Navigating through the proposal
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What will Project Aurelius do?
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The ‘How’: The constituent elements of the project
This page explains the broader project. This is not what we are asking prospective funders to fund at Phase 1. From Phase 1 funders, we are merely seeking funding to prepare a fully developed, fully-costed proposal that we can then use subsequently at Phase 2 to raise the funds needed properly to capitalise the initiatives and properties of the full, broader project, which will be Phase 3.
The commercial activities
A broadly focussed think & act tank emphasising a classical liberal democratic ideology in London
A think-and-act tank based in London, Futuresphere will focus on the changes that science and technology will bring to our lives in the future, Based on sound political economy, Futuresphere will address complex social problems and contentious issues holistically. It will address all areas of public policy and global affairs, adopting a liberal position emphasising the importance of open, competitive markets, open democratic institutions and individual rights, duties & responsibilities in a liberal society.
Futuresphere will also contribute to XPLN editorially, co-ordinating the topic focus of debate and information packages. Futuresphere will draw on XPLN for production facilities and capabilities to assist with communicating its proposed policy formulations widely and persuasively.
Futuresphere will act as the convenor of policy colloquia in which invited guests and experts will particpate in multi-day policy debates and planning sessions at the country property & estate. These events will aim to build coalitions of interested parties to act in a co-ordinated fashion on public policy issues and initiatives to maximise the probability of influence with political figures developing policy agendas and those formulating policy responses to agenda issues.
XPLN will draw on Futuresphere research personnel as panel debate participants.
Academic staff from UStJL ProSPEC will also participate in Futuresphere research projects, providing regular publication opportunities. Futuresphere’s research programme will also provide up-to-the-minute practical examples of policy development for use on ProSPEc courses.
A 24-hour current affairs & debate channel broadcast & multi-media
XPLN will be a 24-hour broadcast & multi-media channel providing informative and entertaining current affairs content, principally in a format combining pre-prepared topic information packages, hosted panel debates and interviews. It will encourage fact-based discursive debate airing a range of informed opinions that acknowledges the complexities and inter-relatedness of issues in current affairs.
It will draw participants from a range of sectors with diverse interests to convey to viewers the breadth of interests in any issue. Panel participants will be drawn from political milieux, civil & public service agencies, academia, think-tanks, NGOs, industry groups, business researchers, journalists, as well as from Futuresphere and UStJL ProSPEc
The channel will be broadcast and streamed online using multi-media technology which supports interactivity & audience involvement.
Initially launching in the UK, the 24-your viewing cycle will be filled out with curated, fact-based content from other sources including relevant documentaries and historically accurate film depictions relevant to topics under discussion.
XPLN will be funded by sponsoring brands whose topic experts will also be invited to participate in panel debates, providing edited AV promotional material for subject use in online promotion. Key target groups will be buy-side firms and sell-side firm with research teams, other financial institutions, professional services firms and consultancies.
An online university focussing on Political Economy
We will create a new, London based online university named University of St James, London. Initial UStJL will have only a single school of Prospective Social & Political Economy or ProSPEc.
Using an expert global contributing faculty, ProSPEc will offer a curriculum that re-establishes a renewed discipline of political economy at the centre of policy-making and analysis and decision-making in the public and private sectors. All tuition will be in English.
ProSPEc will offer an integrated, interdicsiplinary programme focused on combined theory and practice (praxis) to produce theoretically-informed and capable graduates at all levels. The curriculum of ProSPEc will be developed so that the course will be of the highest academic standards and demanding for students.
UStJL will seek regulatory approval for UK degree-awarding status.
Pricing will be set based on detailed modelling of a range of student-specific variables and presumed preferences using agent-based modelling. The aim is to make the ProSPEc offering a compelling blend of high-quality, high value and low cost.
The properties
A combined HQ building in London
A London headquarters facility to house the think & act tank and commercial initiatives, proximate to the Westminster parliamentary quarter. This will facilitate maximum coordination of agenda-setting, content development and messaging between the businesses.
A country estate with colloquium & accommodation facilities
The country estate will provide a draw for participants in policy colloquia that will be convened at the estate, making full use of the facilities described below.
A facility of a high standard with visual appeal will contribute to participants’ enthusiasm.
The chosen location will also need have local planning rules and processes conducive to the planned development described below.
Colloquium, seminar, conference, meeting, performance & research facility
The colloquium, conference & performance facility will be disigned as a multi-purpose venue for convening policy colloquia. Multi-purpose design will also support its use for periodic teaching seminars by ProSPEc and well as for exhibitions and as an arts rehearsal and performance space. With some outdoor entertaining space, it could also be used an arts festival destination.
Suitable, hotel-style accommodation
To enable multi-day events, a hotel-style accommodation facility will also be required. This will offer individual room accommodation suitable for business class use for participants in any of the events organised at the estate.
By making the facility business class level, it will also be able to used commercially as both a remote corporate event centre and as a large wedding venue, diversifying its income potential.