Better Bildung, Better Future
A Bildung Manifesto for a Global Renaissance 2.0
May 9, 2021
We need better Bildung for a better future
– for the sake of coming generations and for our own!
With this manifesto, we, the signatories, offer a framework for Bildung. This manifesto speaks to people around the globe, to governments and other leadership, proclaiming that our collective future is a future of Bildung.
Humanity is at a crossroads where climate change, disruptive technologies, globalization, wealth inequality, mass-migration, extinction of species, and many other wicked, complex problems challenge the current structures of society, and hence social calm and world peace. The sudden spread of the corona virus is an existential wake-up call to humankind: We cannot disrupt existing structures and circumstances without unsettling consequences. Our future is at stake.
We need creative efforts, not just in order to create the road to peace, but also to build the road wide and in the direction of a better future for all humans and life on the planet. We want the path we choose, to preserve and further develop democracy and human rights. We want the path we choose to promote the science that allows us to keep everybody safe. And we want to promote a culture that allows everybody to be free and have access to Bildung.
Bildung beyond borders.
Why Bildung?
Bildung is the combination of the education and knowledge necessary to thrive in one’s society, and the moral and emotional maturity to be both a team player and have personal autonomy.
Bildung is also the ‘education’ bringing this about; Bildung is the process as well as the result.
Bildung is a dynamic concept, one that can evolve.
Bildung is knowing one’s roots and being able to imagine and co-create the future.
Bildung offers wholesomeness. It is a means in itself; it is not instrumental. It allows us to be fully humane and treat the planet and other species with their inherent dignity, thus enabling us to live within planetary boundaries.
Bildung is a promise of an achievable utopia towards which everybody can contribute.
Bildung is a force of peaceful societal transformation.
Why now?
If there is anything positive coming out of the corona pandemic, it is the sudden human connection around the globe. As national borders close, the human spirit connects; as markets crash, culture is shared; as people are confined to their homes, they take up singing on their balconies. The disruption of the industrialized society is opening a window to that which makes us human, and which could be at the core of civilization in the future. As the plague of 1348 paved the way for the Renaissance in Europe, the current pandemic could, if we so choose, be the door to a Renaissance 2.0 around the globe. We have an opportunity that no generation may ever experience again.
The future is open and we are the generation who needs to define it on entirely new terms. We have the science, knowledge, technologies, and opportunities available that no previous generation ever had.
For too long, education has focused almost exclusively on skills for the job market and how each individual can contribute to economic growth. Humans have been reduced to consumers and cogwheels in a commercial machinery.
We have made mistakes by giving the markets too much power.
We have deprived ourselves of the education and Bildung that could have made us flourish and protect the planet.
It is time to change.
What kind of Bildung?
Bildung is for life, a meaningful life, through all phases of life. From childhood, via adolescence and adulthood into old age.
Bildung is always Bildung in a context, and the complexity of the issues we are facing is higher than ever before. The Bildung we need to develop must match the challenges and complexities of the circumstances we are facing.
Bildung is the refinement of that which is unique in each one of us, and also includes the tolerance towards others who have the same right to their uniqueness.
Bildung is the foundation of conscious citizenship, empowerment and emancipation; it is the prerequisite for political freedom and democracy.
Bildung emerges from confrontation with that which challenges one’s existing worldviews. The catalysts can be new insights, skills, art, literature and deep conversations with unlike-minded people.
Bildung is open-ended, curious, and loves surprises. Bildung means suffering pushbacks and making mistakes. Bildung is fun and play. It is lore and cultural depth. It is developing one’s voice and having a say in one’s life.
How?
For this, we need awareness about Bildung and how crucial it is. We have to develop new programs within existing institutions, and completely new Bildung platforms. We shall revitalize the many teaching methods that already exist in addition to the development of new ones.
It must be a joint effort to empower citizens who can take personal responsibility for the betterment of society. Bildung will have to be a visible agenda across the globe, fostered by a network of actors from all levels, ranging from individuals, communities, cities, regions and nations to whole continents.
Investing in Bildung, in human meaning-making and development, must have our highest priority.
While the funding will have to be top-down, the goal is a strengthened capacity of the citizens to self-organize bottom-up, around what makes life richer and more meaningful at the individual as well as the societal level.
By whom?
Bildung is universal and concerns all humans and all societies.
Citizens, governments, researchers, local communities, businesses, NGOs, educational institutions, and teachers need to unite around this endeavour.
People need to request it, take the initiative and self-organize around it.
