HIGHER EDUCATION NETWORK
Higher Education Network is a coalition of richly diverse, leading higher education institutions and organizations that are committed to catalyzing a culture of inner wellbeing within the social change education field.
We believe that a flourishing life arises from the integration of well-being, contemplation, and social innovation, and that it occurs via engagement within ourselves, in our relationships, and with the world. When successful, it has the power to positively change individuals, communities, and societies.
This network is co-hosted and co-convened by The Wellbeing Project, Facens, Georgetown University, Highpoint University, and Mondragon University.
WISE GATHERING | JUNE 5-8, 2022
The Wellbeing, Innovation, and Social Change in Education (WISE) Network will be gathering in Bilbao from June 5-8, 2022. In this gathering, we will build a space for connection, learning, and growth for our community as we focus on building models, programs and partnerships that weave theories and practices of wellbeing into higher education programs and curricula.
We are catalyzing
a cultural shift in social change education in which institutions are incorporating inner wellbeing into their curricula so that leaders going into the field can be equipped to live a fulfilled and healthy life.
We envision
developing generations of social change leaders who are equipped with life-long wellbeing tools, and who embrace wellbeing as key to the way that effective social change unfolds.
We convene
global leaders from universities and education institutes within a space for sharing insights, resources, and institutional designs for generating a culture of wellbeing in social change education programs.
REFLECTIONS FROM OUR MEMBERS
ALEJANDRO MORALES GARCÍA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico
I have appreciated most the aspect of Peer Mentoring, where we could present what we were doing and receieve feedback. During the process, we developed a prototype for a program and shared ideas as a team. It was a very rich experience to collaborate with other actors in the same field.
JEREMY RUITERS, African Leadership University, Rwanda
What I appreciated most were the peer group calls where we could understand each others’ different contexts and see how to adapt our approaches. Especially sharing stories on what the pathways we each were taking to incorporate wellbeing at our institutions.
SAYURI ALVARADO TANAMACHI, Mondragon University, Spain
We have had the opportunity to challenge ourselves and our institution beyond what we normally think is the way of seeing the world. Each stage of the journey with the WISE Network has helped us to foster creativity and diversity. One key piece has been openly sharing our experiences and knowledge, using design thinking methods to ideate and test new solutions with broader horizons.
I have appreciated most the aspect of Peer Mentoring, where we could present what we were doing and receive feedback. During the process, we developed a prototype for a program and shared ideas as a team. It was a very rich experience to collaborate with other actors in the same field.
– Alejandro Morales García, Tecnológico de Monterrey
What I appreciated most were the peer group calls where we could understand each others’ different contexts and see how to adapt our approaches. Especially sharing stories on what the pathways we each were taking to incorporate wellbeing at our institutions.
– Jeremy Ruiters, African Leadership University
We have had the opportunity to challenge ourselves and our institution beyond what we normally think is the way of seeing the world. Each stage of the journey with this network has helped us to foster creativity and diversity. One key piece has been openly sharing our experiences and knowledge, as well as using design thinking methods to ideate, implement and test new solutions with broader horizons.
– Sayuri Alvarado Tanamachi, Mondragon University
SUPPORTING RESEARCH
The first phase of the Higher Education Network and the lessons learned over the first two years is shared in this article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review: Connecting Inner and Outer Well-Being in Social Innovation Education. The article provides a summary of the vision, progress, types of institutions involved, and goals that this Network has for the expansion and work of this community.
Given the evolving nature of change and unprecedented challenges to the mental health and well-being of change makers, particularly younger ones, well-being education is no longer an optional add-on. It must be at the center of how we educate the current and next generations. Read More…
Are you interested in joining our Higher Education Network or learning more?
We are grateful to all our supporters and member institutions.
Together we are the future of Global Higher Education where it intersects with Social Change and Wellbeing.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION NETWORK OR LEARNING MORE?
Please fill out this form or reach out to our Network Manager at alejandra@wellbeing-project.org
OUR VISION
We envision emerging generations of social change leaders that embrace wellbeing as a core pillar in the social change field and are equipped with life-long inner wellbeing tools, sparking their curiosity to continue deepening in their personal journey throughout their lives.
OUR MISSION
The WISE Network is a coalition of richly diverse, leading higher education institutions and organizations that are committed to catalyzing a culture of inner wellbeing within the social change education field. We believe that this shift is necessary so that emerging leaders can sustain the work necessary to engage in social change while also living a flourishing life.
OUR APROACH
The WISE Network believes that flourishing arises from the integration of well-being, contemplation, and social innovation, and that it occurs via engagement within ourselves, in our relationships, and with the world. When successful, it has the power to positively change individuals, communities, and societies. We do this by convening leaders from university and other educational programs to share resources and institutional designs as well as to create a community of education leaders dedicated to this vision.
