ICGS Professional Development

The International Coalition of Girls’ Schools is proud to convene a wide array of global and regional professional development gatherings, where delegates exchange best practices on the education and healthy development of girls. At each of these gatherings, girls’ school educators and others have the opportunity to present their work and share their insights and expertise with fellow attendees.

ICGS programming is designed to be inclusive, and to represent a variety of perspectives on timely and evergreen topics of interest to girls’ school educators, delivering both global excellence and regional relevance.


In addition to the Professional Development events listed below, ICGS is proud to offer Webinar opportunities for members, along with educational videos on the ICGS Streaming Channel, and Online Courses for Educators. Coalition members are encouraged to contribute their own perspectives, insights, and expertise to the ongoing thought leadership dialogue as well—visit our Open Call for Proposals to learn more.

Professional Development Events Overview

These one-day gatherings are hosted on the campus of an ICGS member school. The Coalition offers several opportunities for girls’ school educators to convene for an Educating Girls Symposium each year, with programs taking place in various locations around the world. Designed to Celebrate the Power of Girls and Girls’ Schools, the Educating Girls Symposium is ideally suited for schools located in the region of the gathering to bring a larger delegation of team members for networking and sharing best practices. Complementary programming may include workshops and optional school tours.
Convening each June, the ICGS Conference offers three days of programming that includes dynamic keynote speakers and a wide array of breakout sessions. In addition to participating in the many networking opportunities that are part of each gathering, ICGS Conference delegates are able to hear the findings of the research undertaken by Fellows enrolled in the Global Action Research Collaborative on Girls’ Education. Pre-conference workshops and post-conference field trips are available for attendees to round out the experience.
A signature ICGS initiative, the Global Forum on Girls’ Education® includes an array of marquee speakers and panelists who are united in their support and advocacy for girls’ education and empowerment. Drawing delegates from around the world, these triennial three-day events offer unparalleled professional development and networking opportunities for educators, as well as advocates at global girl-serving organizations. Past presenters include Gloria Steinem, Billie Jean King, Leymah Gbowee, Shabana Basij-Rasikh, and Azar Nafisi. Pre- and post-Global Forum offerings abound, and heads of school are invited also to participate in a special breakfast session with the ICGS Global Executive Director.