Many of the strategies I create are based around education, which amusingly on occasion is met with the look of shock or disbelief. Not that Chief Executives have anything against young people, many have children of their own, but the thought of their company engaging with educationalists and large groups of learners can be daunting challenge to the toughest of employers! My reply is simple. You see I believe that schools are the hubs of our communities, therefore if a company wishes to engage with the communities it serves, then look no further.
Much is going on in schools that is interesting and encouraging, the introduction of Diplomas and reintroduction of Apprenticeships to name but a few. But without a shift in public understanding, especially through businesses then those moves are going to be much slower and less constructive in delivering a sustainable economic wellbeing for the future.
The global financial crisis is naturally going to lead to a worsening of people's fears about their future security and stability. As people begin to feel less stable and less secure about their lives, then their sense of identity and of belonging to their community becomes more important.
If organisations and businesses embrace and invest in these radical changes within education through the development of education based community engagement strategies within the areas they serve, they can help heal these communities and reduce these fears, as well as helping to develop and support teachers in fulfilling their role.
I myself have brokered many successful partnerships between my clients the schools within the communities they serve. Many I am glad to say have now been used as "Best Practices" throughout the UK, Europe and even Dubai, which for me highlights two main points:
- The educational success of learners should not depend on their background. Schools, communities, families and businesses must work together to close gaps in attainment.
- Education with support from businesses can engage the learner with exciting, relevant high-quality academic and vocational opportunities through experiencing and doing.
In the past I think education was often just talk, a kind of self-referential jargon that seemed designed to exclude learners, parents and businesses from entering into the debate. However we are entering a new era, where we have recognised that we are all worried about our investments; finally we have recognised that our investment in producing a generation of confident, capable and inspired young people, whose skills have been developed through the collaboration of both educationalists and businesses and who are prepared for their working life, is about as important as it could get.
For examples of free educational programmes developed on behalf of organisations throughout the UK, please log onto www.teachingzone.org
Should you wish to comment or contact Chris, please go to www.chrisleech.com
