Established in 2000, the U21 Deans of Education group brings together Education Deans from Universitas 21 institutions to discuss shared challenges, foster collaboration, and advance educational initiatives. Originally convened by the late Professor David Clarke at the University of Melbourne, the group has met annually alongside Educational conferences such as American Educational Research Association (AERA), Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) and European Conference on Educational Research (ECER). These gatherings serve as a vital platform for engaging in meaningful discussions on key issues in education, strengthening collegial connections, and driving collaborative projects across the U21 network.

The U21 Deans of Education network is dedicated to fostering global collaboration and innovation in Education. Our key goals include:

• Sharing Best Practices: Promoting excellence in research and teaching by exchanging knowledge and strategies across international contexts.
• Advancing Collaborative Projects: Developing impactful initiatives that benefit participating U21 Faculties of Education.
• Enhancing Mobility & Exchange: Creating meaningful opportunities for faculty and students to connect, collaborate, and engage in academic exchange.
• Building Strong Networks: Establishing databases and communication platforms to support ongoing collaboration and facilitate global mobility within the U21 Education community.

The success of the Council of Deans of Education has led to the establishment of several Communities of Practice, including the Graduate Researcher CoP and the Research CoP. These groups foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building across member institutions. In addition, the Forum for International Networking in Education (FINE), held annually, brings together staff and students in Education who collaborate to explore and address educational issues from a global perspective.

In 2024, the Council of Deans of Education published a book on, “Building a Better Normal: Visions of Schools of Education in a Post-Pandemic World”, as part of the Emerald’s Great Debates in Higher Education series.

For more information about the Council, please contact its Executive Director: A/Prof Marian Mahat, The University of Melbourne,.