|
Promoting Values and Ethics:
Vice Chancellors' Conference at Prasanthi Nilayam
October 28th-30th, 2003
In the year of its
Golden Jubilee celebrations (2002-2003) the University Grants
Commission has, among other things, chosen to focus its attention
on a review and restructuring of higher education in the country.
One of the major issues that has very appropriately been taken up
for serious deliberations and subsequently a concrete
plan
of action, has been the one relating to the introduction of human
values and ethics in our higher educational system. The University
Grants commission (UGC) has shown wisdom by deciding to begin such
deliberations at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
(SSSIHL). It is by now widely recoginsed that this institution
stands uniquely distinguished for incorporating human values as an
integral component of its system of education. The exact form of
this first step in tackling the world wide problem of erosion in
human values and a growing distance between the inculcation of
ethical values and educational processes was the Vice Chancellors'
seminar, held at the SSSIHL with the Divine Blessings of Bhagawan
Sri Sathya Sai Baba during Tuesday, October 28th through Thursday,
October 30th, 2003. The overall theme of the seminar was
"Promoting Value Education and Ethics". The seminar was
inaugurated by Bhagawan in the morning on 28th October with His
Divine Discourse which created the most appropriate ambience for
further deliberations.
The seminar was
attended by Prof.Arun Nigavekar, Chairman, UGC, who gave the
keynote address in the first business session, Justice Ranganath
Misra, formerly Chief Justice of India and Chairman, National
Human Rights commission, Justice Malmath, former Chief Justice of
Kerala High Court, Prof.V.S.Prasad, Director, National Assessment
and Accreditation Council, Vice-Chancellors of 18 reputed
universities in India , the present Vice
Chancellor of the SSSIHL, Sri S. V. Giri and his predecessor,
Prof.G.Venkataraman, senior officials of the UGC and Higher
Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Notably, the
participating Vice-Chancellors represented women's universities,
universities of distance education, deemed universities,
agricultural universities, central and state universities spread
across the length and breadth of India.
On the morning of
28th, Sri S.V.Giri started the proceedings with his address where
he touched upon the concept of integral education at the SSSIHL
which incorporates values in all aspects of learning.
After
Sri S V Giri, Prof. G.Venkataraman, former Vice-chancellor of the
SSSIHL addressed the audience on the crisis facing modern
education and how to overcome it. He said that the power of
Morality was greater than any other power and that one need not
feel diffident in talking about it and practicing it. The next
speaker was Sri Arun Nigevekar, Chairman of UGC. He pointed out
the inadequacy of mere Higher education and stressed the need for
Values and Ethics. Sri Ranganath Misra, Chairman , National Human
Rights Commission, speaking on the occasion agreed with the
earlier speakers on the importance of values in education, right
from the primary school level and prayed for the Grace of Bhagawan
in bringing about this transformation.
Giving his
Divine inaugural address, Bhagawan said that the most important of
all values is love and that the fundamental knowledge lies in
asking oneself 'who am I ?'. He said that contrary to popular
belief spirituality is easy and one just needed to have faith to
start with.
The deliberations of
the seminar were spread over seven business sessions in addition
to the inaugural session on 28th October morning. Various themes
related to the main topic were discussed. They included: Policy
Frame work and operational model, An integral approach to
education and educational philosophy, Science technology and value
inculcation, management education and value orientation, service
orientation and responsible citizenship etc?
Every evening, all
the delegates of the conference would assemble in the Sai Kulwanth
hall in the Divine presence when the summary of the day's
deliberations would be read out to the vast gathering. Also,
students of the SSSIHL spoke on how because of the Divine Guidance
of Bhagawan, their revered Chancellor, they could internalize and
practise the concepts of integral value education. They spoke in
Hindi, English, Telugu and even in Sanskrit! The delegates were
thrilled with the splendid oratory of the students, who spoke full
of feelings from the heart.
On
the evening of 30th October, the concluding day of the seminar,
all the delegates once again assembled in the Kulwanth hall in the
Divine Presence. Prof.V.S.Prasad, The director of NAAC, National
Assessment and Accreditation Council, placed before Bhagavan the
recommendations emerging out of the seminar deliberations. All the
delegates felt that imparting human values in higher education was
the need of the hour and came up with various suggestions on how
to do it. Above all, they were unanimous in their appreciation of
the SSSIHL and expressed gratitude to Bhagavan for giving them an
opportunity to come to be in His Divine Presence. They said that
the SSSIHL was a practical and ideal example of successfully
imparting value education to students and recommended that it be
declared as a 'National Centre for Exellence' in value education.
Prof. Jaya
Shankaran, the Vice Chancellor of Sri Chandrasekharendra
Saraswathi Mahavidyalaya summed it up all in his eloquent speech
when he said that it is from institutions like SSSIHL, that the
country looked forward to future leaders. He said that the only
solution of transforming all the 300 Universities was for Bhagavan
to take those many multiple forms and guide each one of them
personally.
Let us hope and pray to Bhagavan, that by His grace, very soon all
the educational institutions in the country and the entire world
would follow the noble example set forth by Him through the SSSIHL
and make the world a happy and a peaceful place.
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, 1st December 2003
http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/07Dec01/09_PRASANTHI_DIARY/prasanthi_diary.htm
|