University 2.0: Next Generation University to offer free, world-class education with global partners to democratize health sciences knowledge

The world is ready for University 2.0. We have been delivering 1.0 - traditional university education - for over one thousand years now. However, we are clearly failing to meet the need for adequately trained health workers, as we are lacking four million health workers according to World Health Organization globally, and over one million in Africa alone. Dr. Kate Tairyan, MD, MPH, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences will present her work on NextGenU - the world's first free university. She will outline the transformative model of delivering high quality education with competency-based online curriculum plus community-based mentored and peer-to-peer activities. She will present the "four freedoms" that this new model of University 2.0 includes: a world-class education that is free of cost, barriers, advertisements and carbon emissions. One of the first programs that NextGenU will offer is the world's first free public health degree, a goal to be accomplished with the help of her recent Rising Stars in Global Health award from Grand Challenges Canada. Opportunities for partnerships with NextGenU initiatives will be presented, and individuals and organizations interested in joining the pioneering venture will be welcomed.