GIFTS - Global Institute Fellowship for Transforming Systems
Why this fellowship?
In a fast-changing world, today's systems of education must ensure that every child develops the purpose, agency, and ability to shape a better future for themselves and all of us.
Visionary policymakers and politicians worldwide are working tirelessly to deliver on this promise, striving to reshape education systems in response to the latest economic, technological, and climatic shifts and to mobilize people at all levels of the system so that all children can learn, thrive and lead.
These leaders must chart new paths, adapt to new realities, improve the performance of complex systems, and inspire millions of students, teachers, school leaders, and other partners to give their best daily. Despite the complexity of their work, they have few opportunities to connect, learn, or share with others about what it truly takes to transform systems.
We're launching the GIFTS fellowship to address this gap. The fellowship will connect, inspire, and enable learning among a rising generation of education systems leaders from countries around the world. Through the fellowship, they will grow their leadership, become part of a global community of peers, and generate insights about critical questions, including:
Bringing together 20 influential education system insiders from diverse countries for a year-long cohort-based experience, the GIFTS fellowship will feature a curated sequence of virtual masterclasses with the world's most renowned education leaders, as well as peer learning groups, access to elite mentoring and coaching, and an in-person system immersion.
Leaders will sharpen their locally rooted, globally informed visions for education, build the leadership, capabilities, and networks needed to drive transformation at scale, and be part of a growing global movement turning bold ideas into equitable, scalable, and lasting transformation.
Fellowship timeline
Cohort Model
Join a curated cohort of groundbreaking education system leaders
Build trusting and enduring relationships for deep learning with peers
System Change Lab
Explore and address a problem of practice through the fellowship
Generate new insights through action, reflection, and peer feedback
Immersion Event
Participate in a 4-day immersive learning experience in a transforming education system
Engage with ministers, schools, practitioners, and fellowship peers
Masterclasses
Attend closed-door roundtable sessions with senior global education leaders
Engage in honest dialogue about trade-offs, failures, and breakthroughs
Shared Inquiry
Join a curated cohort of groundbreaking education system leaders
Build trusting and enduring relationships for deep learning with peers
Coaching Opportunities
Explore and address a problem of practice through the fellowship
Generate new insights through action, reflection, and peer feedback
The Better Future Forum
Participate at the Global Institute’s annual in-person event
Connect with global education ecosystem leaders
Lifelong Community
Exchange practices across geographies with the option to visit other fellows
Build a lifelong global community of system leaders
The fellowship experience components
Cohort Model
Join a curated cohort of groundbreaking education system leaders
Build trusting and enduring relationships for deep learning with peers
System Change Lab
Explore and address a problem of practice through the fellowship
Generate new insights through action, reflection, and peer feedback
Immersion Event
Participate in a 4-day immersive learning experience in a transforming education system
Engage with ministers, schools, practitioners, and fellowship peers
Masterclasses & Roundtables
Attend closed-door sessions with senior global education leaders
Engage in honest dialogue about trade-offs, failures, and breakthroughs
Shared Inquiry
Join a curated cohort of groundbreaking education system leaders
Build trusting and enduring relationships for deep learning with peers
Triad Model Coaching Opportunities
Received a three-part support model combining policy mentors for subject expertise, leadership coaches for navigating execution, uncertainty, and trade-offs, and peer coaches for shared learning, accountability, and feedback
The Better Future Forum
Participate at the Global Institute’s annual in-person event
Connect with global education ecosystem leaders
Lifelong Community
Exchange practices across geographies with the option to visit other fellows
Build a lifelong global community of system leaders
Cohort Model
Join a curated cohort of groundbreaking education system leaders
Build trusting and enduring relationships for deep learning with peers
System Change Lab
Explore and address a problem of practice through the fellowship
Generate new insights through action, reflection, and peer feedback
Immersion Event
Participate in a 4-day immersive learning experience in a transforming education system
Engage with ministers, schools, practitioners, and fellowship peers
Masterclasses
Attend closed-door roundtable sessions with senior global education leaders
Engage in honest dialogue about trade-offs, failures, and breakthroughs
Shared Inquiry
Join a curated cohort of groundbreaking education system leaders
Build trusting and enduring relationships for deep learning with peers
Coaching Opportunities
Explore and address a problem of practice through the fellowship
Generate new insights through action, reflection, and peer feedback
The Better Future Forum
Participate at the Global Institute’s annual in-person event
Connect with global education ecosystem leaders
Lifelong Community
Exchange practices across geographies with the option to visit other fellows
Build a lifelong global community of system leaders
Who the fellowship is for?
The fellowship is designed for the most influential and innovative education system leaders working within ministries, political offices, or in long-term partnerships with the government from civil society roles. Fellows will show:
- A lifelong commitment to improving the systems around children
- Alignment with the purpose of developing all students holistically regardless of background or economic status
- Capacity for developing collective leadership and navigating complex politics
- Ability to influence significant system-level change at a national or regional scale
- Potential to serve as an influential leader in the global education ecosystem
How to apply to the fellowship
Applications to the fellowship will open on June 1 and close on September 4, 2026. We invite applicants to refer to the application guidance outlined in the fellowship blueprint document - which will be available soon!