BackgroundThe U21 Deans of Education group has met regularly
for the past six years to discuss issues of common interest and to promote
collegial interaction and collaborative projects. Initially, meetings were
annual, coincident with the annual conference of the American Educational
Research Association (AERA), but, as a variety of projects emerged, the group
has met twice-yearly, the second meeting coinciding with the annual conference
of the European Educational Research Association (EERA).
These meetings have provided an important forum for the discussion of issues
in Education of common interest and concern across the participating U21
institutions. Participation levels have been consistently high with never
fewer than seven U21 institutions represented and frequently more than ten
universities participating. In addition, collaborations initiated through
these meetings have led to the presentation of U21 Education symposia at both
AERA and EERA conferences, the publication of a U21 feature issue on Teacher
Education in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education and Development
(2003), and the promotion of a variety of staff and student exchange programmes.
Current initiatives being undertaken include the development of shared higher
degree programmes and the establishment of a network of U21 doctoral students in
Education.
Goals
To share best practice in research and teaching in Education internationally.
To identify and develop a wide range of collaborative projects, which are to
the benefit to participating U21 Faculties of Education.
To create opportunities for staff and student interaction and exchange.
To establish databases and communicative networks to facilitate collaborative
work and mobility among U21 staff and students in Education.
Contact
The convener of the Group is Professor David Clarke, Director of
International Centre for Classroom Research, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of
Melbourne (d.clarke@unimelb.edu.au).