Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE – Children can only aspire to what they know exists

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester
 / 
06/23/2021

Children can only aspire to what they know exists. Building a creative approach to social mobility. The role we play.

“Children can only aspire to what they know exists” is Ger Graus’s mantra and he sees his and KidZania’s approach to education and entertainment as a significant piece in the large jigsaw which portrays a better world with endless horizons for people who deserve it most: our children.

Ger aims to create a different approach to social mobility by gathering an understanding of choices made by children, based on social background, geographic location, gender, and ethnicity, in order to work with policymakers to raise aspirations globally.

Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE

Global Director of Education, KidZania

Ger Graus is a renowned figure in education, where he is the first Global Director of Education at KidZania.

KidZania, where children can experience the world of work through role-play, is designed to inspire and empower: “from inspiration to aspiration.” It globally has a presence in 30 cities with plans for a further 20 locations, including the USA and Canada.

Ger has been at the heart of independent research by, amongst others, the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and the National Research University Moscow. He is now advocating a ‘Futures Awareness’ campaign to introduce career concepts into the primary school phase. He is currently, as Board Director, developing the concept of #Hybrid2.0 with Hello Genius. Before this, he was the founding CEO of the Children's University, a multiple-award-winning international NGO providing disadvantaged 5 to 14-year-olds with exciting learning opportunities outside school hours.

Before this, he was the founding CEO of the Children's University, a multiple-award-winning international NGO providing disadvantaged 5 to 14-year-olds with exciting learning opportunities outside school hours.

Ger was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 2011 and, in 2019, became a Visiting Professor at the National Research University Moscow. In the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, Ger was made an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children.

In his book ‘Natural Born Learners’, author Alex Beard says: “In learning terms, Ger Graus is Jean-Jacques Rousseau meets Willy Wonka.”


More Resources

Upcoming Salon Conversations

Image

Wendy Whitman – Evil Obsessions: Unraveling Our Fascination with Crime

Dec 13, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific Time
The “true crime” phenomenon has never been more evident. From television series to books to documentaries, there seems to be a never-ending fascination with crime, specifically murder. Serial killers are a constant topic of conversation, whether in the news or in fictional shows and novels. In interview after interview, Wendy Whitman has been asked to explain this obsession.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Image

Charles Feinstein – Addressing the Climate Emergency: Economic and Policy Options and Making Polluters Pay

Jan 17, 2024 04:00 PM in Pacific Time
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, with global consequences affecting the natural environment, basic livelihoods, and nearly every sector of human activity. The interview will briefly review the current scientific understandings that define climate change as a critical threat.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Image

Petra Beumer – Sweetness of Doing Nothing – Learning from the Italians

Jan 31, 2024 04:00 PM in Pacific Time
What does it take to get off the hamster wheel, unplug from external stressors (and the addictive world of social media), and “come home” to oneself? Simply being and living in the moment is a lost art, as is sitting in a circle and telling stories.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Image

DannieL Fuchs: Thriving Together: The Revolution of Multi-Generational Living

Feb 28, 2024 04:00 PM in Pacific Time
Explore the dynamic world of multi-generational living with Danniel Fuchs, a seasoned executive who transformed into a fervent advocate for shared family homes. Dive into the profound life experiences that shaped his understanding and appreciation for this unique living model.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk