This document discusses liberal education in India and argues that it is the way forward. It defines liberal education as combining practical and philosophical approaches across a wide range of subjects. Liberal education teaches students to think critically, learn independently, and engage with different modes of thought in order to become aware and engaged citizens. It cultivates skills like interdisciplinary thinking and communication, as well as values like integrity and humility. Liberal education can be achieved through strategies like experiential learning and faculty engagement, as well as methods like discussion-based classes, seminars, and group projects. In a changing global world, liberal education helps students navigate diverse cultures and pursue their passions.

1. LIBERAL EDUCATION IN
INDIA: A WAY FORWARD
Viraj Shah
Associate Professor
Chair, Department of Social Sciences
Member, Academic Council
FLAME University
26 August, 2016

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• What is liberal education?
• Why liberal education?
• Abilities / Skills developed
• Attitudes cultivated
• Values and attributes inculcated
• How is it achieved?
• New horizons – liberal education is the way forward
CONTENTS

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WHAT IS LIBERAL EDUCATION?

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• Combination of practical and philosophical approach
• Range of subjects - wider choices (truly liberal and
liberating)
• Finding connections between seemingly disparate
disciplines
• “not to teach that which is peculiar to any one of the
professions; but to lay the foundation which is
common to them all”- Yale Report 1828 (Zakaria 51)
WHAT IS LIBERAL EDUCATION?

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WHY LIBERAL EDUCATION?

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• Not rote learning, but learning to think, write and
articulate
• Learning to acquire knowledge on their own -
‘learning to learn’
• Learning different modes of thought
• Be an aware and engaging citizen
WHY LIBERAL EDUCATION?

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ABILITIES / SKILLS DEVELOPED

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• Inter-disciplinary thinking
• Assimilate multiple perspectives - assimilate,
synthesize and evaluate information
• Grasp over a discipline of specialization - updated
knowledge of the field
• Communication skills - verbal and written
• Working in a team - leadership, team player
ABILITIES / SKILLS DEVELOPED

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ATTITUDES CULTIVATED

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• Cultural sensitivity
• Active engagement with the world
• Responsibility towards society - aware and active
approach
• Motivated, Passionate, Dedicated, Adventurous
ATTITUDES CULTIVATED

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VALUES AND ATTRIBUTES INCULCATED

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• Integrity
• Humility
• Commitment
• Reflective and Introspective Approach
VALUES AND ATTRIBUTES INCULCATED

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HOW IS IT ACHIEVED?

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• Strategies:
 Academic philosophy and practices - Exposure to
different disciplines; Read across disciplines;
Understand different modes of thought
 Faculty engagement
 Experiential Learning
 Mentoring/Peer-Mentoring
 Residential life
HOW IS IT ACHIEVED?

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• Methods:
 Variety of courses
 Discussion-based interactive classes
 Seminars
 Written assignments (summary, comparative
analysis, critique)
 Presentations
 Group Projects
 Continuous, constructive feedback; Academic
discussions outside classrooms; Conferences
 Field-based activities
HOW IS IT ACHIEVED?

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NEW HORIZONS – LIBERAL EDUCATION IS
THE WAY FORWARD

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• Challenges of global world
 Navigating through diverse cultures and rapidly
changing world
 Obsolete jobs
• Pursuing passions and turning them into careers
 Myth of ‘unemployable liberal arts graduate’
• Responsible and conscientious world citizen
NEW HORIZONS – LIBERAL EDUCATION
IS THE WAY FORWARD

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• “While I joke that my medieval history and philosophy
degree prepared me not for the job market, I must tell
you it did prepare me for life.”
• “I learned how to condense a whole lot of information
down to the essence. That thought process has served
me my whole life… I’m one of these people who
believes we should be teaching people music,
philosophy, history, art.”
Carly Fiorina
Former Hewlett-Packard, CEO
BA in Medieval History and Philosophy
Stanford University, 1976
NEW HORIZONS – LIBERAL EDUCATION
IS THE WAY FORWARD

19. Thank you.
Website – www.flame.edu.in
Email – enquiry@flame.edu.in
Tel – 1 800 209 4567
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