You have probably seen, heard or or actually attended city universities, county universities, state universities and even national universities.  But arguably, the time has come for a World University, serving all of the peoples, cultures, nations and religions of the world.  It would be a sacrosanct sanctuary of reason and diplomacy, where issues affecting the whole world, like climate change, nuclear proliferation, environmental degradation and the persistence of armed conflict could be analyzed, discussed and studied, the first steps on a path to resolving them.

Of course, this university will have campuses in every region of the globe, if not in every country.  But where should the flagship campus be, with the administrative headquarters and the offices of the President?  With your group, I want you to search for the perfect location for the World University.  Look at cities with the oldest universities or a long tradition of learning and academics. 
Consider sites in the 1st, 3rd and 4th worlds, on any continent, including antarctica, and even the moon. In order to avoid favoritism, please do not include Colombia, China or Saudi Arabia, not because the do not contain great candidates and a history of scholarship, but so that we can all learn about some new possibilities.

During the last week your group will give a presentation defending and supporting your choice.  Use all of the techniques for persuasion and support we have studied, and try to convince the audience, in our simulation the Board of Trustees of the World University, composed of eminent scholars from around the world, and in reality your classmates, that your choice is the best location. 

Questions to answer

What city should we choose as our flagship site?

Who should do the introduction?

Who should present each part of the persuasion? Past? Present? Future?

Undergraduate vs Graduate? Teaching vs Research?

Where will the construction/operations budget come from?

How to get the best students and professors from around the world?

Do we want to use slides? If not, what else?

If we use slides, what words should be on each one?

If we use slides, what images should be on each one?

Who should write the words? Who should choose the images?

Do we want to create a flag? A seal? A banner? Do we want to design a campus map? A main building?

Should we select 6 cities for the first satellite campuses?

Should we select a President? Majors?

Should we write a Statement of Purpose? Institutional Ethos? Slogan?

Who should deliver the conclusion?

Stage 1: Start by considering the qualities you want in a headquarters location.  Research the academic past of each of your three final candidates:

• What are the oldest institutions of higher education in that area, and how old are they?

• What scholars or intellectual leaders have emerged from there?

• What is the city's place in the history on intellectual development?

Then look at the city today:

• Current universities, their history and influence

• Infrastructure, transportation

• Other attraction for scholars and students

• Long term stability

• Climate, physical and intellectual

• Other international organizations or institutions

• Favorable environment toward education in general

• Tolerance for other races, religions, cultures and nationalities

Things your presentation should include:

• An introduction describing what you were looking for in a perfect headquarters city

• A description of the three finalists, your eventual choice, and the reasons for it

• An overview of the city, with its history and current conditions

• A variety of evidence, facts, descriptions, quotations, images and arguments that support its role as the perfect place for the World University flagship campus.

Things your presentation could include:

• A Statement of Purpose for the university

• A draft plan of the layout of the university campus

• A design for the seal or logo of the new university

• A plan for the different departments or schools within the U

• A list of the locations for the first six satellite campuses around the globe

• A description of the makeup of the future faculty. Who would you recruit?

• Made up quotations from the mayors of the city about how welcome the WU would be

• Anything else you think supports your choice