TFF director
June 11, 2026
A couple of months ago, I was invited to join the new Arete Youth Academy, AYA, as an advisor. I felt happy and honoured and immediately said yes, not least because the late Dr Daisaku Ikeda of Soka Gakkai International, SGI, in Japan has been a major source of inspiration for the Academy.
Furthermore, it goes without saying that I sympathise greatly with this academy’s purposes and pedagogical methods, the global citizenship idea, the multi-cultural training and the focus on peace. All through learning in theory and practise, with explicit values and all through dialogue.
For an elderly professor like me, it is also a great joy to keep in contact with young people, be inspired by how they think, and, if I am lucky, inspire them on their path through life. So, a clear win-win situation
There is no need for me to write a lot about AYA. When you visit the Academy’s homepage, you’ll immediately see what it is all about and why it is a very “different” kind of educational institution – of which there should be many more.
You may also learn more by watching this short video introduction produced by the Academy.
The first thing I was asked to do was to self-produce a video that would present me, my thinking and my competence to the students and staff. (Many of TFF’s videos are now on Rumble and more will be published there, so subscribe)…
Advisor for the Arete Youth Academy added by JO on
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