Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE
Internationally recognised education leader, founding CEO of the Children’s University and the first Global Director of Education at KidZania, with a career dedicated to children, learning, aspiration and innovation.
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Children’s University
Founding Chief Executive Officer
KidZania
First Global Director of Education
Professor of Practice
University of Cumbria
OBE
For Services to Children
A career built around what children can imagine, discover and become.
Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE is an internationally recognised education leader whose career has centred on children’s learning, aspiration, creativity and the opportunities that education can create.
Born in the Netherlands, Ger moved to the United Kingdom in 1983 and began his career as a teacher, later becoming a Senior Inspector and Education Director.
He went on to become the founding Chief Executive of the Children’s University and subsequently the first Global Director of Education at KidZania, helping connect experiential learning, aspiration and the world beyond the classroom.
Ger is now Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria and contributes to education internationally through university, government, advisory and education organisations around the world.
Selected education leadership milestones
Education
Began in teaching before progressing into inspection and senior education leadership.
Children’s University
Led the organisation built around extending learning, aspiration and opportunity beyond the classroom.
KidZania
Became KidZania’s first Global Director of Education, connecting learning with immersive real-world experience.
Academia
Academic and advisory roles across universities in the UK and internationally.
Global Education
Advises education institutions, governments, councils and organisations across international markets.
Model Britain
Leading the educational vision and helping embed learning throughout the Model Britain experience.
Curiosity. Aspiration. Discovery. Learning.
Ger brings to Model Britain a belief that powerful learning happens when children are given something meaningful to discover, question and imagine.
His experience with the Children’s University and KidZania is particularly relevant to a destination in which education is intended to be woven through the visitor experience rather than confined to a separate classroom or programme.
As Education Chair, Ger helps shape Model Britain’s educational vision, ensuring that the miniature world can inspire curiosity about Britain’s engineering, transport, geography, culture, history, innovation and future while connecting those experiences to meaningful learning opportunities for children and young people.
