GEC 18-20th July

Inaugural Global Education Convention (NUS)

240 Faculty, Staff and Student participants from 48 universities around the world, 5 distinguished speakers - a perfect combination.

i am truly blessed for having the opportunity to interact and work with people from all over the globe. it is definitely an experience worth remembering. issues such as globalisation (most aspects), the definition/characterisitics of the term "global citizen", how to be an effective global citizen, global citizen = global person?, whether global education necessarily means studying abroad and vice versa etc etc. to keep it short, i'd just say it was an enriching convention.

Some of the things mentioned/discussed that either struck a chord in me or enforced my previous beliefs:

- Question what exists and think the unthinkable; Think globally (& locally) to improve the lives of own and world community; Break out of the isolation of minds and find common space/thought to share with others; the opportunity of a good education comes with responsibilities.
We have to put our minds to important issues of the day, dream of the future but concentrate on the present, share the experience. Above all, we must stay true to our convictions (of course unless proven otherwise by words substantiated with evidence). - Tharman Shamungaratnum, Minister for Education

- False Assumptions that plague the Modern World:
1. Because of history (we learn from it), we move forward with a progressive nature.
2. We live in an ordered universe.
3. Application of the great forces of reason can solve the problems of the world.

Solutions to succeed in obtaining Global citizenship:
1. Education: to explain why the world has changed and to create an educational environment that fits a culture in order to change the mindsets of pple.
2. Persuade global organisations to overlook other countries as well and not only its richest members.
3. Think of the implications of global citizenship in our own communities. - Kishore Mabubani, Dean - Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

Inspite of all this, i guess the question of whether countries/cities want to be globalised still remains unanswered (despite already being subjected to the plague).