UK to Host International Symposium on Educational Reform June 14-15
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 23, 2012) — The University of Kentucky College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership Studies and the Office for International Engagement (OIE) will host the 2012 International Symposium on Educational Reform (ISER) Conference in Lexington June 14-15, as well as in Washington, D.C. June 18-19.
Now in its eighth year, the ISER conference provides opportunities for university graduate students, professors, practitioners, and policymakers to examine educational reform from a global perspective. Presentations and workshops will allow participants to explore advances in the field, discuss common problems from different perspectives, and exchange innovative ideas and practices with educators from China, Finland, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, England, and the United States.
The conference will also host many internationally known speakers in the field, including Lars Björk, one of the ISER directors and chair of the UK Department of Educational Leadership Studies.
"Going global is not an option for 21st century schools and universities. The shift already happened!" says Björk. "Today the most important job for 'NextGen' educational leaders is not only to be technologically savvy but also knowing how to support teachers in redesigning learning and teaching so that all students can be part of the nation's economic future. The challenges we face in the United States are not unlike those in other countries and we benefit from sharing insights about making these transitions. We know that the stakes are high and that nations with the best schools for the most children will win the future."
Other speakers will include:
- Jukka Alava, director of Institute for Educational Leadership, Finland
- Barnett Berry, founder and president of the Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ), Inc.
- Rika Joubert, director of the Center for Education Law and Policy (CELP) University of Pretoria
- Tom Guskey, UK professor of educational psychology
- Terry Holiday, Kentucky commissioner of education
- Theodore Kowalski, University of Dayton professor of educational leadership
- JunHua Zhang, National Training Center for Secondary School Principals, Ministry of Education, China
- Justin Bathon, UK Center for Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education
The theme of the conference is "NextGen Leadership," which encompasses emerging roles for teacher leaders, school principals, district superintendents, community college and university administrators who are changing the nature of education by expanding the use of technology, utilizing design thinking, supporting innovation, and reframing how educational organizations are structured, managed, and led to meet global challenges. Justin Bathon, Jayson Richardson and John Nash, directors of the Center for Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE) will present a compelling case for why and how school and district leaders can sustain these changes.
Speaker Rika Joubert from the University of Pretoria has enjoyed the opportunities the symposium offers in her career. "Over the years, ISER has helped my understanding of educational reform in other nations. Perhaps the most valuable thing for me has been the opportunities that I've had to talk with colleagues about critical problems facing education as well as sharing innovative practices."
Additionally, the conference will provide opportunities for scholars to share their work with an international audience through peer-reviewed papers, symposia, panels and workshops; for participants to learn about innovative programs in other countries; and for colleagues to network. Kentucky educators may earn 12 EILA credits through conference participation. Graduate students from other Kentucky universities and participating countries will also have the opportunity to become a Visiting Graduate Student at UK and enroll in two UK graduate courses taught with international faculty.
For more information about the conference, including registration, visit www.internationalsymposiumoneducationalreform.com/
ISER was founded in Hong Kong, China, in 2004 by international research universities including the University of Kentucky, East China Normal University (National Training Center for Secondary School Principals, Shanghai, China), the University of Jyvaskyla (Finland), and the University of Pretoria (Republic of South Africa). These institutions recognized the need to provide an international forum through which graduate students, professors, practitioners, and policymakers may discuss global forces influencing educational reform and its impact on local schools, and how leaders may develop strategies for changing educational systems that support continuous improvement.
The UK College of Education Office for International Engagement (OIE) provides assistance and coordination in expanding the college's international strategy, serving as a gateway for faculty, students, and professional and community partners to access opportunities to research, study, and engage with partners from around the globe. In collaboration with the UK Office of International Affairs, OIE assists faculty and students in planning and executing their international experiences.