"human understanding takes more than one perspective"

 

 Spring 2008 Announcement

 

 

Take Courses for the Excitement and Enlightenment of Learning and/or

 

Earn a Certificate in Advanced Human Understanding

 

The Open U, a dynamic place to come to enroll in a course or a Certificate Program in Human Understanding that will accentuate your communication skills and ability to understand interpersonal dynamics, no matter what the setting.  You, your partner, friends, children, and employer will see the difference.  Start this Spring, since the Introductory Course in Human Understanding will be on the schedule.  Also a variety of courses will be available to excite your new year and to excite you with all sorts of new possibilities. There is an emphasis in all our courses to integrate a social aspect where new friends and colleagues are made.  It is like going back to college again for professionals, seekers of knowledge and life-long learners.

 

There will be courses in art, ethics, human understanding, comparative religion, creative writing, human sexuality, teaching empathy, couples makeover, social problem solutions and also Saturday workshops.  All courses are taught by highly qualified faculty from all over the world and country. 

 

The primary purpose for the Open University is to foster through education, human understanding so as to promote quality of life based on equality, opportunity and appreciation.  This means that the doors of the university are open to any individual who is interested in gaining a better understanding of human nature, individual and groups, culture, societies and the populations that comprise the local, national and international worlds.  In-depth study of the multiplicity of worldviews, the primacy of perception, and intersubjectivity will be encouraged in all courses.  Fun will also be incorporated to round out the holistic purpose of bringing people together.

 

 

Questions will be gladly answered at pmunhall@aol.com.  Make this year different, do something new, become a member of the International Institute for Human Understanding and enjoy course discounts, take a course at the Open U, meet new people, learn through understanding, open your mind at Open U. 

 

 

 

 

Philosophy and Goals of The Open U

 

Within our overall mission of promoting human understanding so as to foster tolerance, compassion and the welfare of all humankind and the environment, the iihu's Open U is dedicated to meeting the educational needs to meet our mission for the citizens of the community of Southeast Florida.

Upon the establishment of other iihu's Open U's throughout the nation and the world, the Open U Concept of promoting human understanding throughout the world will be accomplished.  Members of the iihu and its Open U believe that it is only through human understanding and the motivation to make change can we as people:

 

      Promote ethical, cultural, social and political responses reflective of humanitarian ideals

      Alleviate human suffering and enhance quality of life for all

      Advance the values of tolerance, justice, compassion among people and freedom from oppression,

      Inspire the search for meaning within cultures, contexts and contingencies and respond appropriately

      Develop programs based on human understanding directed to solving problems that contribute to inequality, injustice and poverty of all types

 

We understand that these goals are concepts, and they are commonly used by many organizations but we are the only organization that is offering to the community education courses to promote the underlying understanding that is necessary to accomplish such goals, yet not unattained in our society.

 

Thus our primary purpose for the Open University is to foster through education human understanding so as to promote quality of life based on equality, opportunity and education.  Equality and opportunity through education in an open university means that the doors of the university are open to any individual who is interested in gaining a better understanding of human nature, the individual and groups, culture, societies and the populations that comprise the local, national and international worlds.  In-depth study of the multiplicity of worldviews, polyvocality, multiple realities, and intersubjectivity will be encouraged in discourse.

 

"Conversation is the production site of knowledge."

                                                                                                  Steinar Kvale

 

An open university goes beyond physical structural limitations and reaches out to the community to focus on improving the life of those on the local, national and international levels. Concepts relative to the postmodern world will be favored over the traditional worldview of teaching and learning, with imaginative and creative ways of coming to know and to understand.