Some of the UK and Ireland's leading education experts are among an elite list set to address a global education summit in Bahrain this October, it was announced today.
Charles Leadbetter, an advisor to 10 Downing Street and the European Commission; Ewan McIntosh, National Advisor for Learning and Teaching Scotland; and Seamus Hegarty, Chair of the International Association of Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), will join peers from Columbia University, Boston College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education at the Education Project 2010.
The second occasion of the annual event - initiated by His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain and Chairman of the Kingdom's Economic Development Board (EDB) - runs from 8-10 October. Other speakers from the UK and Ireland include Roberta Linehan, Headmistress of Unicorn School; and Marie Parker-Jenkins, Professor of the Department of Education at the University of Limerick.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of the EDB which is organising the event, added: "Education is the single most important factor in bringing stability, productivity and prosperity to all societies. Our goal in Bahrain in establishing the Education Project was to bring together an international community of educators. To have experts from the UK and Ireland on board - to offer their expertise in identifying practical solutions to address the gap in the global education system - will help to ensure a platform from which to further inspire positive change."
Despite increased government spending, education outcomes worldwide have declined over time. The Education project was established to share best practice and create a practical approach that educators can follow to make a difference. Hundreds of professionals from 36 countries joined together at the Education project 2009. In October, leading figures from academia, business and politics will again take the stage; Leadbetter, McIntosh, Hegarty, Linehan and Parker-Jenkins will offer valuable insight.
Leadbetter is an advisor to the Department for Education's Innovation Unit on future strategies for more networked and personalised approaches to learning and education. McIntosh, one of Europe's foremost experts in digital media for education, has also consulted on successful education and technology policies for Governments worldwide; he has led investments in start-ups and education projects of nearly $5m on behalf of public and private investors.
Hegarty holds visiting professorships at four universities, served as Director of the National Foundation for Educational Research in England and Wales for twelve years and chairs the Education for All working group within the UNESCO UK National Commission. He serves on the National Council for Special Education in Ireland and has advised UNESCO and other international bodies on issues relating to assessment and special needs for over 20 years.
The Education Project is free to attend for educational professionals from all sectors as well as from public and private sector institutions with an interest in developing new models and standards in education. Entry is by invitation only; for more information and to register online visit: http://www.educationprojectbahrain.org
Notes to editors
Other speakers confirmed for the Education project 2010 include:
- Charles Leadbeater, advisor to the government of Shanghai,
European Commission and 10 Downing St, UK
- Cindy Johanson, executive director, George Lucas Educational
Foundation, USA
- Edward B Fiske, former education editor, New York Times, USA
- HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher
Education and Scientific Research, United Arab Emirates
- Helen Ladd, Professor of Public Policy, Duke Sanford School of
Public Policy, USA
- Kaya Henderson, Deputy Chancellor, District of Columbia Public
Schools, USA
- David Hogan, Centre for Research in Pedagogy and
Practice, National Institute of Education, Singapore
- Mike Feinberg, Co-Founder, KIPP
- Mona Mourshed, Partner Middle East, McKinsey & Company, United
Arab Emirates
- Patrick Griffin, Executive Director, Assessment and Teaching of
21st Century Skills, AT21C & University of Melbourne, Australia
- Ralph Tabberer, Chief School Officer, GEMS, United Arab Emirates
- Steven Joel Trachtenberg, former President of George Washington
University and author of Big Man on Campus, USA
- Tom Payzant, Professor of Practice, Harvard Graduate School of
Education, USA
- Tony Wagner, Co-director of the Change Leadership Group, Harvard
Graduate School of Education
