Tags:
Journalism of Courage
What does one think of or imagine when they hear the word university? Are universities only limited to classrooms and lectures or do they encompass growth, emancipation and progress?
As an educationist for more than two and a half decades now, I have observed that universities play a role which is way larger than providing only knowledge and information to the students who choose to study within their portals. Candidates and other stakeholders regard an educational institution not just as a knowledge platform or as the gateway to rewarding careers but also as a catalyst of social bonding. Further, given that institutes have a lasting impact on the cohort, they also play a key role in inculcating good values, thus pushing candidates to be sensitive and conscientious leaders.
Consequently, a diverse campus experience contributes to instilling the drive to solve problems that affect the global population and not just the local population among students. Analogously, a culturally rich environment contributes to a fellow’s personal growth and provides insights into society, given one realizes that others also face the same problem as one and then the severity or magnitude of our own problem reduces considerably. Another pivotal takeaway from their alma mater comes when students become privy to a sustainable environment within the university campus and then they too start thinking about preserving the environment and contributing to the upkeep of the sustainability goals. Even discussions and deliberations on relevant topics help in creating student engagement and discussions that have been happening all across the country since India has received the G20 Presidency have been phenomenal.
It has been a matter of great pride for all Indians since the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has brought the G20 Presidency to India. Universities can step in here to become facilitators of G20 discussions. Universities can ensure that the G20 discussions take place within their campuses, and thus drive home the importance of G20 as it is not about trade and commerce but as the Hon’ble Prime Minister has highlighted it is about practicing the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: One Earth, One Family, One Future.
One of the biggest examples of this philosophy was seen during the recent pandemic. While the world was anxious about how India would tide over the effects of Covid, due to its large population, not only did India manage to save its own population but through the Vaccine Maitri Program supplied the indigenously manufactured vaccine to other countries. On this note, it is important to mention that this spirit of oneness that Humanities education has long imparted needs to flow into science and technology education as well so that the experiments that the future crop of scientists would be especially focused on helping the larger population. Similarly, with the practice of the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam notion, the candidates who are gearing up to be future business pioneers would also be inspired to build a startup that will bring value to mankind.
In conclusion, it suffices to say that universities have an indelible impact on the youth, such that they can create a powerful enough movement to potentially bring the world together thus, blurring boundaries so that we can all live peacefully and focus our energies upon growing together, progressively.
