Education leaders from across Asia gathered in Hanoi this week for the opening of the Governance as Leadership Training Institute (GALTI) 2026, hosted by the United Nations International School of Hanoi (UNIS Hanoi). The three-day institute, held from 10 to 12 September, brought together heads of school and board chairs from major cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Singapore and Taipei.
This year’s event marks GALTI’s tenth anniversary and carries the theme “Future-ready governance: Governing with purpose and responsibility in an AI-shaped world.” The gathering focused on how school boards and senior leaders can strengthen institutional leadership, govern responsibly, and prepare their schools for rapid technological and social change.
Vietnamese education authorities joined the discussions, creating a rare platform for dialogue between national and local education officials and international school leaders from the wider region. Organisers said the participation underscores Hanoi’s growing role as a centre for educational exchange, innovation and leadership development in Asia.
“Education leaders from across the region will see in Hanoi what our community sees every day: Vietnam is not simply responding to the future of education; it is helping to shape it,” said Dr Liz Gale, Head of School at UNIS Hanoi. “Governance in an AI-shaped world is not a challenge that any one school can address alone. We are proud to bring boards and heads together at UNIS Hanoi to learn from one another and consider how schools can use emerging technologies responsibly, ethically and in the best interests of students.”
The official opening featured a keynote session examining the responsibilities of school leaders and governing boards in responding to artificial intelligence. Participants explored how schools can embrace innovation while safeguarding student wellbeing, academic integrity, equity, and the human relationships that remain central to education.
Students at UNIS Hanoi also played an active role. Student representatives led campus tours and shared their perspectives on how artificial intelligence is already influencing learning and what they hope the future of education will look like.
Rami Madani, Head of School at the International School of Kuala Lumpur and facilitator of GALTI 2026, emphasised the practical value of the institute. “Decisions made at the governance level shape the future of a school,” he said. “Bringing boards and heads from across Asia together at UNIS Hanoi allows us to examine difficult questions openly, learn from one another and strengthen education across the region.”
Unlike traditional conferences, GALTI is designed as a working institute. Through keynote discussions, practical workshops and scenario-based sessions, participants examined key areas including responsible AI governance, crisis leadership, head–board partnerships, strategic decision-making and effective governance practices. Attendees are expected to leave with practical tools they can adapt for their own schools, such as governance frameworks, board agendas, leadership dashboards, professional-development plans and partnership agreements.
Beyond the regional focus, GALTI continues to support local educational development in Vietnam. Since 2020, financial contributions generated by the institute have funded the UNIS Hanoi Learning Together Fund. This supports Learning Together Vietnam, an annual not-for-profit education conference that brings together hundreds of Vietnamese and international educators working from Early Years to Grade 12. The conference enables the exchange of classroom practices and collaborative efforts to advance education across the country.
By hosting GALTI 2026, UNIS Hanoi reinforced its long-standing role as a bridge between Vietnam’s education community and international schools across Asia. The gathering supported the exchange of knowledge, strengthened professional relationships and further positioned Hanoi as a meeting place for regional education leaders.
UNIS Hanoi is one of only two United Nations schools in the world. It offers the full International Baccalaureate continuum to a diverse student body representing more than 65 nationalities. Established as a pioneer in international education in Vietnam, the school combines academic excellence with a mission-driven approach aimed at developing lifelong learners who contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable world.
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GALTI itself was established in 2014 and is grounded in the principle that strong school governance depends on a purposeful partnership between a school’s board and its head of school. The tenth anniversary edition in Hanoi highlighted both continuity and the need for adaptation in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid global change.
As education systems across Asia navigate the opportunities and risks of new technologies, the conversations held at UNIS Hanoi this week pointed to a shared priority: ensuring that governance remains purposeful, ethical and centred on the best interests of students. The practical resources and professional connections formed during GALTI 2026 are expected to support that goal well beyond the three days of the institute.
