Everyone acknowledges that the world has changed, that we have moved into a global society. Traditional societies and cultures are mixing and transforming as rejuvenated civilizations clash. A paradigm shift is occurring as we re-structure thinking and re-programme lifestyles from local to global. Local economies are now part of the fabric of a global economy. Educating students to become global citizens of this vastly changed 21st century is now the major focus of educators everywhere.

Need for Common Platform

Schools, colleges, universities, training centres, research institutes and other organisations are now engaged in discussion, debate, research, programmes and experiments to find solutions to the challenges posed by the need to bring an international dimension to education. Interpreting international education, defining its parameters and objectives, identifying its processes and results, and finding ways and means to share our findings and to reach common understandings are major concerns that indicate the vital importance of establishing a common platform to share, discuss, and disseminate ideas in education.

Birth of the Concept

This idea was formulated explicitly in an article in the millennium edition of The International Schools Journal by Hayden and Thompson (April 2000). Taking action on this concept, a seminar organized at the University of Bath brought together – in July 2001 - representatives of the Center for the study of Education in an International Context (CEIC) at the University of Bath, Oxford Brookes University, European Council of International Schools (ECIS), Fieldwork, the United World Colleges, and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). The idea of forming an alliance among international education enthusiasts, researchers, practitioners, and many other organizations was later presented in a meeting at the 2001 annual conference of the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) in The Hague, Netherlands.

Geneva Conference: Interpreting International Education

Interest and enthusiasm grew among educators and in order to explore further the idea of an alliance, a major conference was organized in Geneva, Switzerland, on "Interpreting International Education" in September 2002. It was organized jointly by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and the Centre for the study of Education in an International Context (CEIC) at the University of Bath, on behalf of a number of different organizations with an interest in this area. Over 200 participants from national and international schools, universities, Ministries of Education and other educational organizations around the world, and featuring Sir John Daniel, then Assistant Director for Education at UNESCO, showed that here was a vast reservoir of talent, knowledge and experience in international education which, if brought together to share and discuss what was learned from individual endeavors, could become a powerful force for extending knowledge, research, and practice on a global scale.

This was a turning point. George Walker, Director General of the IBO, expressing the general sentiment of the conference participants, said in his conference summary, "…the moment has come to consider creating some kind of alliance between these groups so that we can better develop new ideas, share those ideas, define and protect our position, exert more effective influence for recognition."

An Alliance for International Education Takes Shape

University of Bath Professor Jeff Thompson, CBE, who served as Director of the IBO Academic Unit and later the IBO Research Unit, initiated further discussion in November at the 2002 ECIS Conference in Berlin, Germany. Here the Alliance for International Education began to take shape.

Dr. Mary Hayden, head of CEIC at the University of Bath and editor of the Journal of Research in International Education, see http://jri.sagepub.com, summarized all research to date on the idea and definition of international education. As the Alliance grew, a coordinating central committee was formed with Prof. Jeff Thompson as Chairperson, and including Dr. Mary Hayden; Beatrice Caston, Development Director at the International School of Düsseldorf, Germany; Norm Dean, Senior Education Officer for the State of Victoria's Department of Education and Training in Australia; Terry Haywood, head of International School of Milan, Italy; Walther Hetzer, Founding Director of St. Gilgen's International School, Austria; Dr. Jack Levy, Professor Emeritus, George Mason University, United States; Lesley Snowball, head of Primary section, International School of Amsterdam; and Wilf Stout, a consultant with a wide range of leadership experience in international schools worldwide.

  

Düsseldorf Conference: Education for International Mindedness

It was decided to hold meetings annually in conjunction with the ECIS Conference, and to hold Alliance for International Education Conferences every two years. The 2004 AIE Conference in Düsseldorf, Germany, resulted in yet another breakthrough.

Dr. Betty Chan, Director of the Yew Chung Education Foundation which operates YewChungInternationalSchools in Hong Kong, China, and the United States, was invited to give a keynote address. The first Chinese and first person of Asian descent to address the Alliance, she presented a different concept of international education coming from a non-Western perspective, and in response to her address (see "Educating the 21st Century Child: A New Approach to International Education" www.intedalliance.com 2004 Conferences) the Alliance for International Education extended its reach and invited Yew Chung to host the 2006 AIE Conference in Shanghai.

This was to be an alliance that would bring together disparate groups from the East and the West and the North and South axis countries into one arena whereby global issues in international education could be discussed and a common understanding and practices could emerge.

Current Directions

New alliances and partnerships were formed in Düsseldorf, Germany in 2004. Working committees were set to explore registration and a legal framework, to develop an Alliance for International Education website and communications, and to plan and coordinate future conferences.

The central committee presented a Statement of Purpose for consultation and agreement, and it was agreed to adopt the following:

The Alliance for International Education brings together all those who are committed to advancing international and intercultural understanding through education. It promotes collaborative ventures that enhance the learning of relevant concepts, skills and values.

Summary of Growth

Although a relatively young organization it is the result of dedicated educators who have worked long and hard on establishing the Alliance as a global platform for the discussion and dissemination of international education. From that small weekend seminar at the University of Bath in 2001, the Alliance for International Education has grown through meetings and conferences in The Hague, Netherlands; Geneva, Switzerland; Berlin and Hamburg in Germany; Prague in the Czech Republic; Nice, France; Düsseldorf, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and now extends into Asia, as its next stage of growth will be in Shanghai, China.

The Alliance has attracted many strong supporters:Richard Tangye, Executive Director of the Council for International Schools (CIS); Malcolm MacKenzie, Principal of United World College of the Atlantic; Neil McWilliam and Beatrice Caston, Director and Development Director the International School of Düsseldorf; Prof. Jack Levy of George Mason University; Martin Skelton of Fieldwork International Education Services; Dixie McKay, Executive Director of the European Council of International Schools; Nicola Brown, Director, The Rhein-Maaslands Centre for International Education; Dr. Betty Chan and Dr. Gary Morrison, Yew Chung Education Foundation; among many others.

The Alliance has defined its mission and its members are committed to identifying, defining, redefining, and implementing international education and intercultural understanding for a global society. It is the first organization of its kind to bring together international and worldwide organizations actively to support such a Statement of Purpose and its wide ranging activities. Although only five years old, the Alliance for International Education has already established itself as a leading force in international education by networking all the different educational organizations, reaching out to practitioners and researchers in countries on at least five continents, encouraging new partnerships and advancing research in international education.