A Look at Educational Speakers

There are many interesting international events going on in March on the education calendar. First up is Mobile Learning Week happening March 7-11 in Paris, France. The event will shed light on the ways technology can be leveraged — in different contexts and for different groups — to improve the quality of education now and in the future. UNESCO will also be launching their eAtlas of Gender Inequality in Education on March 8. This report shows the gender gaps from primary to tertiary education using the latest available data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. With about 100 interactive maps and charts, the eAtlas shows the educational pathways of girls and boys in more than 200 countries and territories. To coincide with these important events, we’re highlighting some of our top Educational speakers:

Ken Coates | Leading Thinker on Post-Secondary Education

Ken Coates is highly respected for his work on the impact, relevance and transformation of post-secondary education. His work examines the changing role of universities, student expectations and outcomes, the effectiveness of academic research and commercialization of research, and the role of international students. Ken argues that universities have expanded too far and too fast, that many under-qualified students are enrolling in universities and that many graduates are experiencing unexpectedly weak employment outcomes. He provided commentary on the problem with university satellite campuses in the wake of some recent closures at large-scale North American universities.

“We have everybody scrambling after the same declining number of students… There are not enough students to go around.”

You can listen to the full interview below:

Natalie Panek | Rocket Scientist & Advocate for Women in Tech

Natalie’s experience as a woman working in a non-traditional field and a male-dominated industry offers a unique perspective on the opportunities for women in technology fields. She works passionately to blaze a new trail and empower women in the fields of science and technology engineering. Natalie was recently featured in a Fast Company article looking at how prominent women in STEM are ensuring their stories are part of the narrative about space careers. These leaders have the explicit goal of attracting more young women to STEM careers.

“It’s not enough to talk about record enrollment in engineering or computer science courses in university. A wider perspective is necessary, which looks at the statistics regarding women advancing in their careers into leadership, director-level, and board-level positions.”

You can read the full article here.

Andy Hargreaves | Educational Change & Sustainable Leadership Expert

Andy Hargreaves has been studying how to improve the work of teachers, principals and schools for nearly 30 years in his native United Kingdom, Canada and the US. Bridging theory and practice, Hargreaves searches for successful initiatives that can be shared in any classroom. Hargreaves is eager to mine insights into the educational experience, whether they come from international data sets – or David Bowie’s report card. Following the British singer’s death last month, Hargreaves paid tribute on Twitter, posting a teacher’s report card comment that the future global superstar was a “complete exhibitionist” and lamenting that if the young Bowie was more focused and consistent, “his ability would have been put to better use!” In February, Andy was presented with the Horace Mann League of the USA’s 2016 Outstanding Friend of Public Education Award. The award is presented to the public schools’ leading advocates and thinkers, including past recipients Marian Wright Edelman, Pedro Noguera, Diane Ravitch and Jonathan Kozol.

“Andy’s work – specifically his recent books – and his ability to communicate to many audiences made a direct connection with us and we’re pleased to honor him as a friend of public education.” -Executive Director, Horace Mann League

Eddy Robinson | Indigenous Artist, Activist & Educator

Like many Indigenous people in Canada, Eddy did not enjoy an easy childhood as an Anishinaabe youth in the big city. His father – a residential school survivor – left the family when he was just three years old. Eddy subsequently endured years of abuse from an alcoholic parent. Only in his adult years was Eddy able to understand the legacy of his father’s experience at Chapleau Indian Residential School and Shingwauk Indian Residential School. Over the past 25 years of working on the frontline of social services and advocating for Indigenous communities locally, provincially and nationally Eddy has evolved into a noted Anishinaabe artist, musician, educator, facilitator, trainer and public speaker. He’s involved with numerous local district school boards, colleges, universities, corporate institutions and several Indigenous/Aboriginal organizations.

Look how engaged all these teachers are 🙂 Thank you Eddy Robinson for your speech and song. pic.twitter.com/0J6aythkF4

— Mariah Burton (@mariah_burt) February 19, 2016

Tariq Fancy | Ex-Wall Street Star turned Non-Profit Social Entrepreneur, CEO of the Rumie Initiative

After creating one billion in profit for investors as the youngest Partner at a Wall Street firm, Tariq shocked his peers by leaving to pursue a new goal of helping one billion children receive an education through his award-winning low-cost technology approach. In 2013 Tariq founded Rumie, a non-profit organisation that uses low-cost technology to provide access to education for underprivileged children around the globe. Rumie was awarded the Best Social Startup award at the 2014 Startup Open. Tariq recently delivered a talk at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. He explains what Rumie is all about and the value of education:

A full list of our engaging Education speakers can be found here.

To find out more about how these speakers can bring a unique perspective on education to your event reach out to us.