GIFTS Fellowship for Transforming Education Systems

The Global Institute for Shaping a Better Future, an initiative of Teach For All, runs this year long fellowship for twenty education system leaders from around the world. Fellows spend nine months in masterclasses, peer labs and coaching while carrying a real system transformation project in their own country, and travel to a four day residential immersion in a system that is improving. The Enlight Foundation funds it, and applicants must already hold an influential role in government, politics or policy.

What you get:

• A place in a cohort of 20 education system leaders selected worldwide
• Virtual masterclasses and closed door roundtable sessions with senior global education leaders
• Triad coaching that pairs a policy mentor for subject expertise, a leadership coach for execution and trade offs, and a peer coach for accountability and feedback
• A four day residential immersion visiting a transforming education system, with time among ministers, schools and practitioners
• An invitation to the Better Future Forum in Malaysia in May 2027, three days with a community of around 200 global education leaders
• A regular system lab with a small group of peers for joint problem solving on real world challenges
• Fully funded participation, enabled by the Enlight Foundation
• Lasting membership of a global community of education system leaders

What you'll do:

• Commit 4 to 6 hours each month to virtual masterclasses, roundtables, peer labs and coaching conversations
• Carry a real system transformation project through diagnosis, design and delivery across the year
• Travel to and attend the required four day residential immersion in late January or early February 2027
• Document the design and delivery of your project as the backbone of the fellowship
• Write a final report, or give a presentation, reflecting on progress made and lessons learned

Key dates:

• Applications close September 11, 2026
• Selection announced October 2026
• Virtual launch event October 2026
• Virtual labs, masterclasses and peer sessions November to December 2026
• Residential immersion, four days in person and required, late January or early February 2027
• Better Future Forum in Malaysia, three days in person and optional, May 2027
• Virtual graduation September 2027

More information:

• The Program Information document sets out the curriculum, the faculty and the full fellowship commitments
• Nominations of exceptional system leaders are welcomed through a separate form, though a nomination is not an application and does not guarantee selection
• Faculty and advisers named by the organisers include Dr Iwan Syahril, Alex Beard, Wendy Kopp, Andreas Schleicher, Jaime Saavedra and Dr Rebecca Winthrop

• Currently in a role in government, politics or policy with real scope for influencing a national or regional system supporting children
• Demonstrates a deep commitment to improving the systems that affect children's ability to thrive
• Aligned to a holistic purpose for education that develops all students regardless of background or economic status
• Has a track record as a collaborative system leader able to achieve change and develop others
• Shows openness to global learning, connection and advocacy
• Articulates a system transformation project with a path to impact as the focus of participation
• Has capacity to commit 4 to 6 hours a month plus the required four day in person immersion
• Open worldwide. No age limit and no minimum years of experience are stated by the organisers
• Currently serving policymakers, government officials, politicians and advisers in influential roles in ministries, regional offices and delivery units, with influence over the learning and development of significant numbers of young people at a regional or national level. The Global Institute describes the cohort as senior and emerging leaders. Applicants may also sit in civil society organisations, partner institutions or multilaterals working closely with government, provided they have real agency in moving ideas or policies into implementation. You do not need to be a Teach For All participant or alumnus. No age limit and no minimum years of experience are published, but this is a fellowship for people already holding system level office rather than an entry level opportunity.