The power of youth in co-creating education: International Day of Education 2026

24 January marks the annual International Day of Education. It underscores the pivotal importance of education worldwide and advocates for education as a human right.

The theme for this year’s day is the power of youth in co-creating education.

What is the International Day of Education?

Created by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2018, the annual event highlights the need for education as a human right.

This day highlights the power of education and provides guidance on how governing bodies can contribute to making changes. The aim of the day is to shed light on key issues and challenges in education.

International Day of Education is also an opportunity to showcase the transformative power of education and its supporting role in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN emphasise that education has the power to transform communities and people through learning fundamental skills.

The power of youth within education

This year’s theme for the day is the power of youth (ages 30 and under) in co-creating education.

Young people under 30 make up more than half of the global population and are the driving force of sustainable development, innovation and social transformation. However, they are affected the most by poverty, inequality, and restricted access to quality education and decent work.

This year’s theme focuses on engaging these young people in conversations around educational environments that allow them to be ambitious.

The power of Brighton alumni

Commemorating this year’s International Day of Education, we want to share some of our alumni who embody this year’s theme.

Jesse Mugambi, from Kenya, studied our Architecture BA and Sustainable Design MA, graduating last year.

While studying for his masters degree, Jesse was one of two winners of Jägermeister’s #SaveTheNight competition. This global project funds innovative nightlight concepts, and through many years of hard work and dedication, Jesse’s ‘Studio Can-V’ was chosen as a winning proposal.

Watch the video to find out more.

Award-winning graduate Scarlett Yang from China studied our Sequential Design/Illustration MA. Scarlett was one of just 15 artists worldwide to receive a Platinum Award in the 2025 Graphis New Talent Awards.

She says: “It’s my first year participating in international competitions after graduating, and I’m so grateful for all the support from Brighton. Without a doubt, the university has been the starting point of my creative career.”

Similarly, Abdulmalik Alshamarizwan is an award-winning student from the Middle East, who is currently studying our Software Engineering BSc. Abdulmalik won a global prize last year for his AI tool that predicts sports injuries, which could transform how sports clubs manage player health.

He says: “Since arriving in Brighton, I’ve felt empowered not just as a student, but as a solution builder. The support and environment here have helped me turn an idea into a global solution.”

International Day of Education puts the power of education and its recipients at the forefront of important global conversations.

Be a part of the next generation of students who are shaping their futures with an internationally recognised degree from the University of Brighton.