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EDYOUFEST RETREAT

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Top 50 Teacher Trainers

In cooperation with ELT Council Malta

 

A curated global retreat for leadership, reflection, and professional impact.

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CONVENOR’S LETTER

When you work in education, you hold both a privilege and a responsibility to witness the future taking shape every day:

  • In the eyes of students.

  • In the questions teachers ask.

  • And in the challenges schools face at the heart of our changing society.

 

Over the years, through EdYOUFest, I have met thousands of teachers, trainers, school leaders, and researchers. From every encounter, one powerful truth has emerged:

 

The quality of education depends, above all, on the quality of those who educate.

 

This is the foundation on which EDYOUFEST RETREAT was born.

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Not as another traditional event.

Not as one more conference in an already crowded landscape.

 

But as a space for deep thought, shared design, and collective responsibility.
A place where pausing does not mean slowing down — it means gaining clarity and momentum.

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We live in extraordinary and complex times.

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Artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and new communication models are reshaping society — and inevitably education. In this landscape, teachers cannot be left alone. They must be supported, listened to, empowered, and valued. And those who train teachers carry an even greater responsibility.

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This is why we chose to begin with the Top Teacher Trainers:
because empowering those who empower others means influencing the entire educational ecosystem.

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EDYOUFEST RETREAT brings these leading voices together in an immersive, authentic environment, free from unnecessary noise — a place where words return to being thought, dialogue, and creation.

 

A few days to look toward 2030 not with fear, but with clarity, competence, and shared vision.

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This Retreat is also a declaration:

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Education is not a secondary issue.
Education is the true infrastructure of tomorrow.

 

To support this vision, the Retreat is built upon a clear Governance Framework that brings together international academic leadership, strategic coordination, and operational support.

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This document outlines the structure that will guide the development, organisation, and academic integrity of the EDYOUFEST RETREAT 2027.

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I wish to thank ELT Council Malta, with whom we share not only an organisational partnership but a deeply aligned vision of the value of teacher development.

 

Giovanni Rottura

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Global Academic Council

The Global Academic Council provides intellectual leadership and long-term strategic direction for the EdYOUFest Retreat.

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The Council safeguards the academic integrity, international credibility, and professional standing of the Retreat while shaping its long-term development as a global platform for excellence in teacher education.

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The Global Academic Council:

  • Defines the overarching vision and academic focus of the Retreat

  • Ensures international balance and representation

  • Supports the nomination and selection process of the Top 50 Teacher Trainers

  • Advises on the development of the Top 50 Teacher Trainers Circle as a long-term professional network

  • Contributes to maintaining the highest standards of academic and ethical practice

 

The Council serves in a strategic and advisory capacity. Organisational responsibility rests with the Convenor in coordination with the Executive Team.

 

Proposed Composition

  • Europe (Malta)                                Daniel Xerri

  • Europe (Greece)                             George Kokolas

  • North America (USA)                    Dorothy Zemach

  • East Asia (Japan)                            Charles Browne

  • South America (Uruguay)            Gabriel Díaz Maggioli

  • Africa (Cameroon)                         Harry Kuchah

  • Australia (Sidney)                           Anne Burns

 

This composition reflects diverse geographical regions, pedagogical traditions, and professional expertise, ensuring a truly global perspective.

 

Convenors

Giovanni Rottura and Chuck Sandy
Founders, EdYOUFest
Convenors, EdYOUFest Retreat 2027

 

The Convenors initiates and oversees the Retreat, ensuring coherence between vision, governance, and long-term strategic positioning within the EdYOUFest ecosystem. The Convenors work closely with the Global Academic Council and the Executive Coordination Team to ensure alignment between intellectual direction and operational implementation.

 

Academic Liaison

(UK) Thomas Jones

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The Academic Liaison ensures alignment between:

  • The Retreat’s academic objectives

  • Institutional partnerships (including ELT Council Malta)

  • Programme development and quality assurance

  • External advisory dialogue

 

This role reinforces institutional collaboration and supports the Retreat’s international academic profile.

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Executive Coordination Team

The Executive Coordination Team is responsible for operational planning and implementation and ensures that the strategic vision established by the Global Academic Council is implemented effectively and professionally.

 

For ELT Council Malta: Sue Falzon, and (Name is coming soon)

For EdYOUFest Control Tower: Tatsiana Semikhod (from Belarus) and Maria Rosaria Pesce (from Italy)

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Responsibilities

  • Event coordination and logistics

  • Participant communication and support

  • Institutional liaison coordination

  • Documentation and reporting

  • Post-event follow-up processes 

 

Selection & Professional Standards

The nomination and selection process for the Top 50 Teacher Trainers will be defined in consultation with the Global Academic Council and implemented through a transparent and merit-based review process.

 

The Retreat is committed to:

  • Academic excellence

  • Professional integrity

  • International inclusivity

  • Ethical leadership in teacher education

Flowchart

Governance Framework Structure

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Click here for the presentation

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