Danish student leader and the Executive Director of the Global Student Forum, the worldwide umbrella organisation representing student movements across more than 130 countries and territories. He leads GSF’s global advocacy on the right to education, public financing of higher education, academic freedom, and the role of students in shaping international governance. In his role, he works in close collaboration with the organisation’s Steering Committee, ensuring that GSF’s strategic direction, governance, and international engagements reflect the collective leadership of its member organisations.

During his mandate, GSF has strengthened its presence in multilateral spaces, including the United Nations, UNESCO, and global financing mechanisms for education. He is responsible for driving the organisation’s strategic development, coordinating international campaigns, building coalitions, and advancing GSF’s work on youth and student participation in global decision-making.

Jacob has authored and co-authored several key GSF publications, including guides on artificial intelligence in education, sustainability in student organisations, and student rights–based advocacy. He has contributed to UN consultations, prepared policy submissions to Special Rapporteurs, and represented the global student movement at major international summits.

His work spans public communication, educational justice, human rights, student welfare, and democratic governance. He has spoken widely on the future of education, the role of civil society in global policy, and the need for stronger and more equitable international systems.

Dinis Fernando da Costa holds a BA degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and PhD from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in Linguistics. He is currently a lecture for English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in the Faculty of Fisheries Science, University of Namibe (UNINBE) and Vice-Dean for Research and Post-Graduate Studies at the same Faculty. His research interests are in the fields Critical Toponyms Studies / Onomastics, TEFL, Discourse Analysis and Cross-Cultural Communication.

Project Officer, UNESCO IESALC 

My passion lies in learning, collaboration, and creating meaningful impact across education, youth engagement, and multilateral cooperation. With an interdisciplinary background in management, psychology, and education, I have developed expertise at the intersection of education policy, mental health and wellbeing, international relations, sustainability, and youth and student engagement.

My professional experience spans programme coordination, partnerships, event planning, research, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. I have worked extensively in teaching, training, mentoring, consulting, and facilitation, designing and supporting initiatives that help youth and students develop the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to address contemporary global challenges. I am particularly committed to advancing accessible, inclusive, and supportive educational environments that promote wellbeing, participation, and equal opportunities for all learners, including persons with disabilities and individuals from diverse backgrounds. My areas of interest and expertise include AI and education, Green Education, sustainability, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), mental health in education, and inclusive learning systems.

Throughout my career, I have contributed to consultation processes, South-South cooperation initiatives, advocacy efforts, and multilateral and intergovernmental collaborations. I have worked with Lebanese and international NGOs, civil society organizations, youth and student networks, and intergovernmental organizations, gaining strong experience in global education policy discussions, youth engagement processes, sustainable development, and coalition building.

In parallel, I have actively participated in conferences, trainings, workshops, and international dialogues focused on sustainability, climate action, human rights, gender equality, innovation, wellbeing, higher education, and global governance. These experiences continue to shape my commitment to fostering inclusive, people-centered, and future-oriented approaches across sectors and communities.

Directora de desarrollo de capacidades UNESCO IESALC

Estoy comprometida con cerrar la brecha de la desigualdad social mediante el fomento de proyectos locales para lograr el Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible y ayudar a los países a mejorar la implementación de la Agenda 2030. 

I am committed to closing the gap of social inequality by promoting local projects to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and help countries improve the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

I have led high-impact innovative education and cooperation projects in different Ibero-American, European and African countries, based on digital and blended solutions with a clear focus on job placement and STEM skills development among young people, as well as promoting teacher training; all aimed at generating sustainable and scalable impacts.

I am part of the founding team of the European Parliament for the creation of an academic accreditation model based on micro-credentials and Education for Sustainable Development, establishing the framework for collaboration with Iberoamerica, to strengthen a model that allows universities to support the development of professionals demanded by the labor market and thus student mobility in the region.

My main lines of research and work are the identification and implementation of innovative learning methodologies such as socialLearning, MOOCs and gamification to improve the effectiveness of learning solutions.

Learning Designer and E-learning Consultant

Learning designer and e-learning consultant working in the international cooperation and development sector, with a focus on capacity building and digital transformation in teaching and learning. She works with international organisations, public institutions and civil society organisations to design clear, accessible and context-sensitive learning experiences, especially in African and Ibero-American contexts, including low-connectivity environments. She is also the founder of Bondémi, a digital learning platform focused on expanding access to relevant and contextualised learning opportunities for Portuguese-speaking African contexts.

Learn more:brunalobo.com and bondemi.com

Steering Committee Member, Global Student Forum

Tiago is based in Portugal, where he has been actively involved in student representation and advocacy for many years. His commitment to these causes began during secondary education and was further strengthened throughout his university studies through participation in university governing bodies, including the Academic Senate, the Disciplinary Council, and the Monitoring Committee of the Internal Quality Management System, as well as student organisations at local, national, and international levels.

He currently serves as Vice-President for External Representation and Education Policy at the Portuguese National Law Students Council (CNED) and as a Steering Committee Member of the Global Student Forum (GSF), representing the Subject-Based Student Organisations Constituency. Within the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS), he served as Vice-President for Programs on the Executive Committee during the 2024–2025 term, followed by a mandate as Secretary-General. He currently sits on the organisation’s Advisory Board.

