Education of My Dream: International Youth Dialogue

Discussion of the question "How should education be?" is important for anyone who takes even the slightest interest in their future, and that of their children and the nation in which they live. The need for obtaining an education is no longer in doubt. All that remains is the strategic negotiation of the maze of choices that await us down that path. Before embarking on this journey, it is necessary to determine what aim you wish to achieve. Do you need an education to get a well-paid job, or are you more interested in getting to the bottom of things, finding out how the world works and what the meaning of life is? Or do you want to discover what it takes to run a family and build a home? How would you like to devote your time? The answers to these questions lie within each person. We each choose our own way in life and how we develop.

The progress we have made to date not only makes our lives easier, but also provides broader opportunities for acquiring knowledge. A good example is the Internet - an educational environment that pushes the boundaries, giving access to a rich world of knowledge. But we must bear in mind that its use does not necessarily lead to real knowledge, but rather enables the process of accessing information yet to be discovered. For now though, we have not yet learned how to "download" files with various theories and practices directly onto ourselves, bypassing our visual, auditory and tactile receptors. Therefore, we have to study the same way our parents did; by reading, solving mathematical problems and writing essays, but we can incorporate the wider variety of tools we now have to assist us with this. We should also not forget the importance of direct interaction with the real world. After all, gaining practical experience, and more importantly, making contact with the people around us, have always played a major role in the viability of acquiring knowledge.

Discussion on the need for education reform is fascinating, and so as not to lose the essence of the task, I would like to identify some values it is important to remember. Development in its entirety is the synthesis of pragmatic, ethical and aesthetic knowledge within an individual. Priority should be placed on the goals of education rather than its methods and disciplines. Development of one's educational space is also important, as observation and experience are the basic methods of obtaining information about the world around us. There is also the universality and inseparability of private life, family, work and leisure. These are the guidelines that can serve as a compass in the contemporary world of educational programs. We wish you well on your journey!

The Youth Time International Movement invites all those interested, to take part in a global initiative to discuss the topic: How do we picture the education we've always wanted? Participants who send the most interesting work will have the opportunity to participate in the India Youth Forum to be held in early March 2012.

We have already received over 60 works from representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Mexico, Italy, Russia and the Ukraine (Open Dream's). Furthermore, students of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) successfully led a conference, in which over 150 students and teachers discussed their search for their ideal system of higher education.

Invite 5 to 10 friends for an informal discussion, may be in a cafe. Elect discussion moderator who would streamline the theme of a dialogue and a secretary who would write down the ideas expressed. The right to select the aspects of debate on the general subject "Education" is entirely yours. To achieve better results we advise you to convene 2 – 3 times to reflect between your meetings on suggestions that were forwarded, to get the requisite support information and to formulate the final results of your discussions.

The age of the participants is from 18 to 30. Work results are to be sent by December 01, 2011 in the form of the text in English. We also advise you to send us several photos of your discussion work. All the received texts would appear on the web site of the youth movement.