Governments, businesses and NGOs depend on it and should not just encourage it; they should see it as the best investment in a prosperous and peaceful future.
Wherever Bildung takes place, educators should be free to do what they do best. They should be provided with an open landscape of Bildung opportunities for their work and for their pupils and students.
Everybody can learn and everybody has something to teach.
We all have an obligation to expand our understanding.
Let us become a species of Bildung by having the courage to open and step into the door towards a global Renaissance 2.0.
I hereby sign the Global Bildung Manifesto
Your name can be here too:
Ms. Anna Delort i Puyol, Spain
Joan Tañà Castellà, SpainJoan Tañà Castellà, Spain
Dr. Leena Paaskoski, Finland
Tiina Kuisma, Finland
Riitta Ilonen, Finland
Drs. Jos Dierx, Netherlands
Music producer Kim Hyttel, Denmark
Mr. Manuel Manga, USA
Arkitekt Morten Høgsbro Holm, Denmark
Xavier Bertrand, France
Stefanie Ollenburg, Germany
Mr. Reto Ammann, Switzerland
Cornelis Tanis, Netherlands
Prof. Ron Folman, Israel
Mr. Uriel Naranjo, USA
Zafer Achi, France
Alfred Arvidsson, Sweden
Edwin Cnossen, Netherlands
David Mallows, United Kingdom
Dr. Eeva K. Kallio, Finland
David O’Brien, Ireland
Dr. Brad Kershner, United States
Michael Rawding, United States
Dr. Joan Walton, United Kingdom
Dr. Gregg Henriques, United States
Mr. Alex Goodall, United Kingdom
Dr. Gary Brill, United States
Ms. Rita de Podesta, United Kingdom
Dr. Timothy Houlding, United Kingdom
Pia Mero, Finland
Professor Emeritus, Waldemar A Schmidt, PhD, MD., United States
Mr. Lee Chazen, United States
MA, MLD, Henk Sissing, Netherlands
Professor, Alexander Rinnooy Kan, Netherlands
Jochem Goedhals, Netherlands
Wouter Sanderse, Netherlands
Nina Hjelt, Finland
Dick de Wolff, Netherlands
Nelleke Noordervliet, Netherlands
Hans Schnitzler, Netherlands
Eveline Kersten, Netherlands
Mr. Pete Burden, United Kingdom
Docent Thomas Jordan, Sweden
Professor (Biology), Ernst von Weizsäcker, Germany
Iris Middendorp, Netherlands
Riikka Suhonen, Finland
Fredrik Lidman, Sweden
MA, Marinus Waleson, Netherlands
Drs., Brechje Schouten, Netherlands
MA, Esli Verheggen, Netherlands
Mr. Carin Zandbergen, Netherlands
Eugène Bernard, Netherlands
Nico Andreas Heller, Germany
Wim Krijbolder, Netherlands
Jan-Mattijs Heinemeijer, Netherlands
Ms. Azucena Badenes, Spain
Drs. Elke Oegema, Netherlands
Professor Jacob Wonjun Lee, Korea
Mieke de Vreede, Netherlands
mattie van der worm, Netherlands
Mr. Ludvig Claeson, Norway
Irena Sgier, Switzerland
Marianne With, Denmark
Secretary General, FNV, Raymond Svensson, Sweden
Drs. Erik Han Bakker, Netherlands
Mathias Picker, Germany
Mrs. Tereshchenko Vladlena, Ukraine
Armin Sieber, Switzerland
Thomas Huttinga, Netherlands
Educational adviser, Gunvor Vestergaard, Denmark
Sean Malik, Australia
Kåre Wangel, Denmark
Tetiana Shevchuk, Ukraine
Hans Polman, Netherlands
Lichko Maxim, Ukraine
Iryna Sokur, Ukraine
Iryna Sharpylo, Ukraine
Anna Rohalska, Ukraine
Tetiana Konko, Ukraine
Валентина Швед-Гірняк, Ukraine
MS Swaan Barrett, Germany
Татьяна; Tatiana Tumanova, Ukraine
Магеровська; Yulia Maherovska, Ukraine
