 Early Times Report
AMRITSAR, Feb 17: Addressing the participants on the valedictory session of the 8-day workshop on "Universal Human Values: Understanding Harmony, Building Ethical Competence and Social Responsibility", organised by the Department of Education, Guru Nanak Dev University under the Centre for Agricultural Research and Innovation (CARI), funded by Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, Prof. H.S. Saini, Dean Academic Affairs emphasised that value-based education is central to building a just, compassionate, and sustainable society. He further urged the participants to make it a way of living and propagate it among their students and society at large.
The workshop, spread over eight days, provided an intensive engagement with the philosophy and practice of Universal Human Values (UHV), focusing on harmony at four levels-self, family, society, and nature. Through expert lectures, interactive discussions, reflective exercises, group activities, and experiential sessions, participants explored the interrelationship between ethical competence and social responsibility in the context of contemporary education.
During the valedictory session, the resource person briefly summarized the content giving a food to the soul to every individual sitting there. It was highlighted that the workshop not only enhanced conceptual clarity regarding UHV but also encouraged introspection, value-based decision-making and responsible citizenship. Participants shared their experiences and enlightened journey, noting that the sessions helped them connect personal aspirations with societal well-being and professional ethics.
On this occasion, Prof. Rajneesh Arora, Chairman NCCIP (AICTE) and Former Vice-Chancellor, I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala, appreciated the initiative of Department of Education, GNDU for organising this workshop thus making 50% universities in Punjab who have conducted such workshops. He further, reinforced the need to integrate universal human values into curricula, teacher preparation programmes, and institutional culture to ensure holistic development of learners. He further emphasised that this course of UHV was initially planned for technical educational institutions but is now introduced in most of the universities in the country.
Prof. Deepa Sikand Kauts, Head, Department of Education, GNDU, formally welcomed and introduced the distinguished guests. Among them present were Prof. (Dr.) Adarsh pal Vig, Former President, Pollution Control Board, Punjab, Dr Rajesh, Former Principal, DAV College, Amritsar, Prof. (Dr.) Sunil Kumar, Dean and Head, Department of Hindi, GNDU and Prof. Amit Chopra, Placement Officer.
Prof. (Dr.) Amit Kauts, expressed his gratitude to the Chief Guest, HoD, Resource Persons, distinguished guests and participants whose collective efforts ensured the success of the workshop. Prof. Kauts very beautifully delved into the concept of Para Vidya and Apara Vidya which comes from ancient Indian philosophy. He further explained how this idea strongly connects with Universal Human Values (UHV), where education is not merely information transfer but transformation of the self. |
