Professor Colin Power has always been, and indeed, continues to be a passionate advocate of the right of every person to education, emphasising, in his own words, ‘that quality education directed to the full development of the human personality is a global public good, is the key to peace, to development, social cohesion and democracy in the twenty-first century.’ Perhaps nothing illustrates this passion more than the leading role played by UNESCO in the ‘Education for All’ initiative spearheaded by it in 1990 with the World Bank, UNICEF, and the United Nations Development Programme. In mobilising the international community to ensure equality of access to education, Colin Power brought a formidable combination of intellectual, strategic, and persuasive skills. 

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That literally millions of children, young people, and adults over the past decade have had opened up to them the world of learning is due in no small part to the energy, commitment, and skill shown by Colin Power. He is an Australian of whom all Australians can be proud. More than that, he is a global citizen who has played a leading role in ensuring that education is placed at the centre of global strategies for peace, for progress, and for the universal application of human rights. 

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The extensive research he undertook when Assistant Director- general for education of UNESCO and adjunct professor in the School of Education, University of Queensland, had conclusions that cry out to all Australians.  His research across many nations conclusively found that when countries privatise their education systems, learning standards always decline and inequity increases. The United States of America would have to be the standout example of such and we have followed closely on their heels since adopting their NAPLAN experiment from New York and Joel Klein.. It would seem most apparent that world research on education means nothing to our governments at any level.