George Walker (professor)
Encyclopedia
Professor George Walker (born 25 January 1942) is a British
educator, and the former director-general
of the International Baccalaureate Organisation. He is also a productive author of articles and other works regarding international education
and physical chemistry
.
Walker has studied chemistry
at Oxford University, and music
at the University of Cape Town
in South Africa
. He has worked as a schoolteacher and headmaster at several UK state schools, as well as a lecturer
on education
at the University of York
. Between 1987 and 1988, he served as a member of the UK National Curriculum science working party. Between 1991 and 1999, he worked as the head of the International School of Geneva
, the oldest and largest international school
in the world. In 1999, he was appointed director-general of the IBO.
Walker has since retired as head of the IBO, and has been replaced in office by Jeffrey Beard
as of 2006.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
educator, and the former director-general
Director-general
The term director-general is a title given the highest executive officer within a governmental, statutory, NGO, third sector or not-for-profit institution.-European Union:...
of the International Baccalaureate Organisation. He is also a productive author of articles and other works regarding international education
International education
International education can mean many different things and its definition is debated. Some have defined two general meanings according to its involvement of students...
and physical chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
.
Walker has studied chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at Oxford University, and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He has worked as a schoolteacher and headmaster at several UK state schools, as well as a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
on education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
at the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
. Between 1987 and 1988, he served as a member of the UK National Curriculum science working party. Between 1991 and 1999, he worked as the head of the International School of Geneva
International School of Geneva
The International School of Geneva , also known as Ecolint, is a private international school based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the oldest currently operating International School in the world...
, the oldest and largest international school
International school
An International school is loosely defined as a school that promotes international education, in an international environment, either by adopting an international curriculum such as that of the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International Examinations, or by following a national...
in the world. In 1999, he was appointed director-general of the IBO.
Walker has since retired as head of the IBO, and has been replaced in office by Jeffrey Beard
Jeffrey Beard
Jeffrey R. Beard is an American manager. He was appointed to become director-general of the International Baccalaureate , based in Geneva, Switzerland, starting on 1 January 2006, following the retirement of the previous director-general, George Walker....
as of 2006.