Experiential learning provides the students self-reflective space and time

Updated on: Saturday, January 21, 2012

After serving the education sector for over four decades, Indira Parikh, former dean of IIM Ahmedabad and currently the founding president of FLAME was awarded the Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award at the 19th Dewang Mehta Business School Awards for her outstanding contributions as an educator. Her spirit of educational innovation is reflected in her work at FLAME.

Q: What are the areas in education that need to be addressed, so as to enable citizens for a better society?

Ans: Experiential learning as part of exploring roles and identity provides the students self-reflective space and time. Besides this, the young generation needs a perspective on national pride and astute understanding of the future scenario of the world. The world is undergoing transformation, and there is a need to understand its directions, consequences and the choices to give shape to it.

Institutions of higher learning need to design curriculum of tomorrows world of polarisation, race, gender, generation, wealth and technology. Simultaneously creative art, expressive talent and the continuity and preservation of heritage is equally important. There are various ways of integrating the expressive aspects of creativity to the functional knowledge.

Q: What is the scope of liberal education in India, in terms of student growth and employability?

Ans: Liberal education has just begun to make its presence felt in India. Young students are exploring the multiplicity of courses, the different methodologies and most importantly, they are ready to take some time to finally decide the stream of education they would like to enter. Parents also appreciate this concept which provides a holistic education to their children.

Q: How will the Indian graduates be affected by the ongoing global economic turmoil?

Ans: The whole education system and the learning environment are in turmoil. This is more so for the reasons of ethics in business. The focus of education shifted to employment opportunities and salaries. All nations have to go through this phase of plenty and its consequences. Eventually, though, education will become value-based, and occupations will based on merit and hard work. However, it is important for Indians to experientially discover that grass is not greener on the other side.

Q: Your comments on receiving the Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award.

Ans: We are a young institution and receiving the award only tells us that we have made a realistic beginning. Although, the recognition tells us that we are on the right path, we have yet a long journey ahead of us to travel. There are many a mileposts and landmarks we are yet to reach. The faculty, of course, has played a critical role in rooting the credibility of the liberal education.

Courtesy: Myeducationtimes.com

Times of India

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