The city of Concepción (Chile) recently hosted several activities that served as a prelude to the International Education Congress – FIDE 2026, scheduled for 14 and 15 May, with a strong focus on educational leadership and the challenges faced by schools working in socially vulnerable contexts.
One of the key initiatives was the Regional Education Seminar “Regional leadership: key factors for schools and classrooms”, organised by the Federation of Private Education Institutions (FIDE) and held at the auditorium of the Madres Dominicas School. The event brought together a large number of school leadership teams and teachers from Greater Concepción, consolidating itself as a space for pedagogical reflection and preparation for the international congress.
Among the featured speakers was Daniel Villarroel, PhD in Education and CRiEDO collaborator, who delivered the keynote “Schools in vulnerable contexts.” Drawing on his experience as principal of Colegio Montaner de Hualpén, Villarroel addressed strategies to promote equity and educational inclusion, highlighting the importance of pedagogical leadership, attention to the emotional dimensions of students, and the effective use of public policies—such as the SEP Law— to implement sustainable school improvement plans.
This perspective strongly aligned with the spirit of the pre-congress activities, which emphasised the need for context-sensitive education, responsive to social environments and oriented towards educational transformation, particularly at a time of significant complexity for educational communities. According to the organisers, these initiatives aim to strengthen leadership as a driver of change, foster professional dialogue, and prepare the educational debate that will shape the International Education Congress in Concepción.
The participation of Daniel Villarroel in these forums reinforces CRiEDO’s commitment to research, knowledge transfer, and the promotion of evidence-informed educational practices, especially in contexts that require innovative and socially committed educational responses.
