Today I am sharing a guest blog written by one of my former Youth Ambassadors, Rylie. Rylie was part of the first cohort of Ambassadors in 2024 – she has since gone to work as a global advisor on education and youth policy, supporting the Education Beyond 2030 process.
Education Beyond 2030 is a global initiative which sets out to create a long-term vision for education that aims to equip every child and young person with the skills, knowledge, resilience, and values they need to flourish in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.
Rylie’s role involves bringing insight from across the UK into the global conversation and to act as a bridge between the youth consultation and the wider education sector so that young people’s priorities meaningfully influence the main discussions and decisions.
I have asked Rylie to write more about her role.
I originally applied to become a Children’s Commissioner Youth Ambassador because I wanted to improve the education system so that it empowers future leaders and inspires and prepares young minds for success in the world of work – and this has remained a key aim for me since.
Over the years I have found myself asking leaders: If you could change one thing about education, what would it be?
Would you change what is taught, how learning happens, or how success is measured? Perhaps you would give young people more choice, improve mental health support, or provide more opportunities to develop practical skills and experience the world of work.
Now, young people across the world are now being asked questions like these as part of a global consultation about what education should look like beyond 2030.
This is an opportunity for young people to share their experiences, priorities and ideas, and help influence the future direction of education around the world.
Why is this happening?
In 2015, countries around the world agreed on 17 Sustainable Development Goals, often called the SDGs. These are shared global goals intended to improve people’s lives and protect the planet by 2030.
Although progress has been made, millions of young people are still being left behind. Inequalities linked to income, geography, and gender continue, while many young people who are in education are not receiving the quality of learning or support they need.
The world has also changed considerably since the goals were agreed. Education must now respond to challenges including artificial intelligence and technological change, the climate crisis, growing inequality, conflict, and increasing political division.
With 2030 getting closer, the United Nations and its education partners are beginning to consider what the next global education priorities should be. Crucially, young people are being invited to contribute from the beginning.
How can you get involved?
UNESCO’s global survey is now open to young people and youth organisations around the world.
It asks young people to share their views on three main areas:
- Their hopes and aspirations for the future
- What they want to change about education and learning
- What action they would be willing to take to help create that change
The survey is open until 20 September 2026.
Your contribution will form part of a much bigger process. Alongside the survey, regional consultations are bringing together young people from different parts of the world. The findings will be reviewed by young members of the SDG 4 Youth & Student Network, a global community that represents young people and students in international discussions about education.
These ideas will be used to create a Youth Agenda on Education Beyond 2030. A group of young people will work on the draft at the United Nations University in Tokyo in October 2026, before the final Youth Agenda is presented to global education leaders in 2027.
It will then help shape wider discussions with governments, teachers, civil society organisations and others about the future of education after 2030.
What could education beyond 2030 look like?
For me, education should recognise young people as whole people, not simply as grades, statistics or future workers.
It should protect the curiosity children naturally have and help young people develop confidence, agency and the ability to participate in their communities. Academic, technical and vocational pathways should be valued equally, with every young person able to access meaningful experiences beyond the classroom.
Most importantly, education should be shaped with young people, not only designed for them. That is why this consultation matters. Young people experience education as it exists today. They understand where it creates opportunity, but also where it excludes people, limits choices, or fails to meet their needs. That experience is valuable evidence and should influence what happens next.
If you are a child or young person aged 11 to 30, complete the survey and share it with others before 20 September 2026.
If you work with young people, talk to them about the opportunity, make time for them to participate and help ensure that those whose voices are too often overlooked can be heard.
The future of education will affect young people most so it’s essential they should have a meaningful role in deciding what that future becomes. Please make sure you have your say.
Complete the Education Beyond 2030 global survey.
