Liberal education in a rapidly changing world: academics to share their thoughts at The Huddle

What kind of an education will best prepare young people to understand themselves, make thoughtful life decisions, and navigate a rapidly changing world?

At The Hindu Huddle session titled ‘Well-rounded world view: Finding a place for liberal education’, Bhavani S., the Dean of the School of Humanities and Performing Arts at Christ College, Ashoka University professors Jonathan Gill Harris and Srinath Raghavan, and the Azim Premji Foundation’s managing editor Sudheesh Venkatesh will explore the increasing importance of a liberal education in today’s complex world. The conversation will be moderated by Maya Thiagarajan, educator, teacher trainer, and founder of TREE.

The Hindu Huddle will be held in Bengaluru on May 9 and 10.

Through its broad, interdisciplinary nature, a liberal education helps students gain not just critical thinking skills but also the ability to better understand themselves and make thoughtful and ethical decisions. As we live through an AI revolution, increasing geopolitical complexity, and a frightening rise in mental health issues, young people need an education that prepares them for a very uncertain future. They need a broad world view and the ability to analyse complex situations from a range of perspectives. They also need to fully understand what it means to be human and how to live a good life. A liberal education may be the best way for them to gain these skills and navigate the road ahead.

In India, college education has historically been oriented towards specific professions such as engineering or business. For Indian families, therefore, the idea of a liberal education that is inherently interdisciplinary in nature and not necessarily geared towards a specific profession is fairly new. In this session, the academics will share their thoughts on the purpose of education in today’s world, the various courses and curricula that characterise a liberal education, and the ways in which a liberal education prepares young people both for the workforce and for adult life. They will also examine the challenges of a liberal education in an Indian context.