Partners in Learning
The aim of Partners in Learning is to link business and educational professionals so that they can share experiences, solve problems and explore leadership challenges together. The program provides a unique opportunity to make a difference, not only to the individual partners, but also to the schools and businesses involved and the wider community.
What is involved
People from the education and private sector that are interested in joining the program complete a registration form and detail their interests, challenges and goals. A business member and eductor from a primary or secondary school are then matched according to their personal and professional profiles. There are two strands of the program:
- Principals and Chief Executive Officers are partnered
- Senior teachers and executives are partnered.
The partners in learning agree to meet at the school/office a minimum of eight times during one year (two times each term) for about two hours each time The format for the meetings is quite open with a number of objectives that are ideally met:
- Promote the sharing of expertise
- Develop management and leadership skills
- Enhance listening and feedback skills
- Explore solutions to challenges in a supportive and non-judgmental environment
- Expand personal skills.
Benefits to business participants
'It's been good to get a broader perspective ... made me feel more strongly that this country could get so much out of more investment in education.' Partner
- Develop a greater understanding of issues facing schools and the education system
- Understand how business can help to support a positive change
- Discover tangible benefits that flow through to students, teachers and the broader community
- Broaden perspective on life
- Make a difference and give back to the community
- Contribute at a practical level
- Have a greater awareness of diversity
- Increase self awareness and empathy for others
- Learn new management techniques for dealing with conflict
- Expand understanding of leadership challenges and strategic development in a different context and a different level of priorities and outcomes
- Personal reward, satisfaction and growth.
Benefits to educators
'… one of the most valuable experiences I have had in 20 years as an educator.' Deputy Principal
- Find new ways of approaching old problems
- Develop networks with other industry professionals
- Share experience and learnings
- Expand understanding of corporate sector to benefit school leavers
- Promote greater understanding between business and schools
- Explore benefits and opportunities for staff and students through business engagement.
The professional and personal development of the participants and the synergy of their collaboration will ultimately, it is hoped, improve standards in the community, local education and business alike.
The need
Two key needs led to the development of the Partners in Learning program. Initially, the NSW Department of Education and Training expressed a need for businesses to collaborate with principals. At the same time some business leaders were looking for opportunities to develop an understanding of the challenges facing many Australian youth, as well as the broader community.
A principal or deputy principal comes into contact with up to 50,000 students during their career, which means leadership skills are critical to their role. Likewise, for business leaders, the development of Australia’s youth and the access and insights to the broader community that working with schools enables, is critical to ensuring a sustainable future for Australia.
More information
Read about the program's success.
Partners in Learning was inspired by, and evolved from, a very successful mentoring program in the United Kingdom called Partners in Leadership (by Business in the Community (BITC)).
