Our children need to be ‘global’ as well as ‘local’ citizens. This demands a re-think of the knowledge, skills and understandings they (and our nation) require.

We are the Future

Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA 2008)

Major changes in the world:

rapid global integration and international mobility

environmental, social and economic pressures extend beyond national borders requiring countries to work together in new ways

4%

24%

5%

4%

5%

7%

3%

5%

17%

17%

1%

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

5%

5%

9%

12%

13%

13%

27%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Damage to your values

Climate change

Oppression by your own government

Large scale nuclear war

Loss of energy resources

Epidemics or diseases

Another country attacking Aus/Ind

Another country promoting dissent inAus/Ind

The breakdown of law and order or socialharmony in Aus/Ind

Terrorist attack

Damage to your religion

The breakup of Aus/Ind

Australia Indonesia

Indonesians & Australians: main fear?

Source: Roy Morgan Research, August 2008

Indon No1 worry: Separatists. (And Aussie “meddling”) Aussie No1 worry: Climate.(Not enough Indons care).

Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians

‘India, China and other Asian nations are growing and their influence on the world is increasing. Australians need to become ‘Asia literate’, engaging and building stronger relationships with Asia…’

Australia 2009 1. What are the world’s top two economies?2. Which region of the world does Australia engage with the

most? 3. Which bloc of countries form Australia’s major trading partner?4. Which two countries are Australia’s largest trading partners?5. Which three countries are the top investors in Australia?6. Australia does not really invest in Asian countries. True or

false?7. Most of Australia’s current immigrants come from Asia. True or

false?8. We export more to Asia than we import. True or false?9. What % of Japan’s beef comes from Australia?10. What is Australia’s single largest services export?

Australia 2009 1. What are the world’s top two economies? USA, Japan2. Which region of the world does Australia engage with the most? Asia3. Which bloc of countries are our major trading partner? ASEAN4. Which two countries are Australia’s largest trading partners? Japan, China5. Which three countries are the top investors in Australia? US, UK, Japan6. Australia does not really invest in Asian countries. True or false?7. Most of Australia’s current immigrants come from Asia. True or false?8. We export more to Asia than we import. True or false?9. What % of Japan’s beef comes from Australia? 80%10. What is Australia’s single largest services export? Education

PricewaterhouseCoopers Melbourne Institute Asialink Index

www.asialink.unimelb.edu.au

WHY Asia Literacy? 21st Century reality for all young Australians

• Globalisation: connected people

• Global issues: connected countries

• Rise of Asia: Asia and Australia

= new skills, knowledge, understandings

WHAT ?Shanghai, China 2009

Asia Literacy…

To achieve ‘Asia literacy’ requires the systematic integration of Asia-focused core content in History, English, Science, Maths, Geography and The Arts for every student and substantially increasing the number of young Australians fluent in an Asian language.

Asia literacy… crowding the curriculum?

In a survey of 240 Victorian schools, respondents frequently cited “the crowded curriculum” as a major challenge to internationalising education.

Internationalising Education in Victoria Survey, Centre for Strategic Education, 2009

Inspirations: Access Asia Curriculum Materials

Year 3 student participates in ICT Teddy Bear exchange with school in Pakistan.

Year 12 English student draws on contemporary politics and traditional Indonesian culture

Year 10 student learns Balinese dance in Performance Arts

Year 6 Music student learns Taiko drumming

www.asiaeducation.edu.au

Young Australians should be able to:

Understand the diversity of Asia and its global importance

Develop informed attitudes and values about Asian peoples, events, issues and lifestyles

Know about contemporary and traditional Asia

That they should recognize the connections between Australia and Asia, and

Be able to communicate through language and intercultural understandings.

National Statement for Engaging Young Australians with Asia in Australian Schools.

Year 12 VCE EnglishThe prescribed texts for Literature (40 texts) contains 4 texts with Asian focus or content:

• Pearl Buck: The Good Earth • William Dalrymple: City of Djinns• Andrew X Pham: Catfish and Mandala• Michelle de Kretser: The Hamilton Case

Neither of the 2 texts available for examination (The Hamilton Case (Novel) & City of Djinns (Other Literature) is mentioned in the Examiners’ Report.

The Great Gatsby (Scott Fitzgerald) was the most popular choice in the Novel section.

