1

PROGRAM FRAMEWORK FOR THE WORLD ACADEMY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

NEW DELHI GENERAL ASSEMBLY November 11, 2011

World Academy of Art & ScienceStrategic Planning Committee

2 Vision & Mission

3

World Faces myriad challenges

Poverty, inequality and injustice Technology leading to environmental damage Rising expectations, frustrations and tensions threaten

the social fabric. Prosperity itself generates instability and destruction

4

What the world needs Guiding ideas, a vision to direct our intellectual, moral &

scientific capabilities for world peace, global security, human dignity & social justice.

The knowledge and institutions required for free, fair and effective global governance.

World has been propelled by the battle cry of revolutionary ideas – freedom, equality, fraternity, universal education, workers of the world unite.

Evolutionary ideas for collective progress that do not threaten to undermine the huge but fragile political, social, financial & ecological infrastructures on which we depend & strive to build a better world.

5

Intention of WAAS founders

Motivated by a deep emotional commitment and sense of responsibility to work for the betterment of all humankind.

Need for a united global effort to control the forces of science and technology and govern the peaceful evolution of human society.

Inhibiting conditions limited their ability to translate these powerful motives into action

Today circumstances are more conducive, the international environment is more developed.

6

WAAS as a Magnet & Focal Point

No single organization can by itself harness the motive force needed to change the world

An organization founded with such powerful intentions can become a magnet and focal point for like-minded agencies to project creative ideas that possess the inherent dynamism for self-fulfillment.

7

WAAS Mission The World Academy of Art & Science is an association of committed individuals drawn from diverse cultures, nationalities, occupations & intellectual pursuits spanning the arts, humanities & sciences, conscious of the profound social consequences & policy implications of knowledge, & united by a common aspiration to address the urgent challenges & emerging opportunities confronting humanity today. Our mission is to promote cross-disciplinary dialogue generative of original ideas & integrated perspectives that comprehend the root causes & effective remedies for our common problems, while furthering those currents of thought & social movement that affirm the value of human dignity & equitable development. The Academy dedicates itself to the pursuit of creative, catalytic ideas that can provide to present & future generations enlightened leadership in thought that leads to effective action.

8Program Strategy & Objectives

9

Program Strategy Founding conception of WAAS was an original idea & pioneering

initiative. In the current age, the unique composition of our membership is no

longer sufficient justification for the Academy’s existence. WAAS Fellows are unanimous in conceiving of this as a value-driven

organization that makes concrete contribution to addressing the problems of the world today.

A broad platform for diverse interdisciplinary dialogues not sufficient to distinguish ourselves.

Our unique composition needs to be leveraged to generate original & unique perspectives that transcend current knowledge & contribute meaningfully to addressing real social issues.

This is the only meaningful way to activate our membership and play the significant role in world affairs envisioned by our founders.

To make a unique contribution, we need to recognize the limitations in current approaches to knowledge & formulate our own conception of the type of knowledge the world needs.

10

Characteristics of Reliable Knowing

Human- Centered Knowledg

e

Evolutionary

Value-based & Ethical

Total & Integral

Responsible &

Accountable

Powerful & Effective

Unifies Objective

& Subjective

views

Constructive &

Creative

11Perspectives on the Emerging Global Context

Human-centered, Value-based12

Human Welfare & Well-being

Peace & Security

Freedom, Justice & Equality

Economic Security & Prosperity

Ecological Sustainabili

ty

Knowledge

Creativity

13

Comprehensive Perspective & Solutions

Political

Legal

Economic

Social

Cultural

Psychological

Technological

Ecological

14

Whole World Perspective

Whole

World

All Natio

ns

All Huma

n Need

s

All Peopl

e

All Fields & Activiti

es

15

Other Perspectives Evolutionary Perspective – view past, present and

future as various points on an ever evolving continuum. Opportunity-based Perspective – creation &

identification of new opportunities, not merely a preoccupation with solving problems and meeting anticipated challenges.

Effective Knowledge – reliable knowledge generates real power to solve problems & tap opportunities without untoward consequences associated with partial perspectives.

