While Wiki Education works exclusively on English Wikipedia and with post-secondary institutions in the U.S. and Canada, did you know that we are part of a worldwide community of Wikipedia education programs? This year, we had the honor of participating in the EduWiki 2025 conference in Bogotá, Colombia from May 30th to June 1st. Defined by a spirit of learning, sharing, and collaboration, the conference drew education program leaders from around the globe. In attendance were Wiki Education’s Chief Programs Officer LiAnna Davis, Senior Program Manager Helaine Blumenthal, Wikipedia Expert Brianda Felix, and Communications and Outreach Coordinator Colleen McCoy.
In true Wikimedia fashion, the conference was marked by an exchange of knowledge and experience that bridged cultural divides, but also highlighted some of the individual challenges that different geographic regions face. Wiki Education had the chance to both share and learn in good measure. Helaine and Brianda had the opportunity to participate in a series of lightning talks, where conference attendees gave brief 3-4 minute presentations about different aspects of their educational work. Helaine spoke about Wiki Education’s efforts to tackle English Wikipedia’s knowledge equity gaps, while Brianda focused on the rapidly emerging place of generative AI in Wikipedia education programs. Helaine and Brianda also led a workshop which explored how to effectively scale a Wikipedia education program while also ensuring content quality and program satisfaction. Where Helaine and Brianda focused on Wiki Education’s programmatic work, LiAnna walked attendees through tips and tricks for using the Programs and Events Dashboard, the main tool used by education programs globally to facilitate and track a range of initiatives. Each presentation was marked by dialogue, curiosity, and a true mutual respect for the work being done in each geographic context.
Wiki Education’s Wikipedia Student Program in the U.S. and Canada is the largest of the Wikipedia education programs by far, but apart from our dramatic difference in size and scope, we quickly noted similarities between our work and the work of others across the globe.
For example, it was clear from day one that we face many of the same challenges as our counterparts throughout the world. Whether we hope to reach students, teachers, librarians, or the local Wikipedia editing community, we’re all striving to increase participation in our programs. And we’re all concerned about the future of Wikipedia and open knowledge, and the role that generative AI will play in the way knowledge is produced, shared, and accessed.
It would be insincere to entirely ignore the disparities in resources available to education programs based on geographic locale. The digital divide is profound, and greatly influences the reach of many Wikipedia education programs. The conference did not seek to deny these differences, nor did it strive to make them the centerpiece of the gathering. As a result, program participants were able to engage in exchanges that were honest, open, and informative.
EduWiki is not your typical conference – as many impactful exchanges happened over meals and coffee as they did during conference presentations. Conference attendees ate almost every meal together and embarked on an outing to Bogotá’s Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), followed by dinner at Andrés DC, where we all got a real taste of Colombian nightlife. We made new colleagues as well as friends, and the conversations we began in Bogotá will undoubtedly continue well beyond the conference.
Thank you to Wikimedia Colombia and to the Wikipedia & Education User Group for organizing this incredible event, and for welcoming the global education community with warmth, respect, and true collaboration.
