Envisioning Future Education: Cross-disciplinary Synergy, Imperatives and Perspectives

As we bring to bear our collective effort to shape the pathway of the education system of the future, our actions must guarantee that the best opportunities are created to sustain the next generation.  We function in a space where the national, regional and international needs of each person are intrinsically linked. There is little chance of working successfully in our limited sphere when the global envelope is the essence of our daily existence.  It is within this frame that our education process has to develop and flourish; therefore, future education by necessity should embrace a collaborative approach where we share knowledge, exchange ideas and work together to solve challenges of all types.

Being directly involved in the daily struggle to improve the quality of life for all, we recognize that our problems will continue to be economic, social, political, relational, and philosophical among others.  The solutions required though are not only related to the people skills of collaboration and cooperation, but the coming together of the disciplines of education which underpins how we create and apply knowledge to solve practical problems.  The intersection and integration of the knowledge we consume, and the application of these competencies to solve problems of all types, are necessary requirements to function effectively in an environment that will be more complex, demanding and unforgiving.  Consequently, the sciences cannot be divorced from the arts, liberal education cannot be separated from professional education, and technical and vocational education cannot be reserved for the select few when the competencies which are taught are vital for a productive economy. In fact, the approach taken to the creation of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum is a clear pathway for future education.

It is within this context of globalization, collaboration, cooperation and integration, that the Schools of Education will direct their attention to boldly pave the way as we prepare to shape the education that will make people more caring, productive and responsive to both individual and collective needs.  We are convinced that a cross-disciplinary strategy which embraces a synergistic approach will guarantee our education for the future.  Similarly, the underlying principle of ensuring that education will benefit all persons, regardless of race, class, gender or nationality is one of the imperatives that will engender the future direction of education.  And while we acknowledge that the best solution must be applied to the challenges of the education process, we embrace the notion that it is only with contending perspectives that the most effective solutions will unfold and emerge.  In addition, our goal is to foster a new type of education with a curriculum that empowers and places the learner at the centre of the learning process, teaching techniques which target higher order skills, and system leaders who are prepared to share their competencies across schools.

The School of Education, Mona welcomes our sister Schools and all participants locally, regionally and internationally who will participate in this thought-provoking and reflective conference. As we plan for the education of the future, we will seek to be not only followers on the periphery but players at the centre applying our imagination creatively as equal partners on the world stage. The borders which divide us today will become the true pathway for exchange, collaboration, integration, sharing and participation.

Message from Chairman