Forging a Global Community: CASEL’s Inaugural International SEL Fellows Academy

Key Points

• At a time when the world is more interconnected and complex than ever, the need for social and emotional learning (SEL) has never been clearer.
• Yet, while interest in SEL is growing globally, opportunities for deep, sustained collaboration across countries and sectors remain limited.
• To meet this moment, CASEL has launched the inaugural International SEL Fellows Academy (ISFA), a first-of-its-kind global initiative designed to bring together a diverse cohort of leaders, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and changemakers committed to advancing SEL across contexts and cultures.

At a time when the world is more interconnected and complex than ever, the need for social and emotional learning (SEL) has never been clearer. Across education systems, workplaces, and communities, there is growing recognition that skills like self-awareness, empathy, collaboration, and responsible decision-making are essential.

To meet this moment, CASEL has launched the inaugural International SEL Fellows Academy (ISFA). ISFA is a first-of-its-kind global initiative designed to bring together a diverse cohort of leaders, practitioners, policy makers, researchers and changemakers committed to advancing SEL across contexts and cultures.

Why a Global SEL Fellows Academy?

SEL is not bound by geography, language, or sector. Around the world, it shows up under many names including 21st-century skills, life skills, soft skills, human development, emotional quotient, and others. The core idea remains the same, which is supporting people to understand themselves, connect and collaborate with others, navigate challenges effectively, commit to lifelong learning and engage thoughtfully in society.

Yet, while interest in SEL is growing globally, opportunities for deep, sustained collaboration across countries and sectors remain limited.

The International SEL Fellows Academy was designed to bridge that gap.

This inaugural cohort convenes a dynamic group of fellows representing different regions, professional backgrounds, and areas of expertise from education and policy to research and organizational leadership. Together, they form a global community of practice grounded in shared learning, mutual curiosity, and a commitment to longitudinal impact.

What Makes This Academy Different?

The Academy is intentionally designed as a hybrid learning experience, combining live virtual sessions with ongoing asynchronous engagement. Fellows participate in:

• Interactive sessions with expert faculty, exploring research, frameworks, and real-world applications of SEL
• Peer inquiry circles, where fellows engage in structured dialogue, problem-solving, collaboration and reflection
• Applied learning experiences, connecting theory to practice within their local contexts
• Opportunities to contribute to CASEL through writing, and other channels
• Optional mentorship opportunities with CASEL leaders and global experts

Each session is more than a presentation, it’s an opportunity to engage, question, and co-construct knowledge across perspectives.

Centering Context, Culture, and Co-Creation

A central principle of the Academy is that SEL cannot be exported as a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, it must be adapted, translated, and co-created in ways that honor local cultures, values, and needs.

Throughout the program, fellows are encouraged to:

• Examine how SEL aligns with and shows up in their own contexts
• Share insights and practices from their regions
• Explore how frameworks can be adapted for relevance and sustainability
• Interrogate practices, themes and research, practice and policy for alignment

This emphasis on reciprocal learning ensures that the Academy is not just about disseminating knowledge, but about building it together.

Beyond Education: Expanding the Reach of SEL

While CASEL’s roots are in education, the Academy reflects a broader vision which emphasizes SEL as a lever for transformation not only in schools, but also in organizations, systems, and communities.

Fellows are exploring questions such as:

• How can SEL support leadership and organizational culture?
• What does SEL look like in workforce development or community-based settings?
• How can SEL competencies be embedded into systems-level change?

By expanding the conversation, the Academy positions SEL as a unifying social science for human development across sectors.

Looking Ahead

As the inaugural cohort begins its journey, the energy is palpable. Fellows are already building connections, sharing ideas, and engaging deeply with the possibilities of SEL in their contexts.

This is just the beginning.

The International SEL Fellows Academy represents an important step in CASEL’s broader global strategy focused on elevating diverse voices, fostering collaboration, and advancing SEL as a global instrument for embedding into every sector and space.

We look forward to learning alongside this incredible group of fellows and to sharing insights from their work in the months ahead.

Interested in learning more or getting involved in future cohorts?

Stay connected with CASEL as we continue to expand opportunities for global engagement and collaboration through our international work. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn!

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