In addition, Tiago collaborates with the Portuguese National Youth Council (CNJ) and remains actively engaged in civic participation and volunteering initiatives. Throughout the years, he has consistently sought opportunities to contribute to projects that create a positive impact within communities and promote meaningful civic engagement.

Alongside his academic and representative commitments, Tiago works in the consultancy sector, where he focuses on project management and international project analysis.

Tiago holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Minho and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in European Union Law at the same institution, further advancing his ambition to deepen his expertise in European affairs.

Alongside his strong interest in European integration and European Union policy, he is particularly interested in elections, governance, education, and public policy.

Rodrigo Oliveira is an Environmental Engineer and PMP® Senior Blue Economy Project Manager at Fórum Oceano, the Portuguese Cluster for the Ocean and Portugal Blue Digital Hub. His work focuses on sustainable blue economy, maritime innovation, international cooperation, capacity building and stakeholder engagement across public, private, academic and civil society ecosystems.

Rodrigo has extensive experience in managing strategic projects in sustainability, infrastructure, innovation and ocean-related development, including cooperation with UNESCO IESALC within the South-South University Cooperation Network Blue Economy Pilot Project. He is particularly interested in collaborative approaches that connect knowledge, capacity building, resilience, cultural identity, youth inclusion and sustainable development in coastal and maritime communities.

Academic profile

• Full Professor, Department of History, Political and International Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Porto (FLUP). 
• Experienced leader and manager across institutional, scholarly, and educational settings. Former department director; led postgraduate programs; contributed to FLUP governance and the Senate of the University of Porto; steered scientific coordination for CITCEM (2017–2022).

Education and leadership

• Co-director, European Interdisciplinary Master African Studies (European Joint Master Degree) (2020-2025).
• Member of scientific boards for Erasmus+ and Marie Curie PhD programs TEEME and MOVES.
• Currently: director, PhD Programme Global and Development Studies, FLUP (transdisciplinary program combining theory with practical intervention in politics, society, culture, education, economics, and ecology).

Academic service and recognition

• Honorary Doctorate in Maritime History (University Bretagne Sud, 2020)
• Chair, History and Archaeology Section, Academia Europaea
• Cunha Rivara Cathedra chair holder (Instituto Camões / University of Goa).
• 40+ years of research leadership, supervision of Master’s and PhD students, and a publication record exceeding 150 papers, chapters, and books.

Public engagement and knowledge transfer

• Focused on translating research into public impact through national and European projects.
• Coordinated CoopMar: Transoceanic Cooperation (CYTED network) to transfer knowledge between academia and social communities across six Atlantic Iberoamerican countries; emphasized memory, heritage, digital cultures, and cultural entrepreneurship to influence policy.
• Involvement with New European Bauhaus initiatives as co-proponent and project co-leader with Rio Neiva Association:
  • Minante Watermill: prototype for public-space co-creation through natural and cultural experiences.
  • Neiva Flows: rural placemaking project fostering co-creation of events, experiences, and training for local stakeholders.

Current projects and international collaboration

• Knowledge, Capacity Building and Resilience for the Preservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage (South-South University Cooperation Network, UNESCO IESLAC; Camões Institute; UN Office for South-South Cooperation).
• Ongoing commitment to international collaboration, community empowerment, and the interface between scholarship and societal impact.

Es es Arquitecta de Política Educativa y defensora del aprendizaje a lo largo de la vida, formada en Relaciones Internacionales, Ciencia Política y Liderazgo Educativo. Es Directora de la División de Relaciones Internacionales y Cualificaciones en J-TEC, donde lidera la implementación del Marco Nacional de Cualificaciones de Jamaica, y preside el Grupo Técnico de Trabajo sobre Microcredenciales de CARICOM, coautora del Marco de Microcredenciales de CARICOM (2026). Lideró el desarrollo del Manual Regional de Reconocimiento de Cualificaciones bajo la red CINALC de UNESCO IESALC, presentado ante el Comité de la Convención de Buenos Aires en 2025. Actualmente coordina la contribución de Jamaica al proyecto de Economía Azul de UNESCO IESALC y UNOSSC. 

She is an Education Policy Architect and lifelong learning advocate trained in International Relations, Political Science and Educational Leadership. She is Director of the International Relations and Qualifications Division at J-TEC, leading Jamaica's implementation of the National Qualifications Framework, and chairs the CARICOM Micro-credentials Technical Working Group, co-authoring the CARICOM Micro-Credential Framework (2026). She led the development of the Regional Qualifications Recognition Manual under UNESCO IESALC's CINALC network, presented to the Buenos Aires Convention Committee in 2025. She currently coordinates Jamaica's contribution to the UNESCO IESALC–UNOSSC Blue Economy project.

Cultural heritage specialist with a PhD in Sociology, focused on Latin American studies, heritage governance, and community-based cultural innovation.  Experienced university lecturer and international speaker, with a strong track record in interdisciplinary projects, digital heritage, and global-local cultural dynamics.   Actively engaged in Ibero-American networks and international initiatives on cultural sustainability and heritage education.