Organised in the framework of iLEGEND III: Intercultural Learning Exchange through Global Education, Networking and Dialogue (2022–2026), a joint programme co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, in partnership with the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), Movimiento 4.7 and ECUDEM-UCV, the event reaffirms the importance of strengthening Global Education and sustainable development efforts at national level through international cooperation. As part of the programme co-developed by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe and the Global Education Network itself, which combined learning experiences, thematic workshops and interactive exchanges, the “Sharing Best Practice” session presented 14 initiatives.

Among these practices, the “Global Education Roadmap” presented by the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS) offers a practical tool to support the planning and reflection of Global Education activities. Designed as a source of inspiration, the Global Education Roadmap encourages individuals and organisations to deepen their understanding of shared responsibility while structuring their actions within a broader Global Education framework.

Another initiative presented by Plataforma Zagranica (Poland), was developed by the Go’n’Act Foundation for a young audience to explore the less visible impacts of artificial intelligence. Through the interactive exhibition “The Darker Side of the Tech and AI Industry”, participants engaged with issues such as energy consumption, resource use, and labour conditions linked to Artificial Intelligence development, particularly in the Global South. Combining visual materials with quizzes, the exhibition offered an accessible and engaging learning experience, complemented by the card game “Power of the Network”, which invited to reflect collectively on the societal and environmental implications of digital technologies. Both tools were presented in the context of the last Global Education Week.

These initiatives highlighted the application of Global Education within the network and the value of peer learning. Sharing concrete tools and experiences, the session contributed to strengthening a dynamic community of practice, supporting stakeholders in advancing Global Education in Europe and beyond.

A core ambition of iLEGEND III is to bridge formal and non-formal education, aligning both sectors more closely with the underlying principles of Global Education and fostering coherent, systemic approaches to learning for sustainable development.

Global Education is also closely aligned with the core values of the Council of Europe. By encouraging critical thinking, solidarity, and active civic engagement, Global Education strengthens human rights education and contributes to building a human rights culture within diverse and interconnected societies, helping learners to understand global challenges, inequalities, and interdependencies, and their impact on the enjoyment of human rights.