Tertiary educators from across Australia and the world will converge on Newcastle this week for a conference considering future directions for enabling education.
The Enabling Education 2007: What Works? conference is being hosted by the University of Newcastle's English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, the largest provider of enabling programs in Australia.
Enabling programs are preparatory courses which can lead to entry into university degree programs.
Centre Director, Associate Professor Seamus Fagan, said the conference would provide an opportunity for educators, and other interested professionals in the field, to share research and ideas.
"Enabling education programs provide an important pathway to tertiary education for many people, and can open up a whole new world of possibilities," he said.
"More than 2,000 students enrol in enabling programs each year at the University of Newcastle alone. It is important educators are able to share experiences about the best way to engage enabling students and prepare them for university study."
Enabling Education 2007: What Works? has attracted keynote speakers of international standing. These include Dr Helen Anderson from the University of Auckland, Dr Terry Jeves from the Northern Consortium in the UK, and Professor Eleanor Ramsay from the University of South Australia.
A highlight of the conference is a public symposium, chaired by Professor Trevor Waring, Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, at 3pm on Wednesday 11 July.
The symposium features students and industry professionals discussing personal challenges and triumphs of their experience with tertiary enabling education. The conference is open to anyone with an interest in tertiary enabling education, including teachers, administrators and participants.
A full conference program is available at www.enablingeducation.info
Enabling Education 2007: What Works? will be held at Newcastle City Hall from Wednesday 11 July to Friday 13 July.
Day one of the conference features a public symposium, 'Challenges and influences for the future in enabling education', from 3pm to 5pm.
