Your Guide to the 2023 Online Event
Welcome to the Gross Global Happiness (GGH) Summit! Launched in 2019, GGH is an initiative born out of a partnership between the Centre for Executive Education at the University for Peace, established by the General Assembly of the United Nations, and the World Happiness Academy. With participants from all around the world, the event gathers experts in distinct subject areas of well-being to offer inspirational and practical sessions that span the scope of happiness research.
This year, Gross Global Happiness will be held both online and onsite at the UPEACE campus, and this website is designated specifically for those who will be join the online event. Get ready for 2 packed days of learning, growth and deep connection!
We will be using an online platform through the World Happiness Academy for the event and Zoom for all live sessions throughout.
Important Information
What to Expect
We’ve packed quite a bit of content into this event! Please note that most sessions are highly interactive! Be ready to turn on your webcam and participate fully. This summit isn’t for multitasking!
How to Connect
You will see the Zoom links for all the sessions on the agenda and on the WHA platform. Please read below for more information about the World Happiness Academy platform and how to use it.
The Agenda
We have over 40 AMAZING sessions, 4 keynote speakers, and multiple virtual networking and discussion opportunities built in to connect with fellow attendees from around the globe!
World Happiness Academy Platform
How to create a password and login
Navigating the platform
When the event has officially gone live! Feel free to start looking around and connecting via the ‘Get to know each other’ section under the welcome heading.
Learn more about the event
Please select the tab that matches how you will participate.
We are very excited to have you as an online participant! Please see the steps below to get you all set for the Gross Global Happiness Summit.
1. Register on the World Happiness Academy (WHA) platform. If you have not received one already, you will receive an email 1 week prior to the event inviting you to do this.
2. Where to find zoom links for sessions. Remember that all sessions on the agenda will be run via Zoom. The links specific to each session will be available in 3 places – 1) The final agenda which we’ll be sending soon. 2) Under each individual session on the World Happiness Academy platform, and 3) you’ll also be receiving calendar invites to add either the full event or specific sessions to your calendar.
3. Get ready for an amazing conference! The session types that you’ll be able to partake in include –
- Workshops: A 1.5-hour interactive and hands-on workshop allows you to experience a new idea, skill, methodology or take on a key question facing the world today. Turn your webcam on and get ready to participate! For these sessions, you CANNOT be a passive player.
- Ignite Sessions: Also highly interactive, the 45-minute Ignite Session takes a deep dive into a specific topic, leading you through an engaging activity or discussion.Turn your webcam on and get ready to participate! Much like the above, come prepared to interact!
- Be the Change talk: A 15-minute Be the Change talk is modeled after the TED-style talk and is designed to awaken curiosity and share insight into a particular theme. Though these talks will offer a chance for Q&A at the end, they are the least interactive of the session types.
4. Can’t make it to all the sessions you would like to see? Don’t worry! We will record each session and give you access to the Gross Global Happiness Virtual Library after the summit to take a look at any sessions you may have missed!
We are very excited to have you join us as a speaker at Gross Global Happiness 2023!
Some things to remember to be sure you’re prepared for your session:
- In preparation for your presentation, please review the information we gave you as a follow up to the presenter orientation call. Additionally, please take a look at this ‘Tips & Guidelines for Presenters’ document.
- You will receive a calendar invite with the Zoom link to your live session for the event. This calendar invite will be adapted to your time zone and will also contain the contact information for your Centre Staff Member who will be in your session.
- Please send a copy of your presentation to your Centre Staff Member before your session.
- Please remember to log in to Zoom 15 minutes before your session start time.
- If you have any problem logging into Zoom before your session or have connectivity issues during your session, please connect with your Centre Staff Member via WhatsApp immediately.
And here are some additional steps to ensure you’re set for the event!
1. Register on the World Happiness Academy (WHA) platform. If you have not received one already, you will receive an email 1 week prior to the event inviting you to do this.
2. Where to find zoom links for sessions. Remember that all sessions on the agenda will be run via Zoom. The links specific to each session will be available in 3 places – 1) The final agenda which we’ll be sending soon. 2) Under each individual session on the World Happiness Academy platform, and 3) you’ll also be receiving calendar invites to add either the full event or specific sessions to your calendar.
3. Get ready for an amazing conference! The session types that you’ll be able to partake in include –
- Workshops: A 1.5-hour interactive and hands-on workshop allows you to experience a new idea, skill, methodology or take on a key question facing the world today. Turn your webcam on and get ready to participate! For these sessions, you CANNOT be a passive player.
- Ignite Sessions: Also highly interactive, the 45-minute Ignite Session takes a deep dive into a specific topic, leading you through an engaging activity or discussion.Turn your webcam on and get ready to participate! Much like the above, come prepared to interact!
- Be the Change talk: A 15-minute Be the Change talk is modeled after the TED-style talk and is designed to awaken curiosity and share insight into a particular theme. Though these talks will offer a chance for Q&A at the end, they are the least interactive of the session types.
4. Can’t make it to all the sessions you would like to see? Don’t worry! We will record each session and give you access to the Gross Global Happiness Virtual Library after the summit to take a look at any sessions you may have missed!
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Monica Araya
Dr. Monica Araya has worked on sustainability for 25 years. She works with leaders in governments, cities, business, advocacy and philanthropy to accelerate climate solutions. Born in Costa Rica, she has worked on various sectors in several countries with a focus on Latin America, US and Europe. She has given talks about climate action in all continents, including Antarctica. Her three TED talks have over 5 million views. She studied Economics in Costa Rica at the National University and has a Ph.D. on Environmental Management from Yale University.
Tal Ben-Sharhar
Tal Ben-Shahar is an author and lecturer. He taught two of the largest classes in Harvard University’s history, “Positive Psychology” and “The Psychology of Leadership.” His books in the area of Positive Psychology have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have appeared on best-seller lists around the world. Tal obtained his PhD in Organizational Behavior and BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Harvard. He is also the founder of the Happiness Studies Academy.
UPEACE and the Centre for Executive Education
Located in Costa Rica, the University for Peace (UPEACE) was established in December 1980 as a Treaty Organization by the United Nations General Assembly. UPEACE is the only university in the United Nations system authorized to offer academic degrees in the field of peace and conflict studies.
Within the University for Peace, the UPEACE Centre for Executive Education was launched to deliver dynamic workshops, seminars and training courses. In a world that needs more changemakers, these courses are designed to empower people and provide them with the skills, mindsets and networks to make a positive impact on the world.
Interested in a way to continue your journey with the UPEACE Centre? We offer both a Social Innovation Diploma and Global Leadership Diploma, 5-course programs designed for changemakers and leaders at all levels. If you love what you’ve seen so far and want to continue your learning journey, consider one of these unique Diploma programs!
Click here to learn more or email centre@upeace.org for details.
The World Happiness Academy and World Happiness Fest
The World Happiness Academy and Fest are the world’s largest, most diverse, polycentric and comprehensive forums and networks of happiness and well-being experts, thought leaders, activists, shapers, and game-changers. Founded by Luis Gallardo. Get access to monthly meetups online with the Gross Global Happiness Community and hundreds of hours of content recorded from the worldwide leading experts on happiness and wellbeing. With presence in more than 60 cities around the world, our higher purpose is to realize a world with a free, peaceful, conscious and happy humanity. #TenBillionHappy by 2050.
