Eidos

Welcome from Professor Colin Power, Chair of the Eidos Board

Evidence-based education and social policy and practice are necessary conditions for preparing global learners, workers and citizens to participate and continue to learn throughout life in a constantly changing and complex world. Thus, a world-class education and social science research program that informs policy and its implementation is needed if we are to perform well in the knowledge economy and to tackle the social, cultural and environmental issues that threaten our individual and collective well-being.

In a context of intense competition for the limited funds available, education and social research is largely confined to small groups working within a particular discipline in a single institution: its contribution to improving policy and practice has fallen far short of its potential. The Queensland government sees its schools, colleges and universities as playing a critical role in contributing to the realisation of its vision of becoming the Smart State. In the consultations leading to its education strategy for 2010, Premier Beattie insisted: If we in Queensland want access to the benefits of the knowledge economy of the future, we have to ensure that the education levels and skills of our people are up with the best in the world. A cornerstone of the strategy is to ensure that policy and practice are based on evidence.

The Interim Board, and more recently the Executive Committee and its Secretariat, have built a foundation from which Eidos has launched confidently into these uncharted waters as together we seek to develop a collaborative culture of rigorous inquiry informing evidence-based policy and practice.

It gives me great pleasure therefore, to welcome you to the Second Annual Research Congress as the key and emerging stakeholders in education and social research and policy-making in Queensland.

Welcome from Professor Bruce Muirhead, Eidos Executive Director

Professor Bruce Muirhead

EIDOS is focused on the future being strategic about the future is an essential capability for the organisation if ideas about the future are to become reality. EIDOS is a complex collaboration partners need to be continually brought into the discussion about EIDOS, its role, direction and performance through a robust strategic planning framework.

Developing a research program for EIDOS raises some particular challenges. There is a need to be both future-focused and rigorous about present activities. There is a need to be pushing boundaries as well as linking closely with government processes and priorities. There is a need to be explicit about direction, while flexible in implementation.

I think these challenges can be addressed.

The key aspects of our research program approach are providing a semi-structured approach to the development, analysis, submission and implementation of far-reaching ideas. We need to focus on the development of capabilities to ensure future initiatives have a high chance of success. The consortium's success consistently depends on its ability to rapidly create new and vital capability in collaborative research, policy development and practice.

For example, had EIDOS been in existence in September 2001, I would hope that our future scanning and capacity building strategy would have identified values education as being a future priority and that the partners would then have been in a position to determine if this was an area in which they should build priority. We would have been well-positioned for a slice of the $30million that the Commonwealth has invested in this area. What are the current issues that may become the focus of our work over the coming days? As our Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Andrews challenges, There may be a huge opportunity to build competitive advantage and public benefit around the development of education for the tropics. Is Queensland well placed to achieve that? I'm sure there are many, but the few that come immediately to my mind include:

Health what are the educational implications of the current and looming health crisis?

Water - if drought is to become the norm for much of Australia, how do we prepare for this educationally?

Urbanisation if, as some commentators suggest, the major threat to western countries is the un-sustainability of cities, how to we prepare young people to help create a different urban future?

Early Years - what are the interdisciplinary and interagency implications of continuing with our current child care system for 0-8 year olds? How do we build the right capacity and influence to bring the nation's thinking, policy and practice together? We have world leaders within our consortium.

I don't know if any of these topics or others that focus on issue of pedagogy, professionalism or partnerships might be those that rise to the surface. However, I do suggest that the ability of EIDOS to predict, promote and address those issues that do prove to be the most critical will be decisive in our own sustainability.

The Second Annual Research Congress brings together the most active and emerging researchers within the Eidos consortium. The planning sessions align with current MCEETYA 2005-2008 priorities - building capacity for the next three years. Our presentations are focused on seeking advice from local, national and international leaders on furthering and developing new research and policy partnerships at the international, industry, philanthropy, and political levels.

I look forward to seeing you at Congress 2006 and furthering our opportunity to develop a strong culture of strategic thinking and innovation