Idea: University of the World

(This is the first idea that I’m posting, as part of my new approach to ideas. Please take this idea if it’s good, or call bullshit if I’m wrong!)

The working world- what next? (Source: SFC)

I met up with a friend in Singapore, who had recently completed his studies and was back in Singapore to serve his bond of six years. He was sharing with me that he missed the intellectual excitement and debate of university, especially since his current job (and prior stint in the army) didn’t fulfill that aspect.

I had recently read Steven Levy’s Hackers, which detailed the origins of the computer revolution. One of the groups it had profiled was the Homebrew Computer Club, a club where hobbyists met together to share what they were doing, and learn from each other.

The two things set me thinking- I wondered whether that model could be applied more broadly, as a “University of the World” for working people to come together to learn stuff. People would meet say on Friday nights to discuss the week’s readings on history or politics, on a 3 month “course”. It would be guerilla- meeting wherever is convenient (e.g. Starbucks, homes). It would operate more like a church cell group, than anything else.

Starbucks as a school? (Source: Guardian)

There’d be no grades, or attendance policy. The latter puts the onus of attendance on basic people relationships- you’re coming because it’s an interesting group to learn with, and not because some “bad guy” to force you to turn up.

There’d be no need for teachers or mentors, though if they’d come to the meeting it would be great. I’ve realized that a lot of university is contained in the class curriculum, which shows you what you have to learn and where to look for it. I’ve observed students are able to get 60-90% from reading the textbook, and Google. Beyond that, you depend on the other people in your course, who reveal the holes in your knowledge, as well as for the solidarity to keep staying in the class.

It’d also probably not be someone “starting” a class, but groups of friends coming together to decide to do a particular topic, and inviting people to join them. I’d guess that most would just take a class off MIT’s OpenCourseware or iTunes University and learn as a group, or be like a “book club” and meet once a week to discuss the week’s readings.

Free education made possible

Beyond that, there are only questions about the idea. I’m guessing that humanities and engineering “courses” would be run very differently, as the former is more discussion, and the latter more trying to figure out stuff. There’s also the question of elitism- an oft-ignored purpose of universities is to select sufficiently smart people to form a community. Would discussions function well if someone is dragging the group down (and worse, refusing to shut up?) There’s also the question of whether anyone would sign up in the first place- I’m not sure if working professionals would want to find time to learn (though they’d probably find time to play Starcraft 2).

A groupon for learning?

I’ve got quite a lot of small detail ideas- like probably a cool Groupon sort of thing to handle sign ups, and see whether classes can reach a “critical mass” of participants. Yet as a current student, I’m not in the right place to do this. I do wonder whether such an idea would work, and the only way is for someone to take it and just do it. I suppose by putting this out there in the ideaspace I’m increasing my chances of finding out.