Business-education relationships on schools agenda

MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release 1 September 2008 Business-education relationships on schools agenda Stronger partnerships between businesses, the wider community and government schools will be facilitated by the Principal for a Day program. Victoria’s event is to be held on 2 September. Premier John Brumby will participate in this year’s program, reflecting the new prominence of business-education partnerships on the political agenda at both state and national levels. This year’s program will involve more than 100 “Principals for a Day” matched with school leaders in primary, secondary and special schools in metropolitan and regional Victoria. New honorary principals include Craig Scroggie, Vice President of the Symantec Corporation; opinion columnist Catherine Deveny; ABC radio presenter Derek Guille; and Chairman of the Victorian Multicultural Commission George Lekakis. The high number of past Principals for a Day who come back each year is strong evidence of the value of the program. In addition to Premier Brumby, repeat participants include Victorian Education Minister Bronwyn Pike; Judge Marilyn Harbison, Vice President of the VictorianCivilandAdministrativeTribunal; the Business Council of Australia’s Director of Policy, Patrick Coleman; and eighth time participant celebrity chef Gabriel Gaté. The Western Bulldogs Football Club is fielding a team of 18 Principals for a Day. The program, which is delivered by the ACER Leadership Centre in partnership with the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, provides an opportunity to showcase the successes of state education, and opens doors for principals into business and community networks. For business and community leaders, the program provides insight into and better understanding of the young people who represent the future of Victoria. “Relationships between business, education and the wider community are gaining prominence on the national agenda,” says ACER CEO Professor Geoff Masters, himself a repeat participant. “The Principal for a Day program assists in building these relationships. The program provides a unique opportunity for leaders from the business and educational spheres to learn from each other and form long-lasting professional networks,” he says. The Principal for a Day key event will be followed two weeks later by a Forum, to be held on 16 September, in which guest panellists will discuss the issues arising from the Principal for a Day program, around the theme “Leadership: Finding the common ground”. For a full list of participating schools and Principals for a Day, visit www.acer.edu.au/pfad ****************ENDS*************