ECIS & Eblana Learning - AI Retreat: 20 & 21 November 2026

Co-hosted by Eblana Learning and ECIS, the retreat moves beyond surface-level AI conversations. We’ll dive into what international schools will begin to look like in an AI world, and how we can re-shape our infrastructures, our curriculum and our communities to focus on human flourishing. Across two days, attendees will work through four connected themes that together form a clear path from infrastructure to implementation to long-term vision. Sessions blend theory and practical application, with time built in for peer dialogue, reflection and tangible planning.

This event is designed for Heads of School and AI Leads: those thinking about the big picture of strategy, action planning, tools, training and student engagement, and how all of those pieces fit together. It’s a chance for AI leads from across international schools to come together in one room and do the work of reshaping our schools for an AI world. We’d also strongly encourage you to bring your Head of Teaching and Learning, Director of Technology, or anyone else closely involved in AI implementation across your school.

Please note: This event is intended for school leaders whose AI journey is already well underway. To get the most from it, your school should have:

An AI policy in place, with detailed guidelines for staff and students
A clear AI vision and strategy
Basic AI training completed by all staff
AI being thoughtfully embedded into the student curriculum

1. Sovereign AI for Your International School

As AI becomes embedded in school operations, the question of where your data lives, who controls it, and what model serves your community becomes urgent. This session explores sovereign and local AI models, helping leaders understand the trade-offs between off-the-shelf tools and bespoke, school-controlled alternatives.

2. Setting Up and Deploying Safe AI Agents

Agentic AI is the next wave, but most schools are not ready for it. This practical session walks leaders through what AI agents are, how to scope them for school workflows, and how to deploy them safely. Expect hands-on demonstrations, real use cases and the chance to begin building your school’s own agents.

3. Deep Dive into Human Capabilities

As machines take on more, what becomes irreplaceably human? This session hones in on the capabilities, dispositions and ways of thinking that schools must protect and cultivate. Drawing on research and visits to over 60 international schools, we explore how to embed these capabilities across curriculum, culture and assessment. This will also include a curriculum review of the AI curriculum currently being deployed across international schools, looking at what is working, what is not, and what needs to come next.

4. The Future of Our AI World: Human Flourishing

The final theme zooms out. What kind of future are we building, and what does human flourishing look like inside it? Leaders will leave with a sharpened sense of purpose, a clearer view of the long arc of AI in education, and a community of peers to keep thinking alongside.

Key Takeaways

A working understanding of sovereign AI and what it means for your school
Practical experience scoping and deploying safe AI agents in school contexts
A refreshed view of the human capabilities schools must actively cultivate
A long-term lens on AI, human flourishing and the role of education
A trusted peer network of international school leaders facing the same questions

Why This Format

The retreat is deliberately small, deliberately focused and deliberately practical. By keeping the room intentionally limited, we create the conditions for honest dialogue, genuine peer connection and the kind of work that gets translated into action back at school.

ECIS & Eblana Learning – AI Retreat: 20 & 21 November 2026