Sometimes the most valuable educational experiences do not take place in a classroom, but on the road — in conversations between people, in places discovered together, and in the questions that arise when we see the world through the eyes of others.
We are delighted that Romania hosted the XXV edition of the Global Connections seminar, bringing together educational leaders from around the world on a journey of discovery that started in Bucharest and continued through the heart of Transylvania — Cluj-Napoca, Blaj, Sibiu, Viscri, and Brașov.
The aim of this journey was not touristic, but deeply educational: to explore how education takes root in the community, how cultural identity shapes the school, and how human connections remain essential in a world increasingly influenced by technology and artificial intelligence. It was, in essence, an invitation to rediscover education as a human experience.
Education Begins with People
Camilo Camargo, President of Global Connections, captured the essence of the experience at the end of the visit to Romania: “Romania did not reveal itself as a single story, but as a layered one, where cultures, languages, and traditions coexist. And at the heart of this story, we discovered a simple truth: it is the people who give value to a place.”
Participants met dedicated teachers, school founders, engaged mayors, and members of local communities who fight for the future of education — sometimes in prosperous contexts, other times in places where access to school is still a dream.
This meeting between educational leadership and community leadership was one of the great revelations of the journey. As Dr. Hana Kanan, Director of the International Academy in Amman, observed: “I understood how important it is for political and educational leadership to work together to support education. In some communities, we saw thriving schools, while in others, children are still dreaming of having one.”
Learning That Happens Between People
Unlike traditional conferences, the seminar was designed as a lived experience: long journeys, shared meals, visits to schools and villages, spontaneous conversations. For many participants, these moments became the most valuable.
“Traveling with friends is one of the most powerful ways to learn. And when we choose less well-known destinations, we discover surprises that open new perspectives for our students. Romania is a country with a layered history, where different cultures, languages, and communities have learned to live together over time. It is this diversity that makes people resilient, warm, and deeply hospitable. I left with a simple conviction: it takes a village to raise a child, and education should be rooted in kindness — the essential condition for students to flourish. As the Romanian proverb says, ‘Omul sfințește locul,’ (“It’s the people that make a place“) and it is the teachers who give meaning to a school,” says Diana Segărceanu, Executive Director of Avenor College and one of the hosts of the event.
Padme Raina, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Ashbury College (Canada), also remarked on the strength of the communities encountered: “I was inspired by the people who take responsibility for educating their communities — founders, local leaders, heritage conservators. When people build together, a sense of belonging emerges.“
And this belonging is not built through technology, but through shared experiences:
“Relationships develop when we travel, work, or eat together — not through AI.”
Wellbeing and Human Connection — Beyond Concepts
The central theme of the seminar was wellbeing in education, but participants quickly realized that it cannot be reduced to theories or institutional strategies.
Simona Baciu, founder of Transylvania College and the InIm Institute, described the experience as a rediscovery of learning through connection: “I learned that wellbeing is built in simple, human moments — in conversations, in shared stories, in the curiosity to listen and understand different perspectives. Education is everywhere, not just in schools.“
This idea was also shared by Cristina Willows, Deputy Executive Director at Avenor College: “Along the way, we met extraordinary people, each in their own way, who reminded me that life works best when it works for the common good first — only then does it truly become good for each of us. In every school and community we visited, one thing was clear: progress is never accidental. It is always the result of people who genuinely believe they can make a difference and act on that belief every day.“
Romania: A Lesson in Identity and Belonging
For many guests, discovering Romania became a transformative experience.
Dana Hamzouq, Deputy Director at the International Academy Amman, described the impact of the experiences: “Education is shaped not only by systems and structures but by values, culture, and human connections. Romania offered us not only knowledge but inspiration — an example of resilience, pride, and unity.”
Participants repeatedly noted the hospitality and authenticity they encountered along the way — elements that turned the seminar into a personal, not just professional, experience.
A Simple but Essential Conclusion
At the end of the nine days, the conclusion that emerged from this experience was surprisingly clear: the future of education does not depend exclusively on technology, curriculum, or global models, but on our ability to keep it deeply human.
