The modernization of education is a common issue all over the world. With the rapid development of science and technology, the modernization of education is facing unprecedented opportunities as well as unpredictable challenges. In 2015, UNESCO released “Rethinking Education: Towards a Global Common Good?”, which reiterated the humanist education vision. “There is no more powerful transformative force than education–to promote human rights and dignity, to eradicate poverty and deepen sustainability, to build a better future for all, founded on equal rights and social justice, respect for cultural diversity, and international solidarity and shared responsibility. ” Guided by this philosophy, UNESCO is now leading the Global Education 2030 Agenda to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4, to ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning. In February 2019, China also issued the document “China’s Education Modernization 2035”, providing the roadmap for education development in China. The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 once again prompted us to reconsider the humanities, science and technology and sustainable development in the modernization of education.

The year of 2021 marks the 60th anniversary of Institute of International and Comparative Education, Beijing Normal University. To celebrate IICE’s 60th anniversary, we sponsor The Seventh Worldwide Forum for Comparative Education and warmly welcome all experts and scholars to gather in Beijing to discuss new ideas, goals, approaches and challenges of education modernization.