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Positive News was handed the guardianship of Global Village News and Resources in summer of 2004. Although we would like to continue to make the archives available to subscribers and readers we would like to point out that stories published prior to issue 89 were not under our editorial guidance and would like to make a distinction that these are not necessarily a reflection of the current opinions of our editorial team. University for Global Well-Being Teaches Futuristic World View Sweden - The University for Global Well-Being (UGWB) was started in September 1998 as an alternative to conventional universities. The idea was to provide a place to study and, as far as possible, to experience the new world view which is emerging to replace the world view which currently dominates western-style civilisation. The emerging worldview is holistic instead of reductionist, ecological instead of exploitative, and advocates spiritual values in place of consumer values. The unique characteristic of this new university is that it provides a one year course giving a complete overview of the emerging world view, from its theoretical basis in new physics and other sciences, to how it can be put into practice for the individual and for the world. The course combines intellectual study with emotional and social development. Theoretical subjects cover philosophy, science, health, arts, and society. Practical elements of the course include nonviolent communication, sharing circles, techniques for consensus, meditation, qi gong, yoga, and using voice, movement and art for self-expression, self-insight and celebration. Looking back over the first year, the university's course has been an unqualified success, as confirmed by the students' comments. The first year was designed as a pilot year, in which the students would themselves take responsibility for much of the running of the university under the guidance of the visiting professors and the academic advisory board. This too has been an unqualified success and the twelve members of the pilot group have risen admirably to the challenges of the first year. Some half a dozen of the pilot students will be staying on to help run the university next year. Some changes were made to the course during the pilot year. The main change was to make it into a one year course instead of the two years originally planned. This was a practical and economic necessity, and a two year course is planned as soon as it becomes feasible. The issue of the university's academic accreditation still has not been attained, though they are actively seeking this if it can be done without compromising the basic purpose of the university. Taking a holistic and new world view approach, it is not surprising that the University is a place for self-actualisation as well as academic pursuit. Students, who are experiencing a 'personal paradigm shift,' have developed an emotional intelligence not found in conventional academic settings..This has included loving friendships which have emerged to support students on the sometimes difficult path to global transformation." Students are expected to live on campus in order to take part fully in the daily life of the university. Each student has a private room, either in the main university building or in a flat on campus. There is a sauna in the university building and the meals, which are vegetarian, are taken together in the dining room. The campus is in a beautiful countryside location just outside Höör, a town of some 5000 inhabitants. It takes 10 minutes to walk to the village shops and 20 minutes to walk to the railway station, with trains every hour to the nearby towns of Lund (25 minutes away) and Malmö (40 minutes). For more information, go to www.holmacollege.org or email info@holmacollege.org (Source: Positive News: www.positivenews.org.uk) |
