World leader in education policy, Pasi Sahlberg, joins UNSW and Gonski Institute for Education

World-renowned Finnish educator Dr Pasi Sahlberg has been appointed a Professor of Education at UNSW Sydney and will work with the University’s new interdisciplinary institute focussing on educational access and excellence, the Gonski Institute for Education (GIE).

Dr Sahlberg, a former director general at the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland and a visiting professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education, whose book Finnish Lessons has been widely read around the world, will begin working at UNSW in March 2018 in a part-time capacity before relocating to Sydney in September to begin full-time with the University.

He will initiate and lead international comparative research projects on education and equity, and education leadership, including courses in Master of Educational Leadership and Doctor of Education programs, as well as supervising students. He will also establish and lead applied research impact labs to improve the quality of teaching and equity of education outcomes.

“The appointment of Professor Sahlberg is a huge coup for the University and the Gonski Institute but more importantly it is a huge coup for education research in Australia,” says UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs.

Professor of Practice at UNSW and GIE Director Adrian Piccoli says Dr Sahlberg’s research leadership will be invaluable in establishing the GIE as an education powerhouse.

“Dr Sahlberg’s work on enhancing our understanding of international education has helped shift education policy focus around the world, including in Australia, from standardisation and educational segregation to equity and inclusion,” says Mr Piccoli.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to be part of the UNSW community,” Sahlberg says. “Australia is one of the leading education systems in the world and the opportunity to enhance equity of education here through research and using the expertise of UNSW is an opportunity not to be missed.”

Dr Sahlberg was a keynote speaker at the recent 2017 ACEL Conference.