Seat back, have a drink and let the knowledge flow through your open mind.

Raising the Bar provides all Londoners with an amazing educational opportunity as a part of which 30 world-renowned academics are coming down from their lecterns to share their knowledge in quite a daring surrounding: the city's bars.

What if we mix education with popular culture making it affordable and understandable to a wider audience? Raising the Bar unique initiative was first who came up with this simple but genius idea.

Organized by students and supported by Columbia, New York and other universities it is aimed at educating and enlightening young people and thus enriching their life, broadening their horizons, inspiring and waking up the desire for knowledge. What started in New York last year, has grown into a global initiative with a stop in London. Raising the Bar London will feature 30 amazing speakers sharing their experience and knowledge, 20 vibrant bars all around the city and a long list of vital topics to be discussed.

The list of speakers is just too good to be true. Among them are professor Aaqil Ahmed, the Head of Religion and Ethics at the BBC, who will shed some light on the necessity of religious programming. Raj Persaud, a world renowned psychologist and a Consultant Psychiatrist as well as bestseller author, will talk on the psychology of success and on how to make your mind work on you to achieve any goal set avoiding mental blocks.  

With 6,000 attendees at last year's event in New York, London is ready to take up the challenge and to Raise the Bar. The initiative is probably to beat the US traffic as it is the only event in London to offer free lectures and in what a tempting way.
 

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Grab a glass for Raising The Bar NYC

Six of SIPA’s brightest minds are participating in this edition of Raising the Bar. Each professor has something unique to contribute to the international affairs and public policy conversation. More information on each lecturer and their presentations are below.  

Raising the Bar
Raising the Bar Comes to Hong Kong

Education and pleasure, for many, are two words that rarely mix. Raising the Bar hopes to bridge that gap with its inaugural Asia event. 

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Raising the Bar believes that education should and can happen anywhere!

A new group hopes to bring learning to the less structured bar scene.

Originally from New York City, Raising the Bar is an initiative aimed at spreading knowledge and shaking the city’s nightlife culture. In April 2014, their inaugural event featured 50 top university professors to lecture in 50 bars throughout Manhattan over the course of one night. Their event was an absolute success, with all tickets being completely sold out.

Tonight, Raising the Bar is coming to Hong Kong! 

Brought to you by a dedicated team of young professionals, Raising the Bar’s Asia debut will happen in Hong Kong at 10 different locations tonight across Central and Soho.

The goal?

To bring education out of the ivory towers and right to where you usually have your happy hour drink on an average Tuesday night.

In contrary to the traditional beliefs and notions regarding education in Hong Kong, where it is relatively formal and structured, Raising the Bar believes that education should and can happen anywhere. This means that sitting down with a group of strangers and your favourite professor at a bar, debating about topics ranging from martial arts to social architecture, could actually be one of the most enlightening experiences in Hong Kong!

Additionally, since there are many misconceptions surrounding Hong Kong nightlife and bar culture, Raising the Bar is hoping to change these views, and redefine what nightlife means to the average Hong Konger.

 
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Raising The Bar San Francisco
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Knowledge Meets Beer

On November 5th, Raising The Bar together with Time Inc., we'll be hosting a series of panels: 50 speakers, in 10 bars, on 1 night. These panels will be led by notable professors and industries leaders, in some of the city’s best bars for only $5. 

 
 
Raising the Bar