How to solve the world's most persistent social problems? Some assume to establish a global university designed to engage students in solving the problems. At the first glance of such an assumption, a few questions pour into my mind.
First, why the existing universities could not meet the requirements? Perhaps the recommenders mainly consider the communication. Communicating directly with other students from all around the world seems to be more efficient and natural than the indirect ways. Students can provide the true and exact information of their motherland, which can help others to understand their nations, policies and culture.
However, without such a university, the rapidly developing technology makes it possible for people to communicate efficiently. We have email and fax for document delivering; we have telephone and Internet for direct talking although thousands of miles between us. And we also have media, including newspaper and radio, to reflect things happening over the world. Which means great communication could be attained even if there isn't a global university.
Second, why it has to be a university? Other institutions can also bring about a place for people to sit together to talk about international affairs. There have existed many institutions in charge of affairs in different fields. For instance, World Trade Organization is the international body dealing with the trade rules between nations; World Health Organization pay rapt attention on the health. And the biggest organization is United Nations, which always engage in solving the world's complex affairs. Moreover, many famous universities have already been global ones, so students are no longer shackled by the nation's boundary. The global university seems not necessary.
Third, who can solve the most persistent social problems? The students in a global university? These problems containing crimes, racism, poverty and so on could not be solved in a short term or by an isolated organization or a branch of the government. The complexity existing in them determines the requirement of cooperation from all branches of the government. In addition, the most persistent social problems are different to every country. For the developing countries, the problems may be poverty and population; for the developed countries, they may be the crimes and gun control. Different problems need special means to tackle with.
Overall, I could not see the necessity of a global university. In order to solve the social problems common to every nation, the respect and cooperation is needed. Given the social problems exclusive to some countries, it is time for the government to take actions.