Media release
22 July 2014
Internationally recognised Professor takes new role with Ministry of Education
Internationally acclaimed educational researcher Professor Stuart McNaughton has accepted the new role of Chief
Education Scientific Advisor at the Ministry of Education.
Secretary for Education Peter Hughes says he is delighted that Professor McNaughton accepted the role, and that an
academic of Professor McNaughton’s calibre will be working across Government agencies for the betterment of education.
“Professor McNaughton brings world-leading academic and professional credibility to this position. Over the course of
his distinguished career he has earned respect from the international educational research community for his work to
lift educational achievement.
“In this new role, Professor McNaughton will provide independent advice on areas of education that are especially
complex, and will take significant time and focus to tackle. I’m looking forward to seeing how he can challenge us, push
boundaries, ask the tough questions, and dig deep to get important answers.”
Professor McNaughton, along with the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Sir Peter Gluckman and other science
advisors, will work with a number of key government agencies and researchers in New Zealand and around the world.
“Professor McNaughton is hugely respected both within the education sector and within academic communities in New
Zealand and internationally. His agreeing to take this role adds significantly to the mana of our organisation,”says Mr
Hughes.
Notes for editors
Professor McNaughton is a Professor of Education, Director of the Woolf Fisher Research Centre at the University of
Auckland and a trained teacher.
He was recently appointed as a Distinguished International Professor at East China Normal University (Shanghai), and
inducted into the international body, the Reading Hall of Fame.
Professor McNaughton has a substantial publication history, including 6 books, 44 chapters in books and 83 refereed
articles. His most recent book Designing Better Schools (2011) identifies what is needed to be more effective in meeting the challenges faced by culturally and linguistically
diverse students.
As the Director of the Woolf Fisher Research Centre, Professor McNaughton works to develop education and schooling
success for diverse communities, with research in New Zealand and in other countries. Within New Zealand, he has had a
particular focus on optimising success in schools for children from Māori and Pasifika communities and from low decile
schools.
The role of Chief Education Scientific Advisor is part time and Professor McNaughton will continue his research
programme at the University of Auckland and his leadership of the Woolf Fisher Research Centre.