3rd International Conference on Human Values in Higher Education begins at PTU campus

Jalandhar, February 28, 2014: 3rd International Conference on Human Values in Higher Education being organised by Punjab Technical University (PTU) in association with Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT, BHU); Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad; and The Royal University of Bhutan at its Kapurthala campus from  February 28 to March 2 was inaugurated by Madan Mohan Mittal, Minister, Technical Education and Industrial Training today.
Addressing the congregation of educationists including vice chancellors, deans, registrars, secretaries, directors and professors from SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; Mittal said, “The Sikh doctrine of Sarbat Da Bhala should be the mainstay of higher education. ‘May good come to all’ and ‘May everyone be blessed’ is what the Sikh gurus had preached and this should be taught thoroughly to every student. Engineers and managers without human values cannot benefit the society. ”
Mittal also established the emotional connect with the educationists from Pakistan and spoke about common history and relation between the two neighbors. He informed that the first university of the state – Panjab University, Chandigarh has its origin in Lahore, Pakistan.
According to Dr. Rajneesh Arora, Vice Chancellor, PTU, “After the recently concluded Science Congress which attracted participants from across the world, we are delighted to host another international event. Punjab is fast becoming a global hub of higher education; however higher education sans human values is hollow. Our graduates should live an informed, purposeful, happy and responsible life – as an individual, as a member of family, as a member of society and as a unit in nature. And this is possible only through self exploration. Course on human values and professional ethics is mandatory for all programs in PTU since 2011.”
Prof. Andu Dukpa Director, Jigme Namgyel Polytechnics, Bhutan, brought in a fresh perspective and said, “Gross National Happiness should be the measure of success and not Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In Bhutan, the Government lays emphasis on happiness of the people because prosperity without happiness has no meaning. This should be a part of the secondary as well as higher education system.”  
Prof. Rajeev Sangal, IIT (BHU) explained how the course curriculum on human values was developed. “It is a part of core curriculum of 28 universities in 5 states of India and Bhutan. The content has been developed by National Resource Centre for Value Education in Engineering (NRCVEE), IIT Delhi and IIIT Hyderabad. It adheres to all Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) guidelines of being universal, rational, verifiable and leading to harmony.”
Human values in higher education primarily focus on creating mutual prosperity rather than accumulation; there is a significant realization on value of relationship - with family, colleagues, teachers & students; clarity on human purpose and purpose of education; besides teachers and students share a deeper sense of responsibility toward society, particularly their pind (village) and clearer responsibility toward nature. Those studying human values as a subject express an increased sense of gratitude for their parents and society.
Prof. PJ Narayanan, Director, IIIT, Hyderabad; and Prof. RR Gaur from Department of Mechanical Engineering and National Resource Centre for Value Education in Engineering (NRCVEE), IIT Delhi, also addressed the august gathering at the inauguration ceremony and emphasized on the grave need for human values in higher education.
During the three-day conference, deliberations will be held on some of the critical aspects of universal human values in higher education including the need for it; existing practices and experiences; guidelines, content and process (methodology); and the requirements given the current scenario. //jalandhar news,  jalandhar current news,  jalandhar news live, jalandhar breaking news, jalandhar headlines, jalandhar latest news, kapurthala news, india news, punjab news, punjab news live, punjab news online, punjab news, punjab news headlines, punjab breaking news, india news, punjab news,

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