Cisco at Going Global 2013: Internationalising Higher Education

In just a couple of hours Cisco will be taking part in one of the largest and most important gatherings for the internationalization of tertiary education. Going Global is an open forum hosted by the British Council that attracts over 1200 participants from 80 countries including education ministers, senior policy makers, presidents and vice-chancellors, researchers, international directors and leaders from the business community. This year, the gathering will take place from March 4 until March 6 in Dubai with discussions anchored under the theme: “Global education: knowledge-based economies for 21st century nations”. 220 speakers will share their insights and experiences on three specific tracks: Research and Innovation, Development of skilled knowledge workers, and the Internationalisation of tertiary education.

This year, Cisco has engaged as Gold Sponsor of the summit and as such it will have a very ample presence including a guided visit to the Cisco campus in Dubai, a panel in the main program of the Going Global Summit, and a 12 sqm exhibition stand. During the Cisco Site Visit on March 4, we will take 40 delegates through a deeper understanding of Cisco’s vision for 21st Century learning as well as the latest technologies and solutions that support high quality education, help improve student outcomes and expand research capabilities. Nigel Thrift, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick will be our guest speaker and we will use the occasion to officially launch our most recent case study on Higher Education transformation: “Powering the Globally Connected Campus ”.

The next day, I will have the privilege to chair what is poised to be a very interactive panel on higher education transformation: “The University in the 21st Century – innovate, collaborate or die”. Following a video address by Andreas Schleicher, Deputy Director, Education and Special Advisor on Education Policy for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, I will be engaging Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor of the Open University, Prof. Pamela Gillies, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the Glasgow Caledonian University, and Professor Precious Kassey Garba, Professor of Economics, University of Ibadan and Co-Coordinator of the Centre for Growth and Development of Nigeria in a discussion about the future of the university and the roles that innovation, collaboration and strategic partnerships have for helping higher education institutions achieve authentic transformation. The panel will explore different models, best practices and pedagogical innovations leveraged by technology that could help reposition the university as an essential engine for driving economic growth and social progress.

In the coming days, the Global Education team will be in touch with you, posting regular updates, highlights and learnings from this important summit. I look very much forward to this exciting event and to sharing with you key reflections on how to advance the agenda for the internationalization of higher education.