The launch of the Business Working with Education Foundation. Photo courtesy the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

The establishment by the Victorian Government of the Business Working with Education Foundation will make an important contribution to fostering a wider range of effective partnerships between schools and business.

BCA Chief Executive Katie Lahey said the BCA was very pleased to be supporting the Victorian Government’s new foundation.

The first chairman of the foundation will be BCA member, Michael Andrew, the Australian Chairman of KPMG.  Mr Andrew is also the Chairman of the BCA’s Task Force on Education, Skills and Innovation.

“Government, business and schools working together can achieve much more than they can working in isolation of each other”, Ms Lahey said.

“The benefits of school–business partnerships are numerous, including support for student learning and greater two-way understanding of how education and businesses can help young Australians to realise their potential.

“There is a mistaken belief in some quarters that business leaders are focused exclusively on the bottom line. The important initiative being launched today demonstrates this is not the full story. School–business partnerships symbolise the increasingly broad role business plays in supporting a strong economy and community prosperity.

“Business leaders recognise that they and their organisations have much to learn – as well as to contribute – from two-way engagement with schools and school leaders.

“The Business Council of Australia commends the Victorian Government for its commitment to fostering high-quality and effective school–business partnerships”, Ms Lahey said.