The new School of Accelerating Technologies is now open, and offering academic degrees for advanced professional (microdegree) studies in:
 
•  Longevity and Life Extension
•  Introductory Singularity and Transhumanism  
•  Accelerated Innovation and Creative Problem Solving
•  Space Habitat Design and Construction
•  Artificial Intelligence and Brain Simulation

The school also offers an online TECH MBA–a Master of Business Administration in Technology Degree to provide business acumen in emerging, advanced technology enterprise.
 
Other learning programs under construction include Nanotechnology, Digital Art, Robotics, Seasteading, and a Master Degree in Transhumanism. The online School of Accelerating Technologies offers low tuition, the convenience of student-centered self-paced study, study materials by the world’s leading experts, and personal mentoring from faculty.
 
The focus of each professional degree program is an action project whereby students help design the future of the subject matter they’re studying. The programs are designed for working professionals as well as undergraduate and graduate students. Students at other schools may be able to take the course programs as supplementary independent study.
 
The “Instigator and Director” of School of Accelerating Technologies is Fred Stitt, who hopes many people “join us in creating a future beyond imagining.” IEET interviewed Fred to find out more about the new enterprise.

IEET: Please tell us about your background - as a school founder, transhumanist, author, etc.

Fred Stitt: I’m a much published author on advanced architectural management and technology and I lecture often on transhumanist and singularity issues.

I initiated the first international Ecological Design/Green Building conferences and I published the first textbook on the subject through McGraw-Hill.  I’m the founder and director the world’s largest school of green building and sustainable design (the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, www.sfia.net).  Courses are all online and I have nearly 2,000 students world wide.

IEET: What is your vision for this new school?  How do you see it helping the transhumanist community?

Fred Stitt: I taught for a few years at UC Berkeley and I did extensive research on problems with higher education.  I incorporated our findings in my architecture school and I will do so even more so in the new School of Accelerating Technologies. 

It’s hard for students and working professionals to find sources of education in transhumanist and singularity related topics.  Some schools may allow independent graduate study, but they still hamper students with the baggage and bureaucracy of 100 year old school traditions. That’s why so many Silicon Valley leaders are drop outs.

IEET: Do you see this as an alternative to more expensive options like Singularity University?

Fred Stitt: Definitely.  Singularity University is great, but costly and limited in enrollment. Online education even with full faculty mentoring is much less expensive to operate than onsite programs.

Also we don’t have to limit enrollment. It’s long been known that standards for admission are irrelevant and tend to screen out the most potentially creative students. We want students who are willing to learn from the past but are willing to create the future of whatever specialty they’re studying as they study it.

IEET: Are you looking for additional instructors, and topics to offer?

Fred Stitt: We’re covering Life Extension, Creative Problem Solving, Singularity and Transhumanist Studies, Space Habitat Design and Construction, and Artificial Intelligence. We’re planning new programs on all other aspects of accelerating technology and we welcome comments and advice.  We have selected the best study, advisory and faculty resources and will welcome more.

(present advisors and potential mentors for graduate work include IEET Fellow Natasha Vita-More, Max More, Christine Peterson, Peter Voss, and many others)

IEET: Who are the ideal students you are looking for?

Fred Stitt: Anyone smart enough and adventurous enough to enroll is ideal. 

The courses are self paced and self managed, can be taken in any sequence, and have no deadlines.  We welcome proposals for alternative student initiated programs.

There’s no bureaucracy no one to judge if someone is worthy learning or not, no arbitrary standards, no exams (long known to be useless in retaining knowledge). We offer the most efficient and effective learning systems, no restraints on imagination, and fully positive, objective support from faculty and mentors.

Image: Artwork by Alex Bright