Alan Alda, Sir Ken Robinson, Bob Rae and Chantal Hébert to headline Higher Education Summit

TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - More than 800 delegates from across Ontario will be attending the Higher Education Summit and the Premier's Awards for outstanding college graduates in Toronto. The two-day annual conference runs Sunday, Nov. 17, and Monday, Nov. 18, at the Fairmont Royal York hotel.

The keynote speaker this year is multi-Emmy Award-winning actor Alan Alda, who will speak at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18. Alda, who is a founding member of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University, will speak about his remarkable life.

Also appearing at the conference is internationally acclaimed education expert Sir Ken Robinson, who will share his ideas on how to reform higher learning, along with featured remarks by former Liberal leader Bob Rae and national affairs columnist Chantal Hébert. As well, veteran contractor and TV host Bryan Baeumler will lead a session on raising the profile of the skilled trades.

On Monday evening, Premier Kathleen Wynne will attend the annual Premier's Awards gala for outstanding college graduates. There are 119 graduates nominated for this prestigious honour. Premier Wynne will address the gala at about 6:45 p.m.

The Higher Education Summit, run by Colleges Ontario, is one of Canada's premier conferences on post-secondary education. The conference is open to the media. All sessions take place at the Fairmont Royal York hotel at 100 Front Street West in Toronto.

Key times:

Sunday, Nov. 17

1 p.m. - Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity and innovation, will talk about educational reform.

2 p.m. - Bob Rae, who led a major commission on post-secondary reform, will discuss higher education in Ontario and where it needs to go from here.

3:45 p.m. - Addressing the skills mismatch. Seneca College president emeritus Rick Miner and University of Waterloo adjunct professor Larry Smith talk about the steps needed to help close the skills gap.

Monday, Nov. 18

8:30 a.m. - Chantal Hébert, Toronto Star columnist and CBC panellist, will speak about current events in Canadian politics.

9:30 a.m. - Ken Coates, the co-author of Campus Confidential and a research chair at the University of Saskatchewan, will describe the steps needed to transform post-secondary education.

10:45 a.m. - Social media in education: The next chapter. New media expert and TV personality Amber Mac will describe how post-secondary institutions can effectively reach students through social media.

10:45 a.m. - Strengthening Ontario's apprenticeship system. Confederation College president Jim Madder, Sheridan president Jeff Zabudsky and Georgian College vice-president Baldev Pooni examine the steps needed to produce more apprentices in Ontario.

1 p.m. - Multi-Emmy Award winner and author Alan Alda will deliver the keynote speech.

3 p.m. - Raising the profile of the skilled trades. Veteran contractor and TV host Bryan Baeumler shares ideas on how to promote careers in the skilled trades.

6:45 p.m. (approx.) - Premier Kathleen Wynne delivers remarks at the Premier's Awards gala for outstanding college graduates. There are 119 graduates from across Ontario nominated for this prestigious award.

Dates:	Nov. 17 and 18, 2013
Location:	Fairmont Royal York hotel    100 Front Street West    Toronto

The full agenda for the Higher Education Summit is available at: http://www.highereducationsummit.ca/program-and-presentations.html

Colleges Ontario is the Toronto-based advocacy organization for the province's 24 public colleges. All sessions at the Higher Education Summit are open to the media. Media attending the conference must show accreditation at the registration desk on the convention floor.

SOURCE: Colleges Ontario

Rob Savage
Director of Communications
Colleges Ontario
647-258-7687
[e-mail]