Part of RRSPBL 2026
PBL in School Education
19 November 2026 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Venue: IISER, Pune
Hosted by
Part of RRSPBL 2026
19 November 2026 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Venue: IISER, Pune
Hosted by
PBL is transforming school education by moving learning beyond passive knowledge acquisition towards active inquiry, exploration, and real-world problem-solving. It enables students to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills that are essential for the 21st century.
Aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, the event will bring together educators, school leaders, researchers, policymakers, industry experts, and sustainability advocates to exchange ideas, showcase innovative practices, and build meaningful collaborations that advance learner-centred, competency-based, and experiential education in India and beyond.
Recognising the growing importance of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in school education, a one-day event dedicated to advancing PBL in school education will be held on 19 November 2026 at IISER, Pune. The event is hosted by MIT Vishwaprayag University, Solapur, India, in collaboration with the Aalborg Centre for Problem-Based Learning in Engineering Science and Sustainability, Aalborg University, Denmark, and in partnership with the Agastya International Foundation.
The event is organised as part of the Fourth Regional Research Symposium on Problem-Based Learning (RRSPBL 2026), bringing together educators and practitioners to share innovative practices and experiences in PBL for school education.
The event seeks to serve as a catalyst for innovation in school education by encouraging the meaningful integration of PBL into curricula, classroom practices, and teaching approaches. It aims to empower educators and other school education stakeholders to create interdisciplinary and authentic learning experiences that strengthen students' problem-solving, critical-thinking, creativity, and innovation skills, while supporting a smoother transition from school education to higher education.
The event brings together India's rich educational heritage and global best practices to explore new possibilities for the future of school education.
Founder and CEO, SIFISO Learning Group
Future Nation Schools
South Africa
Dr. Sizwe Errol Nxasana is a renowned South African business leader, social entrepreneur, and education innovator with a distinguished career spanning corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and social impact.
He earned his PhD in Education from the UNESCO PBL Centre at Aalborg University, Denmark, in May 2025. He founded Sizwe & Co, the first black-owned audit practice in KwaZulu-Natal, and later co-founded Nkonki Sizwe Ntsaluba, now SizweNtsalubaGobodo (SNG Grant Thornton), which became South Africa's fifth-largest audit firm.
He subsequently served as CEO of Telkom SA, leading its dual listing on the Johannesburg and New York Stock Exchanges, and later as CEO of FirstRand Banking Group until his retirement from corporate life in 2015.
He is the founder of the Sifiso Learning Group, an integrated education ecosystem comprising Future Nation Schools, Nation NXT College, iKamva Preschool, and Sifiso EdTech, focused on reimagining African education through accessible, technology-enabled, Afrocentric learning, with project-based learning (PBL) at its core.
Dr. Nxasana is also Co-founder and Chairperson of the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and Founder and Chairperson of the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP). His contributions to business and education have been recognised through honorary doctorates from five South African universities.
Associate Professor, UCPBL
Aalborg University
Denmark
College of Education for the Future
Beijing Normal University (Zhuhai)
China
Co-Founder, Biomimicry India
MSc in Biomimicry, Arizona State University
Dr. Prashant Dhawan is the Co-founder of the Biomimicry India Network. He holds a Master of Science in Biomimicry from Arizona State University, USA, and Biomimicry Professional Certification from Biomimicry 3.8, USA.
He also holds a degree in Architecture from SPA Delhi and an MBA from ISB Hyderabad. Prashant prefers to call himself an amateur researcher of issues related to sustainable happiness.
Together, Seema and Prashant have conducted more than 150 biomimicry courses, workshops, and talks at educational institutions including Tongji University, IIT Gandhinagar, VIT Vellore, and CEPT University.
They have also conducted biomimicry talks and workshops for organisations including ISRO, CII-YII, ITC, Mahindra & Mahindra, Axis Bank, ASME, INCOSE, and IUCEE.
PBL in School Education — 19 November 2026
Topic and speaker to be announced.
Agastya International Foundation, India
Dr. Niels Erik Ruan Lyngdorf — Associate Professor, UCPBL, Aalborg University, Denmark
Dr. Sizwe Errol Nxasana — Future Nation Schools, South Africa
Dr. Zhiying Nian — College of Education for the Future, Beijing Normal University (Zhuhai), China
Participant model-making experience inspired by bird flight and biomimicry — Dr. Prashant Dhawan.
Moderator and panelists to be announced.
| Sl.No | Milestone | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abstract Submission Opens | 1 September 2026 |
| 2 | Abstract Submission Closes | 25 September 2026 |
| 3 | Event Date | 19 November 2026 |
Abstract submissions will open on 1 September 2026 and close on 25 September 2026.
| Sl.No | Category | Description |
Early Bird Registration Fee
Until 18 October 2026 |
Regular Registration Fee
19 October – 13 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | School Registration | Group of 3 members from the same school | INR 1,500 + GST | INR 2,000 + GST |
| 2 | Individual Registration (India) | Individual participant | INR 750 + GST | INR 1,000 + GST |