Three AFS Events Advocate for Education to Become More “Global”
Education is what remains when we have forgotten all we learnt at school. — Karel Capek, writer and activist, Czech Republic
Three major AFS education events so far in 2016 explored the future of intercultural education and opportunities to enhance intercultural competences of global citizens. Reg Smith, AFS International Board of Trustees Member; Metehan Ertürk, Training & Organizational Development Intern at AFS Turkey; and Kristýna Polášková, School Relations Coordinator at AFS Czech Republic report from these events.
The Necessity of Global Competence
The Second Asia-Pacific International Forum: Intercultural and Global Citizenship Education: The Necessity of Global Competence in the 21st Century, took place in March 2016 in Perth, Australia at the University Club of Western Australia, organized by AFS Intercultural Programs Australia, Asia Society and SIETAR Australasia. The Forum gathered 60 international thought leaders, researchers and practitioners from around the world for an in-depth, Asia Pacific-focused and globally relevant exploration of the importance of intercultural learning and global citizenship education.
Forum participants discussed how intercultural competence and global citizenship help individuals and society reshape education, business and communities in the 21st century. Speakers addressed issues that threaten civil society and community cohesion in many parts of the globe by exchanging ideas about the practicalities of business and education.
A number of highly respected experts in the area of Global Citizenship Education presented at the Forum, including Dr. Milton Bennett, director of the Intercultural Development Research Institute (IDRI), Dr. Nagesh Rao, president and director of the Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA), Professor Kent Anderson, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Western Australia, Tony Jackson, Vice President, Education, The Asia Society as well as Robert Randall, CEO of the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
The Power of Working towards a Common Goal
“Schools in the Future, the Future of Schools” was the theme of the fifth annual Spectrum of Education conference, organized by Türk Kültür Vakfı (AFS Turkey) in April 2016. Forty-five educators from around the world gathered in Istanbul Işık Schools to discuss global trends in education, including the use of technology and intercultural learning in the classroom. They concluded that critical thinking, entrepreneurship and innovative research are crucial in helping educators prepare students to make this world a better place. Conference participants toured Istanbul and were hosted by local Turkish families, which provided first-hand experience of Turkish home, family life and culture.
Preparing students with lifelong skills
The conference for teachers and educators “Education for Life” was organized under the patronage of UNESCO on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of AFS Mezikulturní programy (AFS Czech Republic). The April 2016 conference featured a mix of distinguished speakers, such as a representative of the Ministry of Education, and teachers from schools that collaborate with AFS, to discuss the challenges of preparing young people for the future — including living and working in an increasingly interconnected world. Almost 100 educators, teachers and volunteers attended the conference. In the end, one of the participants noted, “Teachers do not often have an opportunity like this one to feel that our work is appreciated, valued and that we are important.”
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