Ms. Marie-Anne Persoons

Dr. Marie-Anne Persoons (is Advisor International Policy at the Department of Education and Training of the Flemish Community of Belgium. Her professional experience was initially connected to teaching and research in Chinese language, Asian (art) history and philosophy of art, respectively at KU Leuven (1985-1988), the Antwerp Institute of Art History (since 1991 up to present) and the Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts 1992 to 1996. In 1996 she joined the Department of Education and Training. Between 1999 and 2009 she has been an active member of the EU Education Committee and the Bologna Follow-up Group, both constituencies she also chaired in 2001. From 2007 to 2009 she was general coordinator of the Benelux Bologna Secretariat and worked as seconded national expert at the European Commission (2009-2011). End 2011 she returned to her Department to take up coordination in multilateral and bilateral dossiers. Currently she is national representative to the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee of Educational Policy and Practice and to several OECD, UNESCO and BENELUX working parties, as well as to the UN SDG Education 2030 Steering Committee. She has been Vice-Chair of the OECD’s Group of National Experts on School Resources (2015-2017), before appointment as Chair of the OECD’s Education Policy Committee from 2018 onwards. Scientific publications include articles related to the field of Asian culture and international (higher) education policy.