What should the un-iversity be about?

What should the un-iversity be about?

Nothing, and everything. The curriculum should resemble a me-nu more than a syllabus. It should be a resource for learning, for thinking, for creating new ideas, new paradigms (whatever those are). It shouldn't compete with regular universities (we have enough of those) in offering standard courses. The courses we offer should be 'off the wall'. It is likely that the first will be offered by Lior Manor. I dream of a course in which he explains the thought processes of the magician, the psychology involved, and the scientific principles which magicians use to 'bend' our perception of reality. Now that would be a course worthy of the un-iversity. You can expect me to be in attendance. Other courses I would personally like to attend or help teach:


1. Dentistry: medicine or business?
2. "Tricks of the Trades" How not to buy a piano, a house, etc.
3. How to think and succeed like Yossi Vardi (this is one I would strictly be on the listening end)

What might a teacher at the un-iversity do? Freely share his/her disruptive view of one segment of our un-iverse. What should a student do? Commit to attend the entire run of any given course (maybe with one or two unavoidable hookies).

Your comments are welcome!

The un-iversity might also publicize groups and events that share this vision. See, for example, the e-mail below I received from Or-Tal Kiriati. There are lots of organizations promoting innovation among youth, but there is no site that we know of that un-ites them.

יזמות טכנולוגית
http://startupseeds.com/

חינוך ליזמות
www.unistream.co.il/ and www.decimaventures.com/unistream.html

בנק לאומי
www.leumi.co.il/Leumi/Article/0,2777,170994,00.html
http://www.leumi.co.il/Leumi/Home/0,2777,6567,00.html
http://www.yazamim.org.il/

קבוצת עופר
http://ne.sisma.org.il/school/hativa-b/nashad/default.aspx

התאחדות התעשיינים ומשרד התמ"ס
http://www.industry.org.il/?CategoryID=1151&ArticleID=1034&sng=1
http://www.kav-lahinuch.co.il/?CategoryID=311&ArticleID=4644

מרכז נוער יזמי כפר סבא
http://www.kfar-saba.muni.il/?CategoryID=548&ArticleID=290&sng=1

אשלים - נוער בסיכון - פרויקט יזמות
http://www.ashalim.org.il/default.asp?catid=%7bBDEAE394-92AC-4DAD-B186-83834981C3BC%7d&details_type=1&itemid=%7bCE608647-E844-4132-9DC6-2BCACA99260C}
מסמך על התוכנית
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/1986480/%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%98-%D7%99%D7%96%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A2%D7%A1%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%9C%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%A8
ועוד קישורים
http://www.zionut2000.org.il/hebrew/meidaon-yazamut/email.html

תוכניות אחרות - יזמות חברתית וכ'
http://noar.education.gov.il/main/upload/merkaz/merkaz5.htm
יזמות התנדבותית
http://ivolunteer.org.il/Index.asp?CategoryID=280&ArticleID=2811

עמותת צבע (צעירים בונים עתיד) - יותר חברתי פחות יזמות
http://www.tzeva.org.il/

Summary of the idea:
Let's get them all together all the doers, mentors, leaders, investors together with the youth, in a one day happening, at any given date around the summer vacation or at the beginning of the school year.

The Un-iversity

The Un-iversity

Once in a while, my dream of starting an un-iversity comes back to "haunt" me. After over thirty years at a regular university (Tel Aviv University), I am aware of the shortcomings of ordinary academia.

1. The students are degree-oriented. The want to take a course, get a y average, to get a degree in z.

2. Teaching is mostly mediocre. This is because the teachers are paid primarily to do research and don't care that much about giving inspiring lectures. Often they give the same lecture over and over again for decades.

3. The university usually discourages lateral thinking among faculty. This is because universities are arranged according to disciplines, faculties and departments. You become a professor in a specific area (microbiology in my case) and are pigeonholed to teach and research in that field your whole career. Focusing, on the other hand, is highly encouraged.

4. Many of the most intelligent and successful people on the planet never finished university, let alone completed a Ph.D. No matter how motivating, enlightening, and innovative they are, they would never get a research or teaching appointment at a good school.

5. University courses are structured. They have predetermined programs, specific curricula, have course outlines, etc.

6. Universities often prize and teach so-called "knowledge", rather than the paths and processes of mental development.

7. Universities tend to elect officers who believe in routine and resist change

8. Universities tend to accept students who do well in routine examinations under routine conditions.

So, what would an un-iversity be? I am not sure, but we could share a few thoughts.

1. It would prize innovation and lateral thinking.

2. The emphasis would not be on obtaining marks or a degree.

3. The faculty would me more interested in sharing thoughts and enthusiasm than making a salary.

4. Innovation, creativity, curiosity are words that would be commonly used.

5. The students would make a difference.

6. Not all the teachers would be required to have advanced degrees, though some of their students might.

In my next blog:things I would like to learn that no one is teaching.