In recent years, liberal arts programmes have become extremely popular…
What do HBO Chairman and CEO Richard Plepler, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Chairman of the Mahindra group Anand Mahindra have in common? They all give great credit to their liberal arts background!
What is liberal arts?
More than a degree, the liberal arts are a form of education distinguished by a wide variety of subject choices drawn from social sciences, natural sciences as well as humanities, and an emphasis on critical thinking and communication.
Speaking in her personal capacity, Vishakha Desai, Senior Advisor for Global Affairs to the President of Columbia University, USA and a member of the Board and Academic Council of KREA University in India, says, “… liberal arts education is a comprehensive approach to think creatively and deliberately about all aspects of life involving both arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. It is less about learning a particular skill (in a rapidly changing and automating work environment, any particular skill learnt today will become obsolete in a decade), and more about learning how to learn, think and master any skill for the future.”
Tracing liberal arts in India
The concept of liberal arts is not new to India. Traditional Indian universities like Nalanda also encouraged this form of education. However, the onset of colonial education and a growing emphasis on professional courses, especially in the decades since independence, led to disintegration in it. However, Desai says, “In recent years, there is a resurgent interest in establishing new liberal arts institutions that are comparable to good universities in the U. S. and Europe.”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The 50 colleges in 5 countries where most Indians go for MBBS abroad
Data on countries and colleges from the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) 2022 - the latest available - shows that most Indians who completed medical degrees abroad and wrote the FMGE went to five countries.
Foreign medical colleges: Look before you leap
A close look at foreign medical colleges that thousands of Indians have graduated from shows that many are unaccredited, don’t have hospitals or even their own websites
'Either I clear FMGE or leave the country'
After spending lakhs on MBBS degrees abroad, thousands spend years trying to clear the FMGE. That is the only option for Indian graduates of foreign medical colleges to build a career in India
Why hundreds of nursing graduates leave India each year
There has been an increase in nursing institutes over the past two decades but policy gaps, lax regulations, poor pay and opportunities are pushing a large number of nursing staff to seek opportunities abroad
In Kashmir, why NEET and JEE candidates flock to private reading halls to prepare for exams
These are accessible round-the-clock, even on public holidays, have private cabins and booths, kitchen, discussion area and some, even places for napping
Battling despair and depression in medical school
Long hours, bullying, lack of support make a difficult programme tougher for medical students. They hope for clear guidelines from the NMC
This father-daughter duo uncovered a scam in NEET admissions in West Bengal
Several generalcategory students had secured admission in medical colleges with forged ST certificates. Ishita Soren spotted the names, and her father followed up
'Forced to take up bonded labour
There's massive resistance to a state policy in Karnataka that requires even private medical college graduates to do one year's mandatory rural service
‘A routine circus': PG medical students lobby, move court to get stipends
Despite NMC orders, many medical colleges still seriously underpay resident doctors and threaten them into silence. In government colleges, stipends can be delayed for months
Why Mizoram wants centre to take over its only medical college
Mizoram got its first state medical college in 2018. In 2023, it asked the union government to take over. Mixed up in this are questions of funding, MBBS seat distribution