Studies of Asia in Year 12, Australian Council for Educational Research, April 2009

Year 12 Modern HistoryTypically, Modern History includes many opportunities for an Asian focus – however most students don’t choose them.

In NSW Modern History, National Studies module:• 2% chose China• 4% chose India, Japan, Indonesia and Australia combined• 4% - South Africa• 6% - USA• 65% - Germany • 19% - Russia/Soviet Union

ACER study on the proportion of Year 12 students studying about Asia in English, History, Geography, International Studies, Politics and Art.

“Along with Math, writing and other basics, Chinese will increasingly be part of the curriculum in US schools.”

What Matters: Ten questions that will shape our future.McKinsey & Company 2009

Languages

1250

508 487417

227 211 205 191128 128 126 104 78

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Million

Sp

eakers

as 1

st

or

2n

d L

an

gu

ag

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Ch

inese

En

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Sp

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ish

Ru

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Po

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ese

Germ

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Fre

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Jap

an

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Urd

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rean

LANGUAGE

To ensure we remain effectively engaged internationally, we need to build and maintain high levels of international literacy

• 84,000 students studying Chinese K-10

• reduced to 4700 students by Year 12

• 94% of Yr 12 students – Chinese first language speakers

• 240 Yr 12 students learning Chinese who are not of Chinese background

HOW ?In Our Own Backyard: Connecting to Global Issues in Our RegionAccess Asia Series, 2006

Asia Literacy

Taiwan International EducationBlueprint Plan (2009-2012)

Global Citizenship International Competency

International Exchange

Global Service

Foreign Language Communication Ability Civic Literacy

International Environment Taiwan Spirit International Culture

Global Participation International Exchange Study Aboard

International Volunteer International Caring Moral Education

English Teaching International School International Exchange Activities

International Institutions

Second/ForeignLanguage Enhancement

Bilingual Environment International Competitions

International Volunteer Services

Digital Learning Marine Taiwan Sister Schools International Caring

Cultural Communication

Understanding Taiwan Culture

International Education Learning

Multicultural Education

Global Civic Literacy International Views Host Family System International Human Rights

Global Issues Education Knowing World Cultures Educational Exchanges Overseas Technology Education

Main Goals

Focus

Action Plan

Cultivate World Citizens of Global VillageVISION

• leading change: your role • curriculum: do you know what’s there now? How will you identify what you want there?• languages: valued at your school? • teacher professional learning: how will you know what your teachers require? How will they access what they need? • your own professional learning: what do you need?• curriculum resources: what’s in the library? What's’ available?• community: your parents support • funding: your budget? Other support?

Asia Literacy

Implications for:

www.asiaeducation.edu.auw

Julie Morgan visits Xiehe Bilingual School in Shanghai, AEF Study Tour to China

Asia Literate Teachers

Asia literate principals

Leading 21st Century Schools: Engage with Asia

Principal Study Tours: India, China, Hong Kong, Korea

www.deewr.gov.au/schooling/nalssp

Call to Action: Asia Literacy for every young Australian Australia’s Asia Literacy Alliance

Asia Education Foundation Board

Australian Council of Deans of Education

Australian Council of State School Organisations

Australasian Curriculum, Assessment and Certification Authorities

Australian Joint Council of Professional Teaching Associations

Australian Parents Council

Australian Primary Principals Association

Australian Secondary Principals Association

Curriculum Corporation Board

Independent Schools Council of Australia

National Catholic Education Commission

Asian Studies Association of Australia

Asialink

Peak Organisations

Asia Education Teachers Association

Australian College of Educators

Australian Council for Educational Leaders

Australian Curriculum Studies Association

Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations Inc

Australian Federation of Societies for Studies of Society and Environment

Principals Australia

Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia

Business Educators Australasia

Catholic Secondary Principals Australia

Professional Learning Institute, WA

How to achieve Asia literacy for every young Australian

• Policy: National Curriculum & school policies• Accountability: monitor and measure: systems &

schools• Build school capacity: school leaders, teachers,

parents• Teacher education• Build demand: students, parents, educators• Leadership: school, system, community, nation

“It is impossible to conceive of a future Australian education system that does not take the study of Asia seriously.”

The Hon Julia Gillard MPDeputy Prime MinisterAEF National Summit, 2008

vital importance of equipping