Declaration of the Global Connections XX Conference
Held at Wesley College, Melbourne, Australia 24-29 March 2019
Educators from across the globe gathered for the 20thGlobal Connections Seminar on the topic of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. We were warmly welcomed by a representative of the First Peoples of Australia who asked us to “bring our best to the land of the Aboriginals”.
With the recent heinous killings in Christchurch, New Zealand, we were asked to allow ourselves to be heartbroken but not broken and to acknowledge that it was profound ignorance that had caused the tragedy. We were challenged to support those who build bridges of empathy.
We were asked to see the state of Victoria as a bridge built on multi-cultural foundations: where one third of the student population is born overseas, where 50% of the students come from more than 200 countries, who speak over 260 languages and celebrate 135 faiths. Currently one third of Victoria’s state schools have established 483 sister-school links with schools in Asia and are building an education which is globally focused.
In this land of ancient peoples and their enduring wisdom, where we were enchanted by magnificent marsupials, we explored the extraordinary fruits of scientific research at Bosch and the Australian Synchrotron; we witnessed the benefits of experiential learning at Wesley College’s Clunes campus and at the John Monash Science School. We learned of an exciting new model of schooling epitomized by the Yiramalay/Wesley Studio School. We were charmed by the enthusiasm of the students we encountered at the Clunes Primary School.
We were inspired by a wide variety of provocative speakers who offered insights into a fundamental truth of where education is today: a mass enterprise which increasingly embodies the values of a market society. We cannot but be affected by those whose words we heard and the connections we made. In the words of a final keynote speaker, Associate Professor Radhika Gorur: “there is an urgent need for us, as educators, to re-think the purpose of education, and to re-conceptualize creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship” in this 21stcentury.
Wesley College Melbourne was proud to host the 2019 Global Connections Seminar!
“Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Innovation – transformational practice in an age of disruption”
Through a combination of keynote speeches, presentations, workshops and panel discussions featuring some of the world’s leading educational thinkers and practitioners – including many from within the Global Connections network – Seminar XX will place on display and invite delegates into the diverse stories of innovation in Victoria’s educational landscape using Wesley College Melbourne as the fulcrum around which activities revolve. Seminar XX will take delegates into diverse school, industry, community and cultural settings to give them as full a taste as possible of the intellectual, cultural and spiritual richness that is Melbourne, Victoria and Australia. This is a place far better experienced directly and personally than heard, spoken or read about so please join us from 24 – 31 March, 2019 to share in and add your own voice to its stories!
An additional highlight of Seminar XX is the rare post-Seminar opportunity for you to visit the Yiramalay-Wesley Studio Schoollocated in the heart of the stunningly beautiful Fitzroy Valley of North West Australia – easily the jewel in Wesley College Melbourne’s crown of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, Yiramalay is a must-see for any educator truly interested in what schools can do to forge cross-cultural learning and to replace a fragmented national psyche with wholeness.
Keep visiting this page to receive updates on keynote speakers and other seminar details as they become available.
The Global Connections Seminar XX will take place from March 24th – March 30th, in Melbourne, Australia and will be hosted by Wesley College.
CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
PROGRAM
ARRIVAL DAY: Saturday 23rd March 2019
Participants arrive during the day at Melbourne Airport.
Regular airport transfers to hotel provided (60-minute trip)
Participants check in at the Welcome Desk at the hotel (Mercure Albert Park Melbourne)– Welcome bags provided on arrival to include useful information, tourist guides, snack, water/juice etc.
Dinner at St. Kilda Beach
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Senior School Play (optional)
DAY 1 – Sunday 24th March 2019
Airport pick-ups continue for remaining delegates
Morning walk or yoga session before buffet breakfast at hotel
Global Connections XX Opening Ceremony
Delegate introductions and ice-breakers
Featured presentation #1 (context setting): Overview of Education in Victoria (Joel Backwell, Executive Director, International Education)
Keynote presentation #1 – “Learning to negotiate the moral limits of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship” by Prof. Fazal Rizvi
Visit to Royal Botanic Gardens and Shrine of Remembrance
Welcome Party – Rose Garden, Wesley College, St Kilda Road
DAY 2 – Monday 25th March 2019
Morning walk or yoga session before buffet breakfast at hotel
Visits to Wesley campuses (St Kilda Road, Glen Waverley and Elsternwick campus). Delegates divided into 3 groups; each group assigned to a Wesley campus. Visits include a range of interactions with campus leadership, staff, and students – manifestations of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship
Visit to Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and museum
Dinner in Cato Room – Featured presentation #2 “Wesley College Sport to World Champion – Emma Carney” by Emma Carney (Wesley OW 3 times World Champion Triathlete)
DAY 3 – Tuesday 26th March 2019
Morning walk or yoga before buffet breakfast at hotel
Keynote presentation #2 – “Creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship – working with Aboriginal people to create a new model of school” by Dr Helen Drennen, Ned McCord and Kaylene Marr
Travel to Clayton
Visit John Monash Science School
Visit and lunch at Queen Victoria Market
Visit Bunjilaka Aboriginal Culture Centre Melbourne Museum
Melbourne CBD Walking tour
Dinner in Melbourne CBD
Best practice sharing session #2 – focus on innovation
DAY 4 – Wednesday 27th March 2019
Morning walk or yoga session before buffet breakfast at hotel
Innovative Melbourne
Visit The Australian Synchrotron/Bosch
Featured presentation #3 by Luke Kerr focused on STEM education
Tour of Bosch
Keynote presentation # 3 – “Preparing students for the future of work: building entrepreneurs” by Omar De Silva
Dinner at Learning in Residence (LIR)
DAY 5 – Thursday 28th March 2019
Morning walk or yoga session before buffet breakfast at hotel
Travel to Wesley @ Clunes, a purpose-built campus for Year 9 students to have a bespoke eight-week residential learning experience. Clunes is an old town in Victoria, 146 km northwest of Melbourne. Visit to Clunes includes interactions with Wesley @ Clunes staff and students.
Visit Clunes Primary School (state school)
Sightseeing in Daylesford and visit to Art Gallery of Ballarat
Overnight stay in Ballarat
DAY 6 – Friday 29th March 2019
Breakfast at hotel
Visit Ballarat Wildlife Park
Visit Sovereign Hill – Gold Mining Museum
Lunch at the Ballarat Yacht Club Café, Ballarat
Travel back to Melbourne after lunch
Keynote presentation #4 – “There are no jobs on a dead planet: ‘creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship’ in the anthropocene” by Prof Radhika Gorur
Panel discussion: “Standardised testing and data analytics: Optimising learning for a changing world – the challenge for schools” by Prof Field Rickhard (facilitator), Dr Peter Goss, Dr Sandra Milligan and Prof Radhika Gorur
Farewell Dinner
DAY 7 – LAST DAY – Saturday 30th March 2019
Business Meeting
Closing Statements and resolutions
Possible activities for delegates not departing on Saturday
eg: Australian Rules Football (AFL), Wesley College Senior Musical, Shopping/beach/hop on hop off tram)
Departures during the day – transportation arranged to Melbourne airport according to flight schedules.
DAY 8 – DEPARTURE – Sunday 31th March 2019
Departures during the day – transportation arranged to Melbourne airport according to flight schedules.
View Declaration