16

Program Framework

Human

Welfare

Global Governanc

e

Integral Knowledge

Sustainable Developme

nt

17

Program Thrust AreasReliable Knowledge to promote Human Security,

Welfare & Well-being Governance

Effective Democracy Global Security Sustainable Ecology

Social Development Educational Advancement Equitable Prosperity Cultural Enrichment

18

Incorporating Arts & Humanities

Founder’s intention was to address pressing social issues. Their rationale for bringing together the Arts & Sciences was to demonstrate the relevance of all intellectual viewpoints to forge an integral perspective on these issues, rather than to promote any particular field of knowledge. Therefore, the program framework and thrust areas are focused on issues rather than subjects.

19

Real Ideas to Change the World

Mission is to make significant original contribution to global human development.

Identification of specific messages that can have global impact.

Board decision in 2007 to adopt the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons as a specific objective of the Academy marked a significant step in identifying WAAS as an organization that stands for an idealistic position on an issue of paramount concern to our founders.

This decision activated participation of Fellows, generated a series of events, & to collaboration with GSI, Middle Powers Initiative & Indian disarmament movement.

20

Real Ideas Framework Mission is to make significant original contribution to global human

development. Complement to the Program Framework Identify specific issues on which WAAS can make a significant,

original contribution. Real Ideas: ideas with self-effectuating power, i.e. accepting the

idea carries with it the capacity to change perceptions, attitudes & actions.

Shift focus from Problems to Solutions – what should be done Ask our membership to identify original ideas that, if widely

accepted & implemented can have profound impact on future welfare & well-being of humanity.

Strategic Partnerships can play crucial role Utilize our network of relationships to project these ideas and

partner with other organizations to create an umbrella group to generate awareness and action..

21

Full & Guaranteed Employment

Full & guaranteed employment is global in significance & essential for achieving equitable & sustainable human security.

Political pressures prevent ILO and other international agencies from highlighting this position.

GEC presents compelling arguments for adoption of full & guaranteed employment as a fundamental human right & policy of every government.

WAAS E-project on Global Social Revolution focuses on link between poverty, unemployment, widening economic inequality, social unrest & terrorism.

In view of the widespread concern today with high and rising levels of unemployment, effective advocacy of this view could propel this issue to greater international visibility.

Integration of education with employment is essential to overcome the widening gap between the skills required by modern economies & the actual prevalence of skills in the workforce.

WAAS can partner with organizations like ILO, Asian Development Bank, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNDP.

22

Global Governance WAAS e-project on “From Global Crisis to Sustainable

Development” is based on the premise that the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other armaments, the spread of terrorism, the international financial crisis, rising economic inequalities and unemployment, ecological issues related to energy and climate change all require emergence of effective, democratic institutions for global governance.

The current unrepresentative character of UN Security Council, the veto power exercised by its five permanent members, & the absence of a global central bank are examples of limitations of current system.

WAAS can launch farsighted examination of essential requirements for effective global governance in coming decades & project a model capable of overcoming limitations that hamper transition beyond nation-state system.

23

World University Idea Academy’s original Manifesto WAAS founders envisioned the

possibility of the Academy itself functioning as an informal “world university”.

Today the enormous increase in demand for higher education will necessitate development in entirely new models of educational delivery which can accommodate vast increase in student population with far greater efficiency & lower cost than traditional forms.

Technology now makes it possible to consider different models for delivery of higher education, as different from existing models as Amazon’s conception of becoming the largest book seller without operating a single bookstore.

Many universities already offer web-based education courses. But none of them constitute truly inclusive global approach to delivering higher education.

Global systems would generate enormous benefits in terms of efficiency & equality of opportunity. Imagine a global network that enabled millions of students to access top academicians in each specialized area of their interest.

In addition to involving a new model for delivery of education, the World University presents an opportunity to found a new intellectual basis for organization of knowledge based on the principles of Reliable Knowing.

24

World University Project Examine strengths & weaknesses of traditional form of higher

education Assessment of global demand for higher education over next few

decades & challenges in meeting that needs through traditional means.

Survey of alternative technology models now in operation or under preparation to identify the most advantageous model.

Research alterative basis for the organization of knowledge & education based on the concept of Reliable Knowing.

Survey educational leaders & conduct conferences to explore alternative models.

Identify global players interested in this issues as potential partners with WAAS, including international organizations such as UNESCO, national governments of developing countries with large populations, scientific and other academic institutions, commercial organizations, etc.

Develop university level online courses in collaboration with UN University