A Strategic Framework For Empowering Learning With Tech And Trust

Manju Jalali, Global Head of IT, International Baccalaureate

Manju Jalali, Global Head of IT, International Baccalaureate

Manju Jalali, Global Head of IT at the International Baccalaureate (IB), brings over 30 years of IT experience across the semiconductor, manufacturing, and education sectors. Beginning her career as a developer, she quickly advanced to lead complex IT landscapes and transformative initiatives that delivered significant operational value. Since moving into education post-COVID, Manju has played a pivotal role in shaping IB’s technology vision—enabling digital transformation, enhancing learning through innovation, and championing personalized, secure, and sustainable education.

In this interview, Jalali shares how the organization drives purposeful digital transformation in education. She emphasizes that technology must adapt to learners, not vice versa, and highlights the IB’s focus on secure, scalable systems, responsible AI adoption, and balancing innovation with operational stability. With a people-first approach, Manju outlines how IB is building a future-ready, resilient digital ecosystem grounded in trust and intention.

Bringing Purpose to Transformation in Education

Technology has never been a barrier—the real challenge lies in how and why it’s used. In education, success hinges less on the sophistication of tools and more on the clarity of purpose behind them. Too often, institutions rush to modernize, chasing features without asking the deeper question: What kind of learning experience are we trying to create?

That question has reshaped the IB’s approach. We no longer view Edtech as a single system or deployment, but as a dynamic environment that adapts to learners, not the other way around. Actual progress happens when technology meets people where they are, enabling growth through personalization and accessibility, not as add-ons, but as essentials that turn classrooms into living systems.

“In a world where digitalization is no longer optional but essential, the shift toward technology and digital transformation has evolved from a mark of innovation to a prerequisite for resilience and relevance. What once distinguished as a forward-thinking institution is now the baseline for survival and success. Our greatest pride lies in empowering youth— fueling their growth, amplifying their potential, and shaping a future where they thrive”

This kind of transformation isn’t achieved through patchwork innovation. It requires a unified, transparent approach where experience, operations, and innovation work harmoniously. When platforms are intuitive, systems are scalable and secure, and technology feels seamless, transformation becomes not just possible, but sustainable.

The Risk of Speed Without Structure

Transformation without a solid foundation can do more harm than good. I’ve seen promising initiatives falter due to fragile infrastructure or neglected governance. Security, for example, is too often treated as an afterthought when it should be the starting point. There's no margin for error in education, where sensitive data is abundant.

At the IB, we follow a Zero-Trust approach—not because it’s a trend, but because experience has shown that trust must be earned and continuously verified. Access is never assumed. Systems are patched relentlessly. Data is encrypted at rest and in motion. But technology alone isn’t enough. People are our first line of defence. That’s why we invest heavily in user awareness. Even the strongest frameworks can be undone by a single click.

What makes this work is not just tooling or training, but readiness. We’ve built incident response capabilities that allow us to act fast, because breaches don’t knock before they enter. They arise suddenly and simultaneously test your systems, discipline, and response.

AI Isn’t a Shortcut, It’s a Commitment

Artificial intelligence is reshaping every industry, but in education, its adoption demands even greater care. AI isn’t just a feature—it’s a responsibility. When used thoughtfully, it can streamline burdensome tasks and unlock new dimensions of learning. But these benefits mean little if trust is compromised. Every deployment must be secure, governed, and rooted in context from day one.

At the International Baccalaureate, we view AI as a carefully considered part of our foundation, not an afterthought. It’s thoughtfully integrated into our technology landscape with the flexibility to scale and evolve. We’ve seen how enterprise-grade AI can enhance workflows and boost productivity. Still, we never lose sight of the bigger picture: protecting data integrity, upholding institutional privacy, and aligning every use case with our educational mission.

The opportunity is vast—but so is the obligation. We don’t chase novelty for its own sake. We focus on how AI can meaningfully support learning outcomes, operational excellence, and long-term resilience.

Modernization Should Not Break What Still Works

One of our most important lessons is that not all legacy systems are broken—many remain mission-critical. Exams still need to run, records must be processed, and these systems often carry institutional memory and operational trust. Replacing them without care risks more than disruption—it risks continuity.

Our focus remains on managing change without compromising what works. We’re actively consolidating and simplifying our technology landscape—retiring outdated applications, streamlining processes, and creating space for future growth. The real work lies in balancing innovation with stability. It’s not flashy, it’s foundational.

We’ve also learned that system upgrades go hand in hand with skill development. Agile and DevOps aren’t just methodologies—they’re part of the IB’s digital offices engineering framework, which helps us iterate responsibly, listen closely, and improve continuously.

Looking Ahead with Intention

The next five years will bring seismic shifts to education. AI will become deeply embedded in teaching and administration, and personalization will move from a luxury to an expectation. Institutions that fail to build secure, scalable environments will struggle to keep pace.

But trends alone aren’t strategy—our response is what matters. Technology must simplify learning, not complicate it. Governance should enable agility, not restrict it. And security must remain a foundation, not an afterthought.

At the IB, we are focused on building better systems and creating environments that empower students, protect data, and equip educators to lead confidently. That’s how we keep pace with technology, by designing the future with care.