Read the summary blog from the convenors of this theme:

Learner safety and wellbeing: Final reflections from conveners of UKFIET 2025 conference theme

Webinar

A webinar series followed the UKFIET September 2025 conference. These one-hour sessions on each of the seven conference sub-themes aim to give a flavour of discussions and amplify sparks ignited at the conference.

Convenors:

  • Danielle Cornish-Spencer, Social Development Direct
  • Juliet Millican, Institute of Development Studies

Panellists:

  • We’am Hamdan, University of Cambridge
  • Oksana Zabolotna, War Child Alliance
  • Priti Chopra, University of Greenwich
  • Judith Herbertson, FCDO

The webinar starts with some highlights from Juliet Millican who talks about the opening keynote and its focus on the field in crisis, specifically fragility under occupation and the policy of scholasticide. She asks what kind of partnerships can help in conflict.

We’am Hamdan discusses partnership, technology and conflict, asking for knowledge produced under conflict to be recognised. She also stresses that the language of wellbeing must be decolonised to accept healing as a collective process and awareness.

Oksana Zabolotna speaks about carrying out research in conflict in Ukraine and the different priorities and tensions that partnerships can bring.

Priti Chopra focuses on cost-effective inclusive learning design approaches for teachers to engage young people to challenge gender-based violence constructively.

Danielle Cornish-Spencer provides some reflections from the sub-theme and links the issues of larger conflict to the issues of interpersonal violence and the need to address both, holistically. Education must be at the centre of change.

Judith Herbertson focuses on looking ahead. She speaks about FCDO’s tighter processes on safeguarding. As a global donor, the FCDO is facing major shifts in their operating model: from donor to investor; from service delivery to system support; from grants to expertise, leveraging UK strengths; and from international intervention to local provision.

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We’am Hamdan shared the following journal article:

Priti Chopra shared the following resources: