Knowledge economy programme revealed for the world’s education leaders conference

19 November 2012

  • The world’s leaders of education will gather in Dubai with government Ministers, academics and business leaders from more than seventy countries to discuss the role of higher education and skills in developing global knowledge economies.
     
  • Going Global 2013 will launch five new pieces of major research: launches will include a report mapping the development of cross-border education and research on the economic value of international skills.

The programme for the British Council’s major international conference on the future of global knowledge economies was announced today (19 November 2012). The conference, which takes place from the 4-6 March 2013 and is being held in the UAE for the first time, is part of the British Council’s prestigious annual ‘Going Global’ series.

The conference is presented in the UAE under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, who will open the conference.

This year’s theme is Global education: knowledge-based economies for 21st century nations and the programme is built around three strands:

  • Research and innovation - the role of international collaboration;
  • Developing skilled knowledge workers: the role of international collaboration;
  • Internationalising tertiary education structures and systems.
     

Highlights of the Going Global 2013 programme include the world’s experts in their field participating in sessions on:

  • ‘Soft Power’: higher education and cultural diplomacy;
  • How to create globally skilled young entrepreneurs;
  • 21st century nations – no place for the humanities?;
  • How to create the conditions for jobs and growth in a global economy;
  • International occupational standards – the new global currency?;
  • The role of higher education in transforming societies;
  • Are we witnessing an era of ‘co-creation’ of knowledge?;
  • Do universities have a moral obligation to drive change for stability and societal good?
     

In addition, Going Global will launch five new pieces of major research:

  • An exploration across nine countries of the cultural skills global employers require, from British Council, Booz Allen Hamilton and IPSOS;
  • A report on the social and economic impact of transnational education on host countries and index of future transnational opportunities by the British Council;
  • A report on how the vision for higher education in the UK will affect future graduates’ employability, by the UK’s University Alliance;
  • A study of student’s perceptions of barriers to their outward mobility in the UK, Australia and USA by the British Council;
  • The official launch of the Times Higher Education’s 2013 global university reputation rankings

Martin Davidson CMG, the British Council’s Chief Executive, said: “We believe international collaboration is vital for the UK’s growth and prosperity and Going Global provides the perfect forum for debate, discussion and networking. We have created a diverse programme to respond to some of the current key challenges affecting higher education and skills around the world, and I look forward to the stimulating discourse.”

Richard Cotton, the British Council’s director in United Arab Emirates said: “We are delighted to be bringing Going Global to Dubai for the first time. With the rapidly transforming middle east, north African and south Asian regions all within a four-hour flight time, this is an excellent location for this meeting of global education leaders.”

Going Global speakers will include:

  • Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and Chairman of BRAC, the world's largest non-governmental development organisation
  • Prof. Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Deputy Director General, Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  • Prof. Dr Saeeda Asadullah Khan, Vice-Chancellor, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan
  • Martin Davidson CMG, Chief Executive of the British Council
  • Prof. Sultan Abu-Orabi, Secretary General, Association of Arab Universities
  • Prof. Colin Riordan, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Cardiff
  • Dr Mohammad Fathy Saoud, President, Qatar Foundation
  • Prof Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bristol and President of Universities UK

Delegates can register to attend and access the full conference programme at: http://ihe.britishcouncil.org/going-global/themes

Bookings are being taken from today, and there is an early bird discount for those who register before Friday 14 December.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to editors:

Accredited members of the media are eligible for free registration at Going Global 2013

For more information about the conference, speakers, sessions and to sign up for monthly newsletter updates, please go to http://ihe.britishcouncil.org/going-global/themes

To request interviews, please contact Tim Sowula, Senior Press Officer, British Council, tim.sowula@britishcouncil.org

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