Larysa Andriichenko, Ukraine
Mrs. Iryna Poplavets, Ukraine
Inna Chornomorets, Ukraine
Mr. Iurii Nikolenko, Ukraine
Inna Klymenko, Ukraine
Орина Pry a Tsehelnyk, Ukraine
Valerii Holub, Ukraine
Daria Yemets, Ukraine
Olena Dubas-Chorniuk, Germany
Mr. George Pór, United Kingdom
Sergii Nosach, Ukraine
Чорненька Світлана Олексіївна, Ukraine
univ.bacc.paed. Kristina Meštrović, Croatia
Ivan Sorokolit, Ukraine
Andriy Chvaliuk, Ukraine
Stanislav Olefirov, Ukraine
Halyna Yarmolenko, Ukraine
Mr. Valentyn Stolitnii, Ukraine
Mr. Kevin Stephen Acott, United Kingdom
Ms. Mel Lenehan, United Kingdom
CEO Torben Riise, United States
Ludmila Morozova, Russia
Drs Niels Brans MEM, Netherlands
Karin Berger, Switzerland
Founding Partner, GeoFusion, Michael Rawding, United States
Dr. Carlos Nunes, United States
Sales, Leadership and Performance Coach, Dietrich Willke, Brazil
Prof.Dr. Malte Brinkmann, Germany
Mark Storm, the Netherlands
Mr. Grant Danduroff, Armenia
Herde, Per-Inge Svensson, Sweden
Martin Fylking, Sweden
Karl-Erik Edris, Sweden
Dan Claesson, Sweden
Robert F. McTague, United States
Dr. Mariana Bozesan, Germany
Simone Scholtens, Netherlands
Hector Infer, Spain
Henk Hadders, Netherlands
Ms. Tetiana Shmatukha, Ukraine
Dr. Danielle Johnson, United States
Griet Hellinckx, Germany
Mr. iyad alsaka, Netherlands
Jean Toussaint, France
Philippe Trahtenbroit, France
Sr. Marcus Pereira da Costa, Brazil
Bruce Cuthbertson, United States
Dr. Sibylle Breiner, Germany
Ms. Joyce Ferman, United States
Mr. Vitalii Nabok, Ukraine
Ines Medeiros Martins, Brazil
Janeth Jimenez Luengas, Colombia
Geoffrey R Ainscow, United States
Mr. Steve Simon, United States
Mr. Demyan Om Dyakov Slavitskiy, Ukraine
Mr. Mark Brown, United Kingdom
Szabó Anna, Hungary
Life Skills Advocate David Yap, Australia
Professor Soomyung Jang, Korea
Melanie Lenehan, United Kingdom
Mr. Edgardo Candela, Peru
Charlotte Andreasen, Denmark
Mrs. Angela Bate, United Kingdom
Sabine Kampmüller, Austria
Consultant and dialogue facilitator, Mette Lindgren Helde, Sweden
Mr. Robin Alan Skitt, United States
Olga Andriiashyna, Ukraine
Ірина Лавриненко, Ukraine
Thomas Kirkegaard, Sweden
Emil Thirup-Sorknæs, Denmark
Marie Wiland, Norway
Dr. Pádraic Hurley, Ireland
Executive Director, Nordic Center at University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Robert Strand, United States
Mag. Rosa Strasser, Austria
Rev. Wiliam McKay, South Africa
Nikolai Seidelin, Denmark
Dr. Christopher Nye, US
Pete Cohen, Australia
Albert Klamt, Germany
Ludvig Claeson, Norway
Martha Cortés Castro, Mexico
Juan Miguel Ribes Granell, Spain
Dr. John Troughton, Australia
Mr. Jacob Huckle, United Kingdom
Founder, Global Citizen Year, Abby Falik, United States
Mariana Obrazkova, Ukraine
Tim Logan, France
Tamar Kieval Brill, US
CEO, Göran Gennvi, Sweden
Alain Devaux, Belgium
Anita Prado Ferraro, Brazil
Nurse, Mariama Guldagger, Denmark
Mr. Ryan Cone, US
Mr. Sati Ete, New Zealand
CEO Göran Gennvi, Sweden
Ewa Czaja-Przewlocki, France
Sandra Duque, Portugal
Sr. Ricardo Catto, Brazil
Mrs. Sarah Yam, United Kingdom
Maider Etxaide, Spain
Ms. Olimpia Guitto, Italy
Monsieur Pierre Caro, France
