World Assembly for Teacher Education Attracts High Ranking International Officials to TAMIU July 9-11
A United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) official and the minister of education of the Republic of Ghana are among notable guests expected to share their vision for global teacher education at an international education assembly at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Monday-Wednesday, July 9-11.
The 62nd International Council on Education for Teaching (ICET) World Assembly is expected to attract more than 125 educational pioneers from across the globe.
This will be the first time that the ICET World Assembly has met in in Texas, and only the second time in a location other than Washington, D.C. in its 62-year meeting history.
Dr. James O’Meara, TAMIU dean of the College of Education, said the College is honored to bring the world-class conference to Laredo.
“We’re excited and honored to bring this Conference here. It will host more than 60 international speakers, including business leaders, researchers, and educators,” he said, “Keynote speakers include senior representatives from the International Taskforce on Teachers for 2030, The Forum of African Women Educationalists, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa, and Caterpillar México.”
He continued, “We look forward to bringing together scholars, administrators, practitioners and community members, as well as members of government ministries and business leaders for a substantive discussion of innovative approaches to expanding access and exploring frontiers in education.”
Among the Assembly’s list of most prominent guests are Dr. Edem Adubra, chief of the Section for Teacher Development and head of the Secretariat of the International Task Force on Teachers (UNESCO); Hendrina Doroba, executive director, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FALWE); and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Ghana minister for Education.
Daily, during the Assembly, from 8-9 a.m., keynote speakers will discuss about topics including “Teacher Quality and Quantity” (Monday, July 9); “Access to Quality Education” (Tuesday, July 10) and “Gender Equality (Wednesday, July 11), O’Meara said.
Also, on Tuesday, July 10 at 7 p.m. at The Max Mandel Municipal Golf Course, the College of Education will present its “Change-makers” Awards event.
The “Change-makers” Awards event is the first of its kind at TAMIU, and celebrates individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions that improve the quality of lives of others through education. The annual event presents Awards of Excellence to individuals selected from within 75 miles of Laredo.
TAMIU alumni who were nominated to receive the Award include Nelly Vielma, Claudia Pozas, Dr. Norma Garza-Garcia, Dr. Juan Lira and Zaida González.
At the Awards night, several alumni will also be inducted into the Changemakers Internationalizing Research, Collaboration, Leadership and Education (CIRCLE@TAMIU) group. They include Olajide Sarayi, Joseph Byrd, Jodie Córdova and Joshua Llamas.
O’Meara noted that community members of all ages are also welcome to participate in several parallel events occurring during the Conference week. They include:
Monday, July 9, at 9 p.m., The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo -- Free showing of the documentary film, “Rhapsody on the Rio Grande.”
Wednesday, July 11, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Student Center 225 -- Free teacher workshops on “Early Years Literacy and Coding.”
Wednesday, July 11, at 9 a.m., The Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium -- Free movie showing of “Girls Rising.”
Registration information and a full schedule of events is available here: http://www.tamiu.edu/coedu/icet20181/registration.shtml
On-site registration will also be available.
For more information, please contact Dr. O’Meara at 956.326.2680, email james.omeara@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 429A.