Gold medal contributor
UniSA Emeritus Professor Alan Reid has been named this year’s gold medal winner by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL).
The award, rarely conferred to scholars working in roles other than those in the most senior of academic or government department ranks, acknowledges Prof Reid’s national and international contribution to public education policy and research and his deep commitment to social justice through education.
The gold medal is the most prestigious offered by ACEL and is presented annually to an educator whose contribution to the study and practice of education administration and leadership is assessed to be most outstanding.
Professor Reid (pictured above) said he was delighted to receive the award.
"It is a bit of a surprise but something that I am extremely proud and honoured to receive not only personally but for its acknowledgement of the importance of education research and policy development," Prof Reid said.
In its citation for the award the Council listed a raft of career achievements by Professor Reid. At a local level - his influence on the development of almost every aspect of school curriculum in South Australia from early childhood right through to senior secondary; his key role in the review of the SA Certificate of Education (SACE); his review of teacher education programs at UniSA; and for overseeing the development of courses in Australian Studies and Politics for schools in SA.
Nationally, his work has been influential in both State and Federal Government departments. In 2004 and 2005 he worked in Canberra as the Department of Education Science and Training’s (DEST) National Research Fellow, examining the issues involved in the development of an Australian national curriculum and providing policy advice to senior DEST officers.
Internationally he has worked tirelessly as a member of teacher education review panels and on editorial boards of journals related to curriculum development. He has authored, co-authored or edited more than 120 books, articles and monographs on education; and is regularly invited to present keynote addresses at national and international conferences.
In addition The Bulletin magazine in 2004 named Prof Reid as one of the most influential academics in Australia in the development of School curriculum and public policy in Education and one of the nation’s foremost educational thinkers.