Founder of Wikipedia: Internet is no substitute for schools and libraries

“The process of new technology and ‘informal’ teaching tools development is irreversible. However, this process cannot force out traditional forms of knowledge transfer”, stated Jimmy D. Wales, founder of Wikipedia, addressing the participants of the 3rd Philanthropic Round Table ‘Hi-Teach=High-Tech+Philanthropy+Education’.

“Informal education evolves fast”, he added. “When Victor Pinchuk from Ukraine invited me over to this Roundtable, I didn’t have a slightest idea of what was Ukraine. But with a single click of a computer mouse you can find anything.”

John Edward Sexton, President of New York University, supported this statement. “What yesterday was virtual reality becomes a necessity today. Education means a lot in the modern world. Without education the global civilisation will lose out.”

At the same time Jimmy D. Wales stressed that informal education would never be able to drive out the formal one. “It is impossible to replace real life with Internet; the Internet is no substitute for libraries, schools and universities. It can only widen educational opportunities”, he emphasised and added that harmonization of the ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ methods of education was the most promising way out.

The general partner of the 3rd Philanthropic Round Table:
Western NIS Enterprise Fund

Partners of the 3rd Philanthropic Round Table:
Kyivstar
Microsoft