EARCOS Strategic Plan

EARCOS Mission EARCOS inspires adult and student learning through its leadership and service and fosters intercultural understanding, global citizenship and exceptional educational practices within our learning community.

EARCOS Vision To support the EARCOS mission we will:

- Develop collaborative educational partnerships within the region as well as worldwide to foster greater access to expertise. - Provide targeted and differentiated professional development opportunities for member communities. - Connect schools, communities, and individuals through the use of technology to promote collaboration, communication, intercultural understanding, and access to broader educational opportunities. - Engage adults and students in learning opportunities that develop leadership diversity and capacity within our communities. - Engage adults and students in learning activities across the region that will promote friendship, understanding and global citizenship. - Conduct and communicate research and archive relevant data to identify and enhance exceptional educational practices.

In accomplishing its mission and vision, EARCOS will play a prominent leadership role throughout the global educational community.

Strategies and List of Results STRATEGY A Provide specific targeted and differentiated professional development opportunities for various member communities.

1. EARCOS sponsored grant process financially supports action research by and for EARCOS members pertinent to the educational process in Asia. 2. List serves/web page resources facilitate inter-school communication regarding issues relevant to specific disciplines or job categories. 3. Subject-specific conferences meet the professional development needs in selected disciplines or job categories both at the major conference site and at separate “stand-alone” conferences at different locations and times. 4. Consortiums of schools, based on professional development interests and needs, collaboratively identify and support this best practices. 5. Faculty in EARCOS schools share expertise to support targeted professional development needs at the school site. 6. A cohort of trained, affordable facilitators is available to work with Boards and Trustees throughout the region. 7. EARCOS facilitates a mentor program for new school heads and new principals. 8. EARCOS, through its aspiring leadership programs, encourages its members to pursue leadership positions. 9. Offering a greater choice of breadth and/or depth at the major annual conferences, EARCOS develops new and varied formats for conferences.

STRATEGY B Engage students and adults in learning activities across the region that will foster friendship, understanding and global citizenship.

1. EARCOS sponsors an annual student leadership conference. 2. Student service projects are recognized and supported by Global Citizen Awards and grant program for students and adults. 3. EARCOS facilitates virtual education projects that support student learning, foster friendship, understanding, leadership and intellectual challenge.

STRATEGY C Develop regional and worldwide collaborative educational partnerships within the region as well as worldwide to foster access to expertise.

1. EARCOS develops collaborative relationships with external organizations that support the needs of EARCOS member schools.

STRATEGY D Connect schools, communities, and individuals through the use of effective latest technologies to promote collaboration, intercultural understanding and access to broader educational opportunities.

1. EARCOS schools use a range of technologies that support collaborative efforts and staff development. 2. In collaboration with EARCOS universities provide e-learning opportunities that allow for staff development and credentialing opportunities. 3. The EARCOS web site is a valuable tool offering a broad range of collaborative services enhancing staff and student development and a resource for educational opportunities within EARCOS.

STRATEGY E Conduct relevant research and communicate resulting data to identify and enhance exceptional educational practices.

1. EARCOS is a data driven organization and models this paradigm for school use. 2. EARCOS supports data driven decision-making through the use of electronic surveys. 3. EARCOS identifies and support research to assess the impact of professional development efforts on student learning.

Core Values

EARCOS believes: - All individuals have intrinsic worth; their dignity and value are enhanced when they are honored and nourished. - Diverse and inclusive communities nurture the well-being and growth of individuals and organizations. - Learning is continuous and essential for individual growth and the advancement of society. - Individuals and communities have the need and capacity to learn and grow. - Individuals and communities are responsible for helping, supporting and serving others. - Individuals and communities are responsible for stewardship of the natural environment. - Individuals and communities are responsible for the choices they make. - Integrity, honesty and striving for excellence are essential to our purpose.

Goals All member schools use EARCOS as their primary resource for the professional development of their learning community.

EARCOS activities positively impact intercultural understanding.