Barbara Ischinger took up the post of Director for Education in January 2006. Before joining the OECD, she was Executive Vice-President for International Affairs and Public Relations at Berlin Humboldt Universität (2000-2005). Her experience includes the reshaping of academic curricula and professional training to adjust them to the labour market conditions and social development.

Between 1992 and 1994, she was a Director at UNESCO heading the Division of International Cultural Co-operation, Presentation and Enrichment of Cultural Identities. From 1994 to 2000, she was Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States and Germany.

She holds a PhD from Heidelberg University and a post-doctoral degree from Cologne University in African Literature. Alongside her full-time appointments since 1993, she has been Adjunct Professor in the Institute of African Studies at Cologne University.

She has published numerous papers in English, German and French in the field of international relations and on the international higher education system.