Since 2003, the Global Education Initiative (GEI) has been engaging leaders from business, government, academia, international organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations to effect positive, sustainable and scalable changes in education at global and regional levels with a focus on innovation, quality and relevance. The GEI’s open, multistakeholder approach to education advancement has proven to be a resilient and creative backdrop for the multiple workstreams that constitute the initiative as it moves into its eighth year of existence.

The primary objective of the GEI is to raise awareness and support the implementation of relevant, sustainable and scalable national education sector plans on a global level through the increased engagement of the private sector. Through its unprecedented partnerships with UNESCO and Education For All Fast Track Initiative, and the continuous commitment and support of the Partners and Members of the World Economic Forum, the GEI aims to scale education partnerships globally.

"The GEI has demonstrated that multistakeholder partnership initiatives can be effective in supporting and even expediting ongoing education reforms. Ongoing commitments, visionary leadership and good management will be essential to ensuring long-term positive results," said Tom Cassidy, Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Ranging from country initiatives in Jordan, Palestine, Rajasthan (India), Egypt and Rwanda in its formative years, the scope of the GEI has extended to include a formal collaboration with UNESCO (Partnerships for Education), the Global Agenda Council on Education and a significant focus in 2010/2011 on Entrepreneurship Education. Although there is evidence of increased access to basic education (as measured by the Millennium Development Goals on Education) the world is facing a global crisis in quality education that requires urgent action and coordinated efforts to reboot education systems worldwide. While GEI activity has led to positive advancements in all of its constituent workstreams, it is the latter that has constituted the main activity focus for  2010 which once again reinforces education as a key driver for growth, economic development and the advancement of societies.

GEI Accomplishments in 2010

• Continued support of country-specific work in the Palestinian Territories including a GEI partner review of initiative progress in late 2010
• Ongoing development of a global portal and Resource Guide on Multistakeholder Partnerships in Education in the context of the GEI-UNESCO Partnerships for Education (PfE) workstream
• Ongoing recognition as a key multistakeholder voice for partnerships in education as a member of the Fast Track Initiative Board of Directors and as a member of the UNESCO International Advisory Panel
• Facilitation of the process to create new private sector/foundation seat on the Fast Track Initiative Board of Directors, including development of a new private sector/foundation community committed to long-term global education transformation
• Facilitation of consultation process in Latin America, Africa, and Middle East/North Africa to provide private sector input to the World Bank’s new 10 year Education Sector strategy
• Initiation of Phase II of the “Educating the Next Wave of Entrepreneurs” workstream via the constitution of regional Entrepreneurship Education Roundtables to be held on the occasion of the World Economic Forum Regional meetings in Europe (May 2010), the Middle East and North Africa (October 2010) and Latin America (April 2011)
• Continuation of the Global Agenda Council on Education to rethink the global education architecture with a specific focus on 21 century skills, Teachers, Teacher Professional Development and High-Impact Leadership in Education

The current emphasis on Entrepreneurship Education reflects the fact that entrepreneurship has never been as important as it is today when the world is confronted with big challenges that extend well beyond the global economy. Entrepreneurship is a tremendous force that can have a big impact in growth, recovery, and societal progress by fuelling innovation, employment generation and social empowerment.

The GEI's Steering Board consists of thirteen Industry and Strategic Partners: Abraaj Capital, Cisco, Deloitte, Edelman, EMC, HCL, Heidrick & Struggles, Intel, Juniper Networks, Lenovo, ManpowerGroup, McGraw-Hill and Microsoft.

GEI Steering Board Members:
Abraaj Capital
Cisco
Deloitte
Edelman
EMC
HCL
Heindrick & Struggles
Hewlett-Packard
Intel
Juniper
Lenovo
ManpowerGroup
McGraw-Hill
Microsoft