The Life University (LIFE) Center for Compassion, Integrity, and Secular Ethics (CCISE) has been invited to participate in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) Group of Governments and other Relevant Stakeholders for Social-Emotional and Digital Learning, also known as the Global Collective for SEL and Digital Learning.
Recognizing LIFE’s CCISE as a leader in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), UNESCO MGIEP’s Inaugural Director Anantha Kumar Duraiappah, PhD, encouraged CCISE to join the group. Commenting on the initiative, Duraiappah expressed, “SEL is crucial for ensuring the continuity of learning, health and well-being of learners, parents/caregivers and teachers, as well as for social justice. In light of the challenges and opportunities brought about by systemic disruptions accompanying COVID-19, members of the Group are coming together to further the cause of mainstreaming SEL in education systems and exploring innovative pedagogies and learning solutions that are meaningful, contextual and mindful of the social and emotional needs of the learning community.”
The launch of the Collective ties in with the release of UNESCO MGIEP’s report “Rethinking Learning: A review of Social and Emotional Learning for Education Systems,” which seeks to inform and impress upon United Nations Member States the urgent need to mainstream social and emotional learning in education systems. The joint launch is scheduled for July 18, 2020, which is recognized as Nelson Mandela Day.
“Being invited to be a part of such a significant collaboration speaks to the tremendous impact that LIFE’s CCISE and its CIT training plays in supporting the mission of UNESCO and the void for social-emotional learning in our communities and around the world,” said Life University President Rob Scott, PhD, DC.
CCISE’s relationship with UNESCO MGIEP includes its presentation of Compassionate Integrity Training (CIT) at the first-ever World Youth Conference on Kindness in August 2019. CIT is a multi-part training program that cultivates basic human values as skills for the purpose of increasing individual, social and environmental flourishing. Scott pointed to the leadership of CCISE’s Associate Director, Michael Karlin, PhD, as key to the program’s success.
“Dr. Karlin and his team have created a truly unique and impactful program that has already trained a large number of individuals and organizations around the world,” Scott said. “Through this partnership, their reach and influence will only grow.”
LIFE’s CCISE is currently developing a completely digital, self-directed learning format of its CIT program for this collaboration set to debut for learners later this summer. An exact date will be forthcoming in future announcements.
About Life University
Life University is a health sciences institution most known for its Doctor of Chiropractic program, the largest single-campus chiropractic program in the world. LIFE also offers 15 undergraduate degrees as well as a pre-chiropractic, degree-seeking pathway. Three graduate degrees are available, encompassing areas of sport health science, clinical nutrition and positive psychology. Some degree programs are offered to distance learners through the College of Online Education.
LIFE’s campus in Marietta, Georgia, just northwest of Atlanta, is home to more than 2,700 undergraduate, graduate and professional students who come from all 50 United States and more than 45 countries.
For more information about CCISE, visit Compassion.LIFE.edu. For more about Life University, visit LIFE.edu.
