<incom> [Fwd: The Business and Education Conference]

[mclauglm at muohio.edu]

Actually, it strikes me as a great place to do "undercover fieldwork"
regarding how a group dedicated to enhancing the "global marketplace"
cloaks much of its agenda in terms of "corporate social responsibility,"
"business and human rights," and "win-win partnerships." Taking a look at
the group's website, one sees that the "Business/Education Council," which
is behind this conference initiative:

"convenes business leadership and the leadership of key professional
education associations to discuss cutting edge issues and innovations in
public education reform; to share insights and information on effective
policy and practice; and to promote a unique dialogue in support of the
members’ efforts to implement systemic improvements in the public schools
to promote workforce preparedness."

"Twenty-first century skills" apparently are whatever will lead to more
corporate profit.

On the website, if you look at the business and human rights council
remit, there is a reference to addressing "the gap in business and human
rights"--nicely ambiguous.

Two items stand out in the invitation letter sent to Sasha: the date and
venue of the conference--Sept. 11 in Washington, DC--and the fact that a
.org has a "Customer Service Department." Should we interpret anything
from this? I didn't think that 501(c)3 (US tax exempt) organizations were
supposed to have customers--just members and perhaps clients (as in the
"social services client" jargon).

Of course, analyzing the organization or the conference doesn't mean that
the latter will be fun. I, for one, would probably have to attend with a
bottle of tranquilizers as my guest.

Regards,
Lisa


looks like fun.
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: The Business and Education Conference
> Date: Tue, 02 May 2006 11:01:41 -0400
> From: The Conference Board <conf_mktg at conference-board.org>
> Reply-To: conf_mktg at conference-board.org
> To: schock at riseup.net <schock at riseup.net>
>
> Dear Mr Sasha COSTANZA-CHOCK,
>
> I would like to invite you to attend our new conference - The Conference
> Board's Global Business and Education Conference: Global Public Private
> Partnerships in Education in Washington, DC on September 11 and 12,
> 2006, to learn how effective public private partnerships in education
> are ideally suited to the creation of 21st century skills in the
> students of today and the employees and consumers of tomorrow.
>
> The conference is designed for corporations, non-profits and other
> organizations that are currently, or are interested in, partnering in
> education globally.  With the help of businesses, country officials and
> NGOs and other thought leaders, we will outline many of the macro themes
> necessary to understand the position of education in the global
> marketplace to give the action strategies context.  The program will
> highlight successful partnerships and will include the following topics:
>
> * Enabling the Global Knowledge Economy: The Role of Public Private
> Partnerships in Education
> * Quality of Education: Developing the 21st Century Skills
> * How to Best use Technology to Meet Educational Goals
> * Linking Public Private Educational Partnerships to Corporate Social
> Responsibility
> * Quality of Teachers and Teaching
> * The Future of Education in Developing Countries
> * The World is Flat - The Challenge of the Future
>
> Ample networking time is built-in to allow you to share views and
> experiences with other attendees.  There will also be a post-conference
> workshop - Creating and Sustaining Valuable Business - Education
> Partnerships- on September 12 to allow for a more-in-depth examination
> of this critical topic.
>
> For more details on the conference and to reserve your space now, please
> call our Customer Service department at (212) 339-0345 or by go online
> at www.conference-board.org/businessandeducation.htm.
>
> I hope to see you in September.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Mary Wright Benner
> Conference Program Director
> The Conference Board
>
> P.S. If you are unable to attend, please pass this invitation to a
> colleague.
>
>
>
>
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