What Happened
Organized by the Caucasus & Central Asia Association of IB World Schools (CCAAIBWS) Hosted at the European School, Tbilisi, Georgia — May 1-3, 2026 From 1 to 3 May 2026, Tbilisi, Georgia welcomed educators, thought-leaders, and IB practitioners from across the globe to the 5th International Experiential Learning Conference (ExLC2026) — a landmark event in the advancement of inquiry-based, hands-on learning within the IB community. The conference launched with a HOPE Festival (on 30 April at Sabado, Manglisi) — a celebration of innovation, community, and educational collaboration — followed by three days of immersive workshops, seminars, and learning sessions. Seminars and workshops provided participants with hands-on experiences, strategies, and tools to integrate experiential learning into their classrooms. More than 500 educators from diverse regions came together to exchange best practices, foster professional relationships, and deepen their commitment to meaningful, student-centered pedagogy. Participants also had the opportunity to earn an International IB Association Certificate as part of their professional development. This fifth edition, hosted for the first time in Tbilisi, represented both continuity and expansion of the ExLC tradition — building on the successes of prior years, strengthening regional networks, and inviting new voices into the conversation about how experiential learning can transform IB education across the Caucasus, Central Asia, and beyond.
