Bridging Well-being and Teacher Education

Event Hosts

Teachers College, Columbia University is a graduate school located in New York City, founded in 1887 as the oldest and largest graduate school of education in the United States. The institution has been a pioneering force in education, psychology, and health sciences, producing influential scholars and practitioners who have shaped educational policy and practice worldwide. With a diverse international student body and a strong commitment to equity and social justice, Teachers College offers comprehensive master's and doctoral programs while maintaining its position at the forefront of educational innovation and research.

UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) is an autonomous body within the UN system, established in 1963 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The institute operates as a self-funded organization that delivers innovative learning solutions, training programs, and e-learning courses on topics including diplomacy, peacemaking, climate change, sustainable development, and humanitarian assistance. Working primarily with developing countries and economies in transition, UNITAR has trained hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries—including government officials, civil society representatives, and UN personnel—supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening global governance.

EUniWell (European University for Well-Being) is a European Universities alliance launched in 2020, bringing together seven partner universities from across Europe with a shared vision of placing well-being at the heart of higher education. The alliance focuses on addressing well-being challenges across individual, social, and environmental dimensions through interdisciplinary research, joint degree programmes, and community engagement. By facilitating seamless student and staff mobility across institutions and emphasizing civic engagement, EUniWell aims to transform higher education and prepare students as engaged citizens who can contribute to building more inclusive, sustainable, and healthy societies across Europe and beyond.

Conference Objectives

This conference aims to:

• Foster lasting cross-institutional partnerships.
• Highlight and strengthen global and transatlantic research collaborations.
• Develop actionable models that integrate well-being into teacher education, policy, and practice.
• Position educator well-being as a cornerstone of educational transformation.
• Address the pressing needs of teachers and researchers regarding well-being in education systems.
• Build collaborative ecosystems for innovation in well-being through co-creation among faculty, students, and communities.

Who Should Attend

The conference is designed for a wide range of participants, including:

• University faculty and researchers.
• Teacher educators, education leaders, and teacher-trainees.
• Education NGOs and INGOs. 
• Graduate students and early-career scholars.
• K-12 teachers and school leaders.
• Policymakers, UN representatives, NGO practitioners, program designers, and foundation officers.
• Journalists and media professionals such as podcasters, columnists, and broadcasters.

