Today’s university graduates must be prepared to focus their intellectual skills on pressing global problems of world health, unequal access to resources, environmental degradation, and more. It is incumbent upon institutions of higher education to prepare students to better confront these pressing concerns. In response to this challenge, George Mason University invited a select group of prestigious international institutions to join a new Global Problem-Solving Consortium from 2012-2014. The Consortium members offered focused programs that bring their students and faculty together to improve both their knowledge of global issues and their awareness of how other major societies approach these issues.

Institutions that participated in in the Consortium are:

Brazil – University of Brasilia	China – Tsinghua University
India – University of Delhi	Kenya – Kenyatta University
Korea – Yonsei University	Russia – Higher School of Economics (Russia)
Turkey – Istanbul Sehir University	United States – George Mason University

Summer workshops for Consortium students

2014: The Higher School of Economics in Moscow hosted a workshop on Global Food Security. Topics included the global food supply and related issues (e.g., climate change, fresh water shortages, and natural disasters). Students discussed issues of global food supply in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) as well as the relationship between these key emerging economies. The students created a true global course and dialogue. In their free time the participants had the opportunity to communicate with other Summer University students and dedicated professors, directors and academics at the HSE.
2013: The Consortium offered its first summer workshop, on Water Management for Environmental Sustainability, at George Mason University.

Global Problem Solving Fellows Program for Mason students

The GPS Fellows program prepared a select group of Mason students to address global challenges through a specialized yearlong experience that combines engaging coursework with international intellectuals and opportunities with partner universities across the globe. Fellows participated in research workshops and received guidance through one-on-one mentorship with faculty. The program encouraged participation in an optional study abroad experience by awarding scholarships to GPS fellows.

2014 Global Problem-Solving Projects at Mason

Global Problem-Solving Forum:
Held April 10th, 2014, the GPS forum provided Mason students and faculty an opportunity to learn about the consortium and how they can get involved.

Global Problem-Solving Skills Workshop:
Held April 19th, 2014, the GPS skills workshop provided select Mason students and faculty a day-long training led by Global Knowledge Initiative (GKI), a highly regarded, nonprofit international development organization.

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For additional information, contact Richena Purnell-Sayle at rpurnell@gmu.edu.

GPS Photo Gallery
Articles about GPS
Water Management for Environmental Sustainability
Global Problem-Solving Fellows Program at Mason
GPS Networked Courses
Confronting Global Challenges: An Online GPSC Mini-Course
More on Consortium Member Institutions

 

 

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