Leading 21st Century Schools National Forum - May 2008
The Asia Education Foundation’s Leading 21st Century Schools National Forum brought together 243 school and system leaders from around Australia, motivating them to lead the changes necessary to build a critical mass of Asia-literate students and achieve the goals of the National Statement for Engaging Young Australians with Asia in Australian Schools.
At the forum the nation’s peak education stakeholders:
- developed a Call to Action: Asia literacy for every young Australian outlining urgent actions needed to achieve Asia literacy
- formed the Asia Literacy Alliance comprising 24 national organisations representing education, business and community sectors
- were presented with school-based action plans by principals participating in the Leading 21st Century Schools: Engage with Asia project. Principals discussed community needs for engaging with Asia at the local level, what an Asia-engaged school looks like and how to build an Asia focus in their schools.
View program outline and National Forum Report (PDF: 870 kb)
Forum workshops
Links for five presenters at the National Forum are:
Engaging with a Rising China – Our New Knowledge Needs
Report by Dr Jane Orton, Senior Lecturer, The University of Melbourne,
Australian Professional And Business Area Knowledge For Working In China (PDF: 2.8 Mb)Mapping Social Cohesion and the Way Forward
Survey report by Andrew Markus, Pratt Foundation Research Professor, Monash University
Mapping Social CohesionThe Arts of Asia – A Treasure-trove on Our Doorstep
Information about cultural and artistic exchanges between Australia and Asia managed by Alison Carroll, Arts Director, Asialink
Asialink ArtsGood Neighbours, Global Citizens
Macquarie University and Australian Volunteers International’s volunteer program described at the forum by Dimity Fifer, Chief Executive Officer, AVIThe Business Case for Developing Intercultural Skills, Knowledge and Understanding
Cross-cultural and training company of Tamerlaine Beasley, Managing Director, Beasley Intercultural
Forum video and audio
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The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education
'It is impossible to conceive of a future Australian education system that does not take the study of Asia seriously.'
Video: 22:23
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Tony Mackay, Forum Leader
'For the first time in one room, we have all of the key players that are operating where it matters most: in schools.'
Video: 5:55
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Mr Hieu Van Le, Lieutenant Governor of South Australia
'Education was key to fostering friendship, trade and cultural links with Asia.'
Video: 15:27
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Kathe Kirby, Asia Education Foundation
'Our challenge is to build a critical mass of Asia-literate young Australians.'
Video: 12:26
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Tim Harcourt, Austrade
'We can bring trade barriers down but if we don’t have cultural engagement in the neighbourhood we are not going take advantage of those benefits.'
Video: 23:12
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Professor Geremie Barme, Australian National University
'We enrich ourselves ... and our students to realise there are truly different ways to being.'
Video: 33:07
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Global Citizens speak out
'We are a global society now and that has to be capitalised on.'
Video: 45:40
Preparing 5-year-olds for 2040. Will new skills and knowledge be required?
Panel interview hosted by Richard Aedy,ABC Radio National’s Life Matters
Preparing for the Asian Century
2020 Schools: Engage with Asia DVD
| This DVD provides a powerful and succinct rationale for why 21st-century education needs to equip young Australians to engage with Asia. To obtain a copy email aef@asialink.unimelb.edu.au |
Acknowledgement
The National Forum was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations as a quality teacher initiative under the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme, through the Asia Education Foundation, under the Grants and Awards Programme and the Quality Outcomes Programme.
