Isabel Baltazar, Coordinator of the UNESCO UniTwin Chair “The Educating and Transformative City” and Professor at ISEC Lisboa, participated as a speaker at the 7th Pedagogical Conference of the Municipality of Benavente, held on 8 September 2026 at the Benavente Cine-Theatre.

Held under the theme “Education with Soul: How the City Educates People and Shapes the Future — Learning on Every Street”, the Conference marked the beginning of the 2026/2027 academic year and brought together diverse perspectives and experiences to explore the role of the school within the community and the role of the community within the school.

As part of the “Voices that Inspire” session, Isabel Baltazar delivered a presentation entitled “How the City’s School Educates and Shapes the Future of Children and Young People”. Her contribution invited reflection on the importance of an integrated approach to education, in which the city and the community play an active role in learning processes and in shaping future generations.

Her participation contributed to the debate on education beyond the school environment, highlighting local territories as spaces for learning, participation and development, where everyday experiences can play a significant role in the education of children and young people.

The organising institutions — Centro Educatis, Benavente Municipal Council, Benavente School Cluster and Samora Correia School Cluster — expressed their appreciation for Professor Baltazar’s participation, highlighting the contribution of her presentation to the discussions fostered throughout the Conference.

This initiative aligns with the mission of the UNESCO UniTwin Chair “The Educating and Transformative City”, which promotes reflection and knowledge-sharing on the relationship between education, territory and citizenship, recognising the role of communities in building cities that foster education, participation and inclusion.