Unlocking the potential of diversity in education | Sagithjan Surendra | TEDxRuhrUniversityBochum

Sagithjan Surendra challenges us to imagine a world where everybody – no matter the social and financial circumstances – can embrace their full potential. In the process he spells out the characteristics of an education system that teaches to our individual needs instead of promoting academic excellence as the ultimate goal. He investigates the lack of equality in education even in a progressive and democratic country like Germany. Surendra's argument is inextricably tied to his own personal story and why he saw, at the age of 19, the need to found his NGO.

Sagithjan Surendra, child of two Sri Lankan refugees, is an author and the founder of the NGO “Aelius Förderwerk e.V.”, which supports young children and students from non-academic backgrounds.
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TEDx RuhrUniversityBochum was started in 2016 by a group of students enthusiastic about bringing the TEDx format to the Ruhr Area. In May 2019, we turned our TEDx conference into one of the largest TEDx events in Europe organized by students. We connected over 1,000 people at our TEDx event and brought 13 speakers to Bochum who presented their ideas and visions regarding the motto "Embrace the Unexpected".

„Embrace the unexpected“ is not just a theme, it is an attitude.
It is to look courageously and curiously towards the future and confidently embrace the manifold challenges of our time. To understand the new and unexpected as a learning opportunity for progress and not as a source of uncertainty. Such an attitude is needed in a rapidly changing world, now more than ever.

Find out more about TEDx RuhrUniversityBochum on our website: www.tedxruhruniversitybochum.de
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This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx Sagithjan Surendra, child of two Sri Lankan refugees, author and founder of the NGO “Aelius Förderwerk e.V.”, which supports young children and students from non-academic backgrounds, will investigate (the lack of) equality in education even in a progressive and democratic country such as Germany. Surendra tells his personal story and why he saw, at the age of 19, the need to found his NGO.

He challenges us to imagine a world where everybody – no matter the social and financial circumstances – can embrace their full potential. In the process he spells out the characteristics of an education system that teaches to our individual needs instead of promoting academic excellence as the ultimate goal. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx