Education in a Brave New World
VIEW EVENT DETAILSDiscussion with leading education experts
Through globalization, advancement of information technology and development of knowledge-based economies, education in the 21st century has evolved in both substance and method. Worldwide trends in education have moved from solely the development of the cognitive to include moral, aesthetic, emotional and social dimensions. In the face of rapid economic development as well as the impact of global economic restructuring, what are some of the worldwide trends of education and how has it changed our concepts of education? What are the consequences of this? How can educators adapt or take advantage of these changes, or should they be resisted? How will this shape our educational institutions as well as our education policies?
Dr. Dennis Berg is a Fulbright Scholar and Emeritus Professor of Sociology at California State University Fullerton. He has been working in the field of education and environment over the past four decades, including University Associate Vice President and the Dean of Graduate Studies at California State University, Fullerton. He has conducted numerous research and training workshops in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, as well as supervising both undergraduate and graduate level students in research at various institutions of higher learning.
Prof. Kai Ming Cheng is Chair Professor of Education at the University of Hong Kong and was previously its Dean of Education, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Senior Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor. He was also a Visiting Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Trained as a mathematician, Prof. Cheng was a school teacher and a principal before pursuing doctoral studies at the London Institute of Education. Prof. Cheng is member of the Education Commission of Hong Kong and was instrumental in initiating the comprehensive reform which started 1999.
Mr. Omar Ishrak has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic Inc. since June 2011. Medtronic is a leading medical technology company with more than $16 billion in annual revenue, and operations reaching more than 120 countries. Mr. Ishrak joined Medtronic from General Electric Company, where he spent 16 years, most recently as President and CEO of GE Healthcare Systems. He is a trustee of the Asia Society. Mr. Ishrak grew up in Bangladesh, and received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of London, King's College.
Ms. Ada Wong is Founder and Supervisor of HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity. A staunch advocate of creative education and cultural development, Ms. Wong established the HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity, the first senior secondary school in Hong Kong devoted to actualizing creative education. It sees the development of a civil society through nurturing the creativity and individual potential of the young generation, and provides young people with all-round creative learning experiences and opportunities for self-fulfillment.
Dr. Anthony Jackson is Vice President for Education at the Asia Society, and leads its Partnership for Global Learning as well as the development of Asia Society's International Studies Schools Network. Before joining the Asia Society, he was director of Walt Disney Company's Disney Learning Partnership. He also led the Carnegie Corporation Task Force on the Education of Young Adolescents that produced the seminal Turning Points report and created and directed the Turning Points network of over 250 middle schools. (Moderator)