When: 9 a.m. Thursday, October 26, 2017

Where: Leigh Hall Room 208, University of Akron

Live streamed broadcasts also from:

• Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado (FAAP) São Paulo, Brazil
• University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
• Le Mans Université, Le Mans, France

Who: Leaders of four universities

• University of Akron President Matthew Wilson
• FAAP President Antonio Bias Bueno Guillon
• University of Pretoria Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Cheryl de la Rey
• Le Mans Université Vice Presidents Anne Désert and Nicolas Postec

Teachers, students and media at four universities on four continents will have the opportunity to interact and ask questions

Why:

The Global Classroom will be a class like no other. Fashioned after the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics’ famous Campaign Battleground class, The Global Classroom will engage students in the United States, Brazil, South Africa and France in political discussions that will enhance learning and understanding between cultures.

The unique, international political science class based out of the University of Akron will increase international communication and understanding of political structures and sentiments prominent in the 21st century.

Technology and Logistics:

Media and students unable to attend may follow the press conference being streamed live on the Bliss Institute’s Facebook Page as well as the University of Akron’s home page.

Teachers, students and media from the featured locations around the globe will be able to participate and ask questions during a question and answer period. Queries will be accepted on a rotating basis, beginning with Akron, Ohio, U.S.A. and extending to Brazil, South Africa and France.

Questions also will be accepted through Facebook, using the hashtag #UAGlobalClass

Media and students will be able to ask questions in their specific locations even after the international portion of the press conference concludes.

Background:

Dr. John Green, Professor Gerald Austin and others at the University of Akron have spent the past year approaching colleagues on three other continents with the goal of leveraging technology and academic curiosity to create a completely unique political science course.

The class that resulted from these efforts begins in January 2018.  It will provide students around the globe with the opportunity to discuss their politics with one another and with weekly guest speakers.