Promoting Values and Ethics: Vice Chancellor's Conference Oct 28th-30th, 2003

[Guest guest]

Prasanthi Diary...

PROMOTING VALUES AND ETHICS:VICE CHANCELLORS' CONFERENCE AT PRASANTHI NILAYAMOCTOBER 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,, 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.

 

 

Volume 01: PDS / 07

Date : DEC 01 2003Source:

http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/07Dec01/09_PRASANTHI_DIARY/prasanthi_diary.htm

 

Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now