IGDORE’s main long-term goal is to build a new type of university. This university will have a set of features that can be categorised under four main topics: Efficient administration, Good science, Good Education, and People Friendly.
Efficient administration
- The university will be globally distributed. That is, the university’s core is digital; meaning that students, researchers/lecturers, and administrative and technical staff will be able to work from anywhere in the world.
- The university will have a number of permanent, temporary (and/or mobile) non-virtual microcampuses around the world. The first such microcampus opened in Indonesia in 2017/2018 (Campus Bali).
- IGDORE will be a federative university. Existing and future educational and research organisations (any type of legal entity) can choose to join IGDORE. Examples of entities that could join are microcampuses; laboratories; schools/courses; workshops; meet-ups & networks; retreats for academics, students, & their families; scientific journals. Any organisation affiliated with IGDORE is self-governed and may leave IGDORE at any time. IGDORE may also cut ties to organisations that do not adhere to IGDORE’s values or Code of Conduct. Affiliation decisions are made by IGDORE’s Global Board.
Good science
- Everyone involved in research/science activities at the university will be required to follow IGDORE’s Code of Conduct (yet to be formalised; see the temporary code in Affiliation). The Code makes it explicit that open and replicable research practices are to be employed, including public sharing of data, materials, & report/article; transparent reporting; thorough preregistration; adequate sample sizes.
- Open communication and generous sharing of ideas for growth are explicitly encouraged, as is appropriate crediting (failure to credit where credit is due will be frown upon).
Good education
- Students will be taught open and replicable scientific practices.
- We will always strive to employ open educational resources for all required readings and materials.
- We will never require students to employ proprietary software if equivalent programs exist based on free and open source software.
- Students are entitled to motivated and engaged teachers. We will therefore never practice enforced teaching; our researchers will always be free to choose whether they want to teach; if teaching, they will also choose when and what they want to teach.
People friendly
- Students, researchers and administrative staff will generally be allowed location independence. This means that they will be able to (voluntarily) move freely across campuses without any interruption in their workflow. It will be voluntarily to work at a campus; the work can just as well be conducted from home or anywhere else in the world. (Note: This will be less true for staff working with non-virtual maintenance.)
- The microcampuses will create a healthy and supportive work environment that encourages (without forcing) behaviors and activities that are healthy to the individual’s physical and mental health (e.g. flow; being with family and friends; closeness to nature; naps; flexible work hours; relaxed social events; healthy food & snacks; physical activity).
- Many campuses will have a particular focus on being family friendly; as such will they offer accommodation, community areas and work areas that are suitable for families with children. This might include schooling or daycare for kids of various ages.
This document is a work in progress. Last update was made June 28, 2019.