Lynna Schaefer, United States
Tatiana Horaychuk, Ukraine
Jonas Søvik, Denmark
Peter Vander Auwera, Belgium
Mr. Timothy Krueger, United States
Mr. Peter Gringinger, Austria
Тетяна Скиба, Ukraine
Dr. Jos Eussen, Netherlands
Vlad Vasilets, Ukraine
Björn Elmqvist, SE
Drs. Ype Akkerman, NL
Dr. Rogier van der Wal, NL
Gerrit Terpstra, NL
David Cigoj, SI
Dr. Judi Neal, USA
Mr. M. Derksen, NL
Electronic Engineer, Manuel Augusto Greco, AR
Artem Kozlov, UA
Martin Aidnik, EE
Dr. Mahadia Ibrahim, CA
David Takahashi, USA
Nataliya Ryabova, UA
Robert Bunge, USA
Boris Kelly, AU
Rådgiver, Magne Dyrland, NO
Martin Ivarson, SE
Xola Kewwa, ZA
Mr. William Bittinger, US
Idea Peralta, Mexico
Anna Laura Sposito, US
Associate Professor Marc Cleiren, NL
Mr. Philippe Denis, FR
Dr. Jonathan Dolley, UK
Anthony Pfeiffer, US
Matthew Johnson, US
Iryna Churkina, DK
Matthew Johnson, US
Carlla Zanna, UK
Vladyslav Vasylets, UA
Ewere Owak, UK
Louis Soleranski, FR
Erik Schmidt, DK
Martia Briggs, US
Kjell Helge Kleppestø, NO
Penny Lee, UK
Judith Memisi, CH
Leander Grand, CH
Anne Snick, BE
Susana Azevedo, UK
Martin Ivarson, SE
Dr. Glenn Rogers, US
Vishva Shah, IN
Mr. Chris Burton, FR
Yousook Jeong, KR
Daniel Nylund, FI
Dr. George Koulaouzides, GR
Drs. Marlies Houtbraken, NL
Mr. Ype Akkerman, NL
Martijn Van Ginneken, NL
Armin Sieber, CH
Bert Meeuwsen, NL
Ellen Sirnæs, NO
Signing the Manifesto on European Bildung Day May 9th 2021
Vala Kristin Ragnarsdottir, Iceland
Rieta Aliredjo, Netherlands
Mr. Niklas Limacher, Switzerland
Dr. Marion Fields, Finland
Chris Shern, Denmark
Mrs. Kateryna Batsenko, Ukraine
Chumachenko Serhii, Ukraine
Ward van der Meiden, Netherlands
Marius I. de Vries, Netherlands
Specialist Sanna Rekola, Finland
Chandra Boon, Canada
Dr. Philip Walsh, Canada
Brandon Norgaard, USA
Mark L. Vincent, USA
Christin Cieslak, Belgium
Yurii Pyvovarenko, Ukraine
Garry Nicholson, United Kingdom
D.Soc.Sc. Vesa-Matti Lahti, Finland
Maria Lindahl Strøm, Denmark
Anri Heinonen, Finland
Inês Maria Pinheiro Medeiros dos Santos Martin, Brazil
Severi Hämäri, Finland
Klaas van Egmond, Netherlands
Nicolai Tillisch, Denmark
Dr. Katriina Siivonen, Finland
Dr. Mihail Krikunov, Ukraine
Mrs. Mette Hvid Brockmann, Denmark
Lene Rachel Andersen, Denmark
Andrey Vargas, Costa Rica
Sturla Bjerkaker, Norway
Sandra Verbruggen, Netherlands
Nadjeschda Taranczewski, Germany
Nadja Pass, Denmark
Elena Tochilina, Ukraine
Professor Jaume Torroella Cuenca, Spain
Gretchen Colon, USA
Dr. Niamh O’Reilly, Ireland
Paul Karpawich, USA
Evert Vixseboxse, Netherlands
Mr. Imran Parray, India
M.Sc. Christian Poll, Denmark
Eva Lisa Janssen, Netherlands
Cand.ling.merc. Povl Henningsen, Denmark
Michiel Tolman, Netherlands
Mr. Kees Spijker, Netherlands
Dr. Zachary Stein, USA
Vladan Lausevic, Sweden
Annemarie Dekker Spaargaren, Netherlands
Lena Tünkers, Denmark
Højskoleforstander // fremtidsforsker, Tyge Mortensen, Denmark
COO, Reed Shafer-Ray, USA
Imam & PhD Fellow, Naveed Baig, Denmark
lic.oec.HSG, Jens Ostergaard, Switzerland
Tomas Björkman, Sweden
Bert Meeuwsen, Netherlands
Kenneth Mikkelsen, Denmark
Dr. Armend Tahirsylaj, Kosovo
Erika Tanos, Sweden
Christer Nylander, Sweden