Where to Stay

Teachers College Recommended Hotels

• Aloft Harlem Hotel
  Reservations: 212-749-4000
  Location: 2296 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
  Aloft Harlem is the first new hotel in Harlem in 40 years. It features loft-inspired design and style in one of NYC's most happening neighborhoods. Steps from the legendary Apollo Theatre, Columbia University, and the 125th Street subway station.
• Hotel Beacon
  Reservations: 800-572-4969
  Location: 2130 Broadway at 75th Street
  Rooms come furnished with fully-equipped kitchenettes, complete with stoves, refrigerators, and coffee makers, allowing our guests to enjoy the plethora of family-owned grocery stores and bustling delis that are so emblematic of the Upper West Side.
• Belvedere Hotel
  Reservations: 212-245-7000 / 888-468-3558
  Location: 319 West 48th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues
  All rooms contain kitchenettes; laundry facilities are located on the premises. Receive Up to 10% off their Flexible Rate when you book through the hotel website.
• Courtyard New York Manhattan/Central Park
  Reservations: 212-324-3773
  Location: 1717 Broadway on West 54th Street
  Contemporary rooms offer free WiFi, desks with ergonomic chairs, flat-screen TVs with premium cable channels and iPod docks, plus minifridges and Keurig coffeemakers. Includes access to spacious fitness center with cardio equipment and free weights.
• Empire Hotel
  Reservations: 855-265-7400
  Location: 44 West 63rd Street, between Broadway and Columbus Avenue
  Each room has wi-fi, flat screen TVs, and guests may use the fitness center.
• HI New York City Hostel
  Reservations: 212-932-2300
  Location: 891 Amsterdam Ave
  Located in a landmark building on the Upper West Side. Offers Internet access, laundry facilities, and self-catering kitchen. Open 24 hours.
• Hudson New York Hotel
  Reservations: 212-554-6000
  Location: 358 West 58th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues
  This 1,000-room hotel features cozy "studios." Amenities include in-room safe, cable TV, iPod docking stations, and Ciel bath products. *High-speed internet is available for a fee.*
• Jazz on The Park Hostel
  Reservations: 646-438-9222
  Location: 36 W 106th Street
  A modern hostel offering a coffee bar. Located in Upper West Side, along Central Park and close to subways. Reservations are non-refundable.
• The Lucerne
  Reservations: 800-492-8122
  Location: 201 West 79th Street and Amsterdam Avenue
  The Lucerne features 250 deluxe oversized rooms and suites. Its offerings include complimentary wine reception (hosted daily), wi-fi, and newspaper.
• Marrakech Hotel NYC
  Reservations: 212-222-2954
  Location: 2688 Broadway
  Offers modern amenities including free Wi-fi throughout the hotel, flat screen TVs, and CD radio or iHome players.
• The Central Park North
  Reservations: 212-662-2300
  Location: 137 W111th Street
  The Central Park North is located only a 5-minute walk from Central Park. Every room has cable television and high speed WiFi Internet access.
• The International Cozy Inn
  Reservations: 646-248-1980
  Location: 248 Malcolm X Blvd
  A three-star lodging featuring bright suites with kitchenettes, wood floors, and free Wi-Fi.
• The Travel Inn Hotel
  Reservations: 212-695-7171
  Location: 515 West 42nd Street between 10th & 11th Avenues
  This Midtown hotel has on-site parking for an additional fee and outdoor swimming pool. Wi-fi is available for an additional fee.
• W New York - Times Square
  Reservations: 888-627-9102
  Location: 1567 Broadway at 47th Street
  W New York Times Square features 509 ultra- modern guest rooms and 43 suites. Their services and amenities include high-speed internet access, 24-hour fitness room, and Aveda bath products.
• Yotel
  Reservations: 646-449-7700
  Location: 570 10th Avenue
  The hotel utilizes technology with a "smart" design. It has a super fast wi-fi and a rooftop terrace.

Columbia Preferred Hotel

• Hotel Belleclaire – 4 Star
  Address: 2175 Broadway, New York, NY 10024
  Complimentary Grab & go breakfast, free high-speed Wi-Fi, complimentary use of on property fitness center, waived hotel facility fee, free walking tours, facility fee waived. **24 Hour Cancellation Policy**
• The Arthouse – 4 Star
  Address: 2178 Broadway, New York, NY 10024
  Complimentary breakfast from Arthouse Café, waived facility/urban fees, complimentary
  Wi-Fi, 2 complimentary in-room bottled waters daily, coffee makers in each room, 24-hour business center with free internet access, complimentary access to fitness center. **24 Hour Cancellation Policy**
• Warwick New York – 4 Star
  Address: 65 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019
  Complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary access to state-of-the-art fitness center, waived service charges and facility charges. **24 Hour Cancellation Policy**
• The Lucerne - 4 Star
  Address: 201 W 79th St, New York, NY 10024
  Complimentary WI-FI, complimentary 24-Hour access to fitness room, complimentary 24- hour business center/faxes, complimentary coffee and tea in room with Keurig coffee maker, 15% off for American breakfast at Nice Matin, waived facility fee.
  **24 Hour Cancellation Policy**
• Aloft Harlem – 3 Star
  Address: 2296 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10027
  Complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary bottled water, coffee and tea in guestroom. **24 Hour Cancellation Policy**
• The Edge - 3 Star
  Address: 514 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032
  Complimentary in-room Keurig coffee machine and pods, complimentary morning coffee in lobby, complimentary high-speed wireless internet, 24/7 use of business center and complimentary use of fitness facility.
  **24 Hour Cancellation Policy**