Reimagining Teaching in an Accelerating World

As global challenges, artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological shifts reshape education, reimagining teaching demands more than incremental change. For policymakers, the central question is whether education systems are actively shaping that transformation or merely reacting to it. This report sets the scene for the 16th International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP), held in March 2026. Convened by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, the OECD and Education International, the Summit brings together education ministers, union leaders and teacher leaders to engage in evidence-informed dialogue on some of education's most pressing and contested challenges. Drawing on the OECD's internationally comparative analysis, the report explores three interconnected themes: reimagining the teaching profession in a rapidly changing world; strengthening autonomy, trust and collaboration as foundations for innovation; and harnessing AI as an ally for teaching and learning. Together, these themes frame a forward-looking discussion on how to shape the future of education