The conference "How the governance of schools influences their performance" organised by ESEN (Leadership National High School) will take place on the 6th and 7th of november in Poitiers / France. Poitiers is located about 90 minutes away from Paris by the TGV (Fast Speed Train). 

At the European Council in Lisbon in 2000, the Heads of States proposed an ambitious programme aimed at modernizing social welfare and education in Europe. In 2002, they declared that by 2010  Europe should be seen as a worldwide leader for quality of education and training. The Ministers of Education agreed on three strategic objectives to be implemented before 2010 for the benefit of all citizens of the Union.

• To improve the quality and effectiveness of Education and Training in the EU 
• To ensure that Education and Training are accessible to all
• To open up Education and Training systems to the wider world.

It has become apparent today that an essential way of improving of the performance of the education and training systems is to reform the way in which educational establishments are run, that is, their governance.

The Stockholm Summit for Top Level School Leaders Stockholm, Sweden May 19-21 2008

Dr. Burkhard Mielke, Past President of ESHA, attended the Stockholm Summit to represent ESHA in this important meeting.

The organizers described the conference as follows: This conference had a twofold purpose a learning opportunity and an invitation to join a network. It presented an opportunity for top level school leaders from all over the world to meet in Stockholm, Sweden and learn more about global trends and changes in school policy and education worldwide as well as focusing on local experiences and conclusions for school improvement. The conference offered the unique possibility for school leaders to reflect on their role as leaders between political demands and pedagogical practice.

It was decided in Potsdam 2006 to give ESHA a new regional structure following the regional languages. ESHA has now 7 regions: Balkan Region, English Speaking Region, French Speaking Region, German speaking Region, Russian Speaking Region, Scandinavia and Southern Europe.

In Basel (Switzerland) the Regional Coordinator, Margret Rössler, organized as a pilot project the first Regional Conference for the German Speaking Region with participants from South Tyrol, Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands and Germany. From Denmark and Luxemburg we had letters of interest for the future and first contacts to Romania. During the Conference one of the participants offered to make connection to the German minority in Hungary.

After the opening of the Conference by Margret Rössler, the Past President of ESHA Dr. Burkhard Mielke presented ESHA, the organization, the structures, aims, projects and the working plan.