UJA-Federation of NY and Education Cities Network- the first tour

A group of 17 Mayors, heads of education departments, CEOs and others from the 8 cities that take part in Education Cities Network that is working with cooperation with UJA-Federation of NY, went on the first tour, out of three that are planned for this year.

The group is going to visit 16 schools, organizations and a variety of educational social urban projects, in Boston, Providence, Philadelphia, and New York.

The 20th international democratic education conference (IDEC), took place in Puerto Rico. This year, IDEC, that was founded by Yaacov Hecht twenty years ago in Hadera, Israel, was an exciting celebration of alternative education, breakthroughs, innovations, and collaborations. IDEC has become the spearhead of educational revolutions all over the world. For the first time since its inception, the conference was organized this year by a city and not by a school or an organization. Caguas – an Education City, is leading a change process which is followed closely by the entire country of Puerto Rico. The conference was covered closely throughout its entire duration by local and national newspapers.

Education Cities Network – Launch Conference

In February 2-3, 2012, Leonardo Hotel, Tiberias, representatives from seven cities – Mayors, Heads of Education Departments, leading teachers and others – have attended the Launch Conference and experienced with the Education Cities’ staff, the beginning of a beautiful friendship, the beginning of a new path.

To read more on this event, go to our blog:

http://education-cities.com/education-cities-network-launch-conference/

The Education Cities Network sets sail

Imagine eight cities transforming into a learning and developing educational network…

Imagine the social change this network of cities could make…

We are proud and grateful for the opportunity to launch the Education Cities Network-Israel which will constitute a platform for learning, cooperation, and assembly between cities. A framework within which municipal leaders would be able to set free their imagination, and to be inspired in their process of their municipal development via exposure to innovative global models and mutual learning.

The network’s visionary Cities and Municipal Councils (Alphabetically):

Bat Yam, Emeq Hamaianot, Hadera, Netanya, Savyon, Tiberias, Yeruham.

Goals:

Expanding the strategic thinking regarding the city’s development as an Education City.

Creating a Network of Cities that will enable mutual inspiration, learning from accomplishments as well as from challenges, and pooling of planning and knowledge resources.

Learning and work model:

1. Network Learning in Israel – the network will hold eight meetings during a period of two years. Each meeting will be two days long, during which we will learn together on international and national current events in the innovative field of interfacing the city with its education system. Each city will send to these meetings a municipal team comprised of the Mayor, the Holder of Municipal Education Portfolio, and the Head of the Municipal Education Department.

2. Municipal Education Leadership Forum – A municipal education leadership forum will be established in every network member city. In this forum, the Municipal Team together with the Education Cities’ consultants, will promote learning of educational innovation and development of a municipal work plan.

3. Global Innovation Tours – The Education Cities Network will hold three annual tours of International Innovation. The tours’ destinations will be models that illustrate innovation in the field of interfacing the city with its education system. This year’s selected destinations are England, USA, and Finland.