A Global Education Policy for Total Consciousness: the Context

Education today does not have a clear, human-centred goal, however well its economic ones have been established. Children are exhibiting alarming levels of dysfunction; teachers report frequent frustrations; conflicts erupt demonstrating the divergent views between politicians, administrators, institutions, educators and parents. No one needs to be reminded that the Covid pandemic is presenting greater challenges to education and exacerbating many of the pre-existing ones.

Education that imparts only limited knowledge creates limited people with limited capacities and limited views.

Now is the time for all stakeholders in education to ask fundamental questions about the purpose of education, the function of education in society, how different types of knowledge should be integrated, how totality of education is defined, how to engage the whole human being in education, and how a human being attains true realization, and total consciousness.

We aim to gather together the best thinkers and practitioners in the world to create a new global policy for better and total education. A clear vision which answers the fundamental questions of education will be evolved.

The purpose, principles and methods of the educational system all vary to a great extent from nation to nation. The world lacks a unified vision of education that roots us in the shared human experience. Our common human nature should bring us together; through the educational process, students should be able to understand the interconnectedness of all life. We call upon the international community to join us in drafting a Global Education Policy that achieves the humanistic aspirations of education, regardless of (or adaptable to) geography, culture, economics, language, ability, and belief. The policy would be rooted in the best of today’s educational philosophies, scientific thought, and modern practices. Through our consultative process, the policy will be proposed to governments worldwide, as well as the UN.

Conference Schedule

The conference will be held online from May 22-24, 2021. A preliminary schedule is given below, which is subject to change.

Please check back for updates and the complete program.

May 22, 2021

15:00-16:30 IST: Inaugural Function (Plenary)

Addresses by Dignitaries, the Founder, and Representatives of Governments.


16:45-18:15 IST: Philosophy of Education – Expert Group Panel Discussion (Plenary)

What is our philosophy for a global education? Hear the experts in educational philosophy present their views in this Panel Discussion.

May 23, 2021

15:00-16:30 IST:

Teaching Methodology Expert Group (Parallel Session)

Following our philosophy of education, what methodology of teaching should be adopted in global education?  Hear the experts in teaching methodology present their views in this Panel Discussion.

Learning Environments Expert Group (Parallel Session)

What type of learning environments will aid the teaching and learning process? What guidelines can be given to fit the various global contexts? Hear the experts in learning environments present their views in this Panel Discussion.

Educational Institutions Expert Group (Parallel Session)

In the age of digitalization and rapid changes to the educational sector, what are the institutional requirements to cultivate humanistic education? Hear the experts in educational institutions present their views in this Panel Discussion.

16:45-18:15 IST

Curriculum Expert Group (Parallel Session)

What is the curriculum that every human being should have in the 21st century, regardless of location? Hear the experts in curriculum present their views in this Panel Discussion.

Student Life (Parallel Session)

What are the basic qualities and required to be a student, and what disciplines should be followed? Hear the experts in student life present their views in this Panel Discussion.

Parents and Home Life Expert Group (Parallel Session)

What is the role of parents and guardians in learning? What setup do students need at home to promote their educational aspirations? Hear the experts in parental involvement present their views in this Panel Discussion.

18:30-20:00 IST

Lifelong Learning Expert Group (Parallel Session)

Education is a lifelong process. What are the policies needed to support learning in adults and at all ages? Hear the experts in lifelong learning present their views in this Panel Discussion.

Financing Education Expert Group (Parallel Session)

The financial and government regulation aspects of education must not be ignored when conceiving of the implementation of a global education policy. Who should pay for education? How should it be regulated?  Hear the experts in finance present their views in this Panel Discussion.


May 24, 2021

15:00-16:30 IST: Formation of a Global Education Policy-Part 1 (Plenary)
Moderated discussion with all Experts and Moderators from previous days.

16:30-16:45 IST: Break

16:45-17:45 IST: Formation of a Global Education Policy-Part 2 (Plenary)

17:45-18:30 IST: Closing Ceremony

Detailed papers and videos from each of the Experts will be made available on our website for viewing at your leisure.

GEP Global Education Commission

The Global Energy Parliament has established a Commission to produce a global education policy. The Commission is comprised of members representing 5 global regions (Asia, Australia, the Americas, Europe and Africa/Middle East) with a wealth of combined experience in education in theory and practice.

	Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose Head of the Commission, Representing Asia Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose (IAS) is an eminent civil servant who has been described by the Prime Minister of India as a ‘Man of Ideas’. He is presently a One-Man Expert Commission for the Government of India’s Labour Advisory Board, Advisor to the Government of Meghalaya, Principal Advisor to the National Heritage Project, educator, writer, orator, housing expert, and innovator superannuated from service at the rank of Chief Secretary and Secretary to Govt. of India. He is Chairman of the UN consultative body, Habitat Alliance, and the Speaker of the Global Energy Parliament. In service, he served as Vice Chancellor to the National Museum University, Govt of India, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Education Society, Government of India, and Principal Secretary for Higher Education. Recipient of the reputed JawaharLal Nehru Fellowship, Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose is also fellow of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. He is author of 45 books in English, Hindi and Malayalam.
	Prof. Armoogum Parsuramen Representing Africa/Middle East Armoogum Parsuramen began his career as a teacher, and later served as Minister of Education, Arts, Culture and Science in Mauritius from 1983 to 1995. He then joined the World Bank as a Senior Advisor in Washington DC before taking the post of Director of UNESCO in Paris, Senegal and India. Mr. Parsuramen describes himself first and foremost as a man of faith who feels profound gratitude for what he has received in life and wishes to give back those gifts by serving humanity. After retirement, he founded the Global Rainbow Foundation, an organisation serving the most marginalised individuals of society. He is also the Founder-President of the University of Third Age Mauritius (U3AM) and the International Thirukkural Foundation. Since 2019, Mr. Parsuramen has been an ambassador for the Rise & Shine European Union campaign and he has been nominated as the Regional Representative for Africa at Commonwealth of Learning Board of Governors.
	Dr. Reza Chowdhury Representing the Americas Dr. Chowdhury is a prominent medical educationalist who pioneered sustainable educational entrepreneurship and possesses extensive experience in education and healthcare in the United States, Central and South America, South Pacific and India. He has had a distinguished career as a university executive, education consultant, health educator, hospital executive, biomedical engineer, and entrepreneur. He is considered one of the pioneers in ultrasound imaging and new applications of sonology. Dr. Chowdhury has previously served as a member of Ronald Reagan’s Republican Presidential Taskforce in the USA. He is a member at professional organizations such as the World Medical Association and American Public Health Organization. He has recently retired as the acting Chairman and Board Member of Green Heart Medical University in Guyana.
	Lady Carla Davis Representing Australia Lady Carla Davis, MPH, is an acclaimed nutrition expert, writer, university executive, peace ambassador, and consultant on political and global issues. Lady Davis partnered with her late husband, Sir Tom Davis, MD, KBE, in his medical practice/surgery, political career as Cook Islands Prime Minister and Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, diplomatic work, publications, and various Pacific Island programs.  She was one of the founding members of South Seas University (SSU) and currently serves as its CEO. Lady Davis is also a Contributing Editor for The New Zealand Journal of Natural Medicine and Executive Editor for the Masters of Health multi-media magazine.  Additionally, she serves as Cabinet Minister for Environment in the Global Energy Parliament.
	Dr. Kiran Vyas Representing Europe Dr. Kiran Vyas is the forerunner of Ayurveda in Europe, who introduced it in the early 1980s, when no one yet knew what Ayurveda was. He is now recognized as a major player in the teaching of this art of living in the service of well-being and personal development, for almost forty years. A former student of the Sri Aurobindo International Education Center in Pondicherry, India, Kiran Vyas founded three experimental schools with his father who was one of Mahatma Gandhi's closest collaborators. At UNESCO, he worked as a permanent representative and member of the World Council of the INSEA (International Society for Education through Art, NGO). Settled in France, Dr. Vyas then moved towards the teaching of Yoga & Ayurveda. His scientific training, his pedagogical sense, his keen interest in the evolution of body and mind as well as his experience in creating schools, led him to develop Tapovan into an Open University, promoting interdisciplinary and intercultural exchanges. Since 2013, Dr. Vyas has served as  the Chairman of Global Energy Parliament-France.

The Commission is establishing Expert Groups to provide input into the conent of the policy. Expert Groups aim to be comprised of a diverse set of experiences and approaches, including membership of policy experts, philosophers of education, educators working in the field, students and parents.

Expert Groups are being formed in the following areas:

Philosophy of Education

Teaching Methodology

Curriculum

Educational Institutions

Learning Environment

Student Life

Parents and Home Life

Lifelong Learning

Financing Education

If you would like to be considered for an Expert Group, please use our Expert Group Registration Form.

Organizer

Global Energy Parliament

The Global Energy Parliament (GEP) is an international body working for science, sustainability, and peace. Since 2010 it has organized annual international sessions of parliament bringing together scientists, thinkers, artists, activists and global citizens as Members of Parliament who discuss and collaborate on innovative solutions to the most pressing issues facing the world.

GEP is founded on His Holiness Jagadguru Swami Isa’s unified theory called the “I-Theory.” Its premise is that everything in the universe is a manifestation of vibration (energy), the most basic unit of which is called an I-particle. Three variations of frequencies and wavelengths of the I-particle vibration creates all the qualitative and quantitative differences in the manifested universe. The human being and the universe are both constituted by this basic element.

The parent organization of the GEP is the Isa Viswa Prajnana Trust (IVPT), a charitable organization which has held Special Consultative Status to the United Nations ECOSOC since 2015. IVPT was founded in 2000 by Swami Isa, who is well known for his educational philosophy and method by the name of ‘Education for Total Consciousness’.

In 1998, Swami Isa established the Isa Viswa Vidyalayam in Kerala, India, an Education for Total Consciousness school from pre-primary to high school and vocational training. In 2000, the Trust began holding annual national and international conferences on the Education for Total Consciousness system.

The GEP and IVPT organize regular activities aiming to inculcate knowledge in individuals about what it means to be a human being, how to live in balance, and how to attain total consciousness.

Learn more about the Education for Total Consciousness system on IVPT's website.