<<20130406>> Archived distributions can be retrieved at; <http://tinyurl.com/azg3eyl>. This archive includes a html version of this list distribution and its MS/WORD version with its filename as “year-month-date.doc.” You can also access all of its attachments, if any.

P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D., Professor <tapio.varis@uta.fi>

Mr. Jerry Spivack <JSPVK@AOL.COM>

Michael Scalero <mscalero@stevens.edu>

Youcef Oubraham <youcef.oubraham@stevens.edu>

References:

(a) (20121222) Tapio Varis' talk at our Columbia University seminar in the evening of April 17th (Wednesday)
<http://tinyurl.com/cnc5c2y>

(b) Global Peace Through The Global University System
Tapio Varis - Takeshi Utsumi - William Klemm (Eds.)
The entire contents of this book can be retrieved at;
http://tinyurl.com/kofpf

(c) (20130210) (1) Golden Rule Award to Tapio Varis, (2) Extraordinary privilege we had before with H.E. Ms. Vivian Reding of European Commission
<http://tinyurl.com/bjar36f>

(d) Directions to Faculty House of Columbia University
<http://tinyurl.com/7mlev76>

(e) 20121223) Proposed GEWS/GUS conference at Stevens Institute of Technology on April 18th (Thursday)
<http://tinyurl.com/cbjsmzl>

(f) (20130319) Public Video-Conference on West African Broadband Internet Initiatives at Stevens Institute of Technology on April 18, 2013
<http://tinyurl.com/cq6nync>

Dear E-Colleagues:

(1) ATTACHMENT I below is a reminder of our Columbia University seminar, when Prof. Tapio Varis, Acting President of our Global University System (GUS) will make a very inspiring speech about the “New Humanism, Technology and Civilizations in the Global University System (GUS),” in the evening of this coming April 17th (Wednesday) at the Faculty House of the Columbia University.

(2) Pls use the attendance sheet in the ATTACHMENT I and inform Jerry Spivack of your coming — particularly if you wish to join in our dinner, which starts at 6:00 pm — you would need to bring your check of $25 addressed to the Columbia University (with "dinner Sem #467" in the memo line of the check).

(3) References (b) and (c) above are about Tapio and Reference (d) above is the campus map to the Faculty House of the Columbia University.

(4) References (e) and (f) are about our “Global Lecture Hall (GLH)” videoconference to be held at the Stevens Institute of Technology in the morning of April 18th, as taking the opportunity of Tapio’s coming to NYC area.

In addition of having colleagues from Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leon and Gambia, you can also participate in its webinar to view them and raise your questions — pls ask Mike and/or Youcef about its procedures.

See you then at the seminar — and if possible at the April 18th event at the Stevens.

Best, Tak

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ATTACHMENT I

From: "Jspvk (Jerry Spivack)" <jspvk@aol.com>
Subject: April 17 meeting - Knowledge Technology, and Social Systems Seminar
Date: April 6, 2013 1:26:38 AM EDT

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SEMINAR
on KNOWLEDGE, TECHNOLOGY, and SOCIAL SYSTEMS

On Wednesday, April 17, 7 pm (at Columbia University’s Faculty House).

Tapio Varis
Professor emeritus
UNESCO Chair in Global e-Learning, University of Tampere, Finland
Acting President of GUS
Board Member of UNESCO/IITE

will address us on:

New Humanism, Technology and Civilizations
in the Global University System (GUS)

Our speaker will discuss the launch, by GUS, of a trans-cultural, global-wide initiative (using modern techniques of communication) to promote the kinds of global education that will advance peace, justice, understanding, and human wisdom. The GUS seeks to encourage a sense of transnational identity, and a feeling of global community, which is necessary for the survival, creative growth and constructive transformation of our species.

A more complete abstract is ATTACHED, as well as Tapio Varis’ biography, AND a map showing DIRECTIONS to Columbia University’s Faculty House.

 So that we can approximate room and dining requirements, PLEASE REPLY to this message (if you have not already done so) with the following information [to fill in the form: 1) hit REPLY, 2) fill in the form, 3) hit SEND]:

MEETING WED, April 17, 2013

I will (     )       will not (    )     attend the meeting (7 pm) [ FREE ]

I will (     )       will not (     )    come for dinner (6 pm)

NOTE: If you are attending the dinner, then a $25 check (NOT cash), made out to Columbia University is required at the time of the dinner (with "dinner Sem #467" in the memo line of the check)

NAME _____________________________________


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The final Knowledge, Technology, and Social Systems seminar meeting for the Spring 2013 term is on the following date:

5/15 (all on Wednesdays)

We look forward to your joining us for Tapio Varis’ presentation,

Jerry Spivack
Sid Greenfield
Tak Utsumi

Co-Coordinators
Knowledge, Technology, and Social Systems seminar

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ATTACHMENT II

New Humanism, Technology and
Civilizations in the Global University System (GUS)

Tapio Varis
Professor  emeritus
UNESCO Chair in Global e-Learning, University of Tampere, Finland
Acting President of GUS
Board Member of UNESCO/IITE

Abstract

In the global, intercultural world communication necessarily mediates different values and cultural behaviors and serves civilizations. Technology has been used for learning, training and education throughout history.  Great civilizations and cultures have very different patterns of communication and use different senses in a different way. The lack of visions and spiritual debate on ethics and values in the multicultural world and dialogue among civilizations has created a need to look at the deeper essence of education with a new perspective of equity and new humanism. As observed by an East Asian Daisaku Ikeda and Westerner Arnold Toynbee in their dialogue already in 1976, “today people are compelled to serve intellectual knowledge and technological skill, which are in turn controlled by politics and economies.” Education should emphasize the inherent dignity and independence of learning. In consequence, if a truly global knowledge society is to be created, more attention should be given to the diversity of cultures and the co-existence of different civilizations and cultures. Global University System (GUS) brings technology to the agenda of global education.

