Children discuss future of education at international ministerial conference
More than 15 children aged 13-15, from countries including Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya, Austria, UK and Poland, came together to discuss higher education in their country and how their ideas could be used to shape the future of education policy and practice. The 2012 Ministerial Conference was held in Bucharest from 26 to 27th April at the Romanian Palace of the Parliament. Ministers representing 47 countries set out key policy issues for the future. The delegation of children was on hand both days, to offer advice to the ministers from their experiences of education. As one of the first officials to listen to their ideas, Austrian Federal Minister for Science and Research, Karlheinz Töchterle - supporter of Children’s Universities in Austria - met the ‘We are the Future’ delegation. The event, organised by the Vienna University Children’s Office, is part of SiS Catalyst, a £3.5 million European Mobilisation and Mutual Learning Initiative, coordinated by the University of Liverpool, to develop children’s ideas on new science and technology activities at schools, universities, and cultural organisations. Tricia Jenkins, from the University of Liverpool and coordinator of the initiative, said: “This is a very important conference where ministers are deciding how education will look in the future. We believe that it is crucial that young people are included in these deliberations. SiS Catalyst is providing an opportunity for a group of young people from around the world to have their voices heard. They are the future.” Karoline Iber, from Vienna University Children’s Office, said: “We have been bringing together children, scientists and policy makers in Austria for over 10 years. Bucharest is a wonderful opportunity to invite European ministers to follow this example.” SiS Catalyst is a consortium of more than 30 partners and advisors from across 23 countries working with universities, as well as education departments at country and regional level, to create new delivery and governance guidelines in science communication and outreach that will support institutions in developing projects for children with a strong focus on families with ‘non-traditional’ higher education backgrounds.
Countries
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom