359: A life in education with Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE

Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE, an iconic figure in the field of education. A renowned expert on educational innovation and community engagement, he was the first Global Director of Education at the world-famous children’s entertainment-education company, KidZania, and founding CEO of the Children’s University. With his extensive experience at the very highest level of the learning industry, Professor Graus is a much sought-after advisor for organisations globally on the future direction of education. Driven by his famous mantra that “Children can only aspire to what they know exists” Professor Graus champions the cause of creativity, progress, equity, and innovation in children’s learning.Dr Graus is a Visiting Professor at the National Research University, Moscow, Russia. He is a member of Bett’s Global Education Council; DIDAC India’s Advisory Board; Junior Achievement’s Worldwide Global Council; he chairs the Beaconhouse School System’s Advisory Board, Pakistan; advises the Fondazione Reggio Children, Italy, as well as, globally, Tata Consultancy Services and the Independent Schools Part-nership; and he has been invited to help shape the future of education in Dubai as a member of the Dubai Future Councils. In 2022, Dr Graus was a Juror for the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) in the Chil-dren & Young People category. He is also an Adviser to the Children’s Media Conference and Foundation, United Kingdom. In 2023, Ger Graus was invited to join the Global Teacher Prize Judging Academy. He is also a Member and the Education Spokesperson on the All-Party Parliamentary Group: Ethnicity Trans-plantation and Transfusion.Prof Graus moved to the United Kingdom in 1983 where he began his teaching career, later becoming a Senior Inspector, and Education Director.In the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours List Ger was made an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children. In 2018 he received the Global Education Leadership Award at the World Education Congress, India. In 2022, Ger was granted the award of Iconic Leader Creat-ing A Better World For All by the Women Economic Forum (WEF). In 2023, he was made a Companion of the Harry Volker Genootschap in The Netherlands.In his book ‘Natural Born Learners’, author Alex Beard says: “In learning terms, Ger Graus is Jean-Jacques Rousseau meets Willy Wonka.”Websitewww.gergraus.comSocial Media Informationhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-dr-ger-graus-obe-335bb6115/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Watch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley – ‘Creating Digital Strategies for Schools’ from the Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – 2023Get access to all 20 videos from the the summit at www.nape.org.uk/summit

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Do you feel the education system is sucking the life out of you and the pupils you serve? I think many of us wish we could click our fingers and make it fit for purpose. A place of growth with shared learning that empowers pupils to be their best selves, so they can create a world they want to inhabit now and in the future. While a magic wand or a visionary politician might sound like the answer I believe change is already happening. Educators are changing futures one conversation at a time. New technology and the environments where we learn are beginning to look different both in and out of the classroom. I hope you are seeing this first hand and are excited about what you can share with your pupils. We are having conversations, sharing organisations and communities that are supporting education in a way that you may have not experienced. Educational change will come from us all working in way that supports the best interests of each of our pupils, personalised learning. Governments and policy makers will follow when they see fully how it can be different. So let us teach, coach, mentor and create an environment that fuels every child with feedback, inspiration, resilience and empowerment. The Education on Fire community is shining the torch, so no matter where you are in the world or how you are supporting children this podcast is here for you. ‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.’