GUS is to launch a trans-cultural, global-wide initiative (using modern techniques of communication) to promote the kinds of global education that will advance peace, justice, understanding, and human wisdom.  The GUS seeks to encourage a sense of transnational identity, a feeling of global community, which is necessary for the survival, creative growth and constructive transformation of our species.

The UN Alliance of Civilizations (AoC), in close cooperation with UNESCO and UNESCO Chairs, is promoting these goals in the spirit of new humanism. Digital literacy as media literacy aims to develop both critical understanding of and active participation in the media.

“Creating Global University System”, by T. Utsumi, T. Varis, and W. Klemm:
http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Global_University/Global University System/UNESCO_Chair_Book/Manuscripts/Part_II_Intercultur/Utsumi Creating GUS/Creating_GUS/GUS_web_upload/Creating GUS-D11-053003.htm

“Media Literacy and New Humanism”, by J-M Pérez Tornero, and T. Varis:
http://iite.unesco.org/publications/3214678/

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ATTACHMENT III

Professor Tapio Varis is Professor Emeritus of Professional Education, with an emphasis on global learning environments, at the Research Centre for Vocational Education, University of Tampere, Finland, and the UNESCO Chair in Global E-Learning. He is currently Visiting Professor at UNIVATES, Rio Grande do Sul. He is a Principal Research Associate at UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and a member of the Governing Board of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, the European Commission Media Literacy Expert Group, and the Digital Literacy Expert Group. He is also the acting President of Global University System (GUS) and a Media Scholar at the Universities of Helsinki and Lapland well as the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. He is media education expert of the Finnish Board of Film Classification, and the Ministry for Education, and a contributor to the Media Literacy Education activities of the Alliance of Civilizations Forums of the UN.

Prof. Varis has held various posts throughout his career, including Rector of the University for Peace (created by the UN) in Costa Rica; Chair of Media Studies in the University of Tampere, Finland; and Director of Tampere Peace Research Institute. He has been visiting professor in many parts of the world, including Mexico, Venezuela, United States, Spain, and Austria. Prof. Varis has authored approximately 300 scientific articles on topics such as “Global Peace through the Global University System.” His most recent work co-authored with J-M Perez Tornero on “Media Literacy and New Humanism” (UNESCO/IITE 2011) was also published in Spanish “Alfabetizacion mediatica y Nuevo humanismo” in Barcelona 2012. He holds a Masters and Doctor of Social Science from the University of Tampere, Finland.

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List of Distribution

P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D., Professor
Acting President, Global University System
UNESCO Chair in Global e-Learning with applications to multiple domains
Professor and Chair of Media Education
Research Center for Vocational Education & Hypermedia Laboratory
University of Tampere
P.O.Box 229
FIN-13101 Hameenlinna
FINLAND
+358-3-3551-3608
Tel: +358-3-614-5608--office in Hameenlinna
Tel: +358-3-215 6243--mass media lab in Tampere
GSM: +358-50-567-9833
Fax: +358-3-614-5611 or +358-3-3551-3611
tapio.varis@uta.fi
tapio.varis@hamk.fi
tapio.varis@helsinki.fi
http://www.uta.fi/~titava
www.ecml-eu.org -- about ECML project.
http://www.uta.fi/conference/mediaskills/

Mr. Jerry Spivack
Co-Coordinators
Knowledge, Technology, and Social Systems seminar
Columbia University
or
President
Inter/Action
11 Wavery Place
New York, NY 10003
917 721 0252
JSPVK@AOL.COM

Michael Scalero
E-Learning Technology Manager
Information Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
The Innovation University
Castle Point on Hudson
Hoboken, NJ 07030
201-216-5475
Cel: 201-805-7551
Fax: 201-216-8960
mscalero@stevens.edu
www.twitter.com/mscalero
www.stevens.edu   

Youcef Oubraham
E-Learning Technology Specialist
Library Systems Administrator
Information Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Castle Point on Hudson  
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Phone:(201)-216-5418   
youcef.oubraham@stevens.edu

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Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman
GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A. (GLOSAS/USA)
Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education
Founder and V.P. for Technology and Coordination of Global University System (GUS)
43-23 Colden Street, #9L, Flushing, NY 11355-5913, U.S.A.
Tel: 718-939-0928; Cel: 646-589-1730; Skype: utsumi
Email: takutsumi0@gmail.com, Web: http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/
U.S./IRS Employer ID: 11-2999676 <http://tinyurl.com/534gxc>
New York State Tax Exempt ID: 217837 <http://tinyurl.com/47wqbo>
Google Profiles <https://profiles.google.com/takutsumi0/about>
Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/GlobalEarlyWarningSystemsgews>
List Distribution <http://tinyurl.com/2fzx23e>
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