Planned for 2023

Description

In considering the potential roles of the World Dignity University, Evelin Lindner and others have invoked the original origins and meanings of the term “university,” harkening back to a time before institutions of higher learning were organized around departments, credits, and degrees.

With those notions as a prod, I suggest a limited enrollment discussion session (1) that directs participants to do some homework before the program, examining schools, programs, and organizations whose work provides potential examples for ours; and (2) then gathers us together to discuss possibilities for organizing programs for WDU and related organizations via non-credit, continuing education formats. These inspirations include:

• Ancient schools and libraries;
• Current universities and schools that offer non-credit, adult education courses, in-Old and New: Non-Degree Higher and Adult Learning to Advance Human Dignity person and online;
• Salons and study circles; and,
• Self-directed learning initiatives.

More specifically:

• Plato’s Academy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platonic_Academy
• Aristotle’s Lyceum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyceum_(Classical)
  
• Library of Alexandria https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Alexandria
  
• Origins of the New School for Social Research https://www.newschool.edu/nssr/history/
  
• Ruskin College, Oxford, UK https://www.ruskin.ac.uk
  
• “Open Masters” community devoted to fostering independent learning that mirrors self-designed master’s degree programs: https://www.openmasters.org
  
• Designing and undertaking an “Informal Ph.D.”: https://www.self-directed.org/tp/designing-learning-paths/
  

Salons and study circles

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_(gathering)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Study_circle
• https://www.citizenshandbook.org/2_15_discussion_group.html
  
• https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/sep/10/how-to-host-salon-bloomsbury-set
• International Society for Self-Directed Learning https://www.sdlglobal.com/journals
• The Alliance for Self-Directed Education https://www.self-directed.org/
• Brooklyn Institute for Social Research https://thebrooklyninstitute.com
• University of Chicago, Graham School for Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies https://graham.uchicago.edu
• Meridian University, California https://meridianuniversity.edu/public-programs/upcoming-programs-and-events/
• GrubStreet (writing school), Boston https://grubstreet.or
• Henry George School of Social Science, New York https://www.hgsss.org