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Call for new academic culture

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Scholar’s say: KN Panikkar, historian and vice-chairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council, addressing a seminar on ‘Restructuring undergraduate education’ at PSMO College, Tirurangandi, on Friday

MALAPPURAM: Historian and Vice-Chairman of Kerala State Higher Education Council K.N. Panikkar has called upon the academic community to bring about a new culture where intellectual discussions become a common thing outside the classrooms.

Speaking on “Restructuring undergraduate education” at a seminar organised by the council at Tirurangadi, near here, on Friday, Dr. Panikkar said intellectual debates found on eminent university campuses in the world were never seen on Kerala campuses.

“Our campuses lack that academic smell,” he said, calling upon the students, teachers and academic managers to work towards bringing about a new academic culture.

Underscoring specialisation as the need of the hour, Dr. Panikkar said the State’s institutions, including universities, should strive to earn a name in some specialisation. “No big university in the world is known for all subjects; but they are known for only select subjects.”

He said higher studies should be a synthesis of general and specialised education. There should be a dedicated five-year plan for education, heralding an interdisciplinary approach. He said the existing nature of education should be replaced by a multidisciplinary approach, which should lead to an inter-disciplinary regime.

Stressing that restructuring of education was needed in all spheres, Dr. Panikkar said that college teachers should be given training and proper orientation.

Criticising the affiliation system prevalent in the State, Dr. Panikkar said academic autonomy, however, should have a binding on accountability, social control and democracy.

Major K. Ibraine, PSMO College Principal, presided over the function. P. Mohammed, Principal of Unity Women’s College, Manjeri, also addressed the gathering.

Kannur University Vice-Chancellor P. Chandramohan delivered the keynote address on “Grading system in colleges” at the valedictory session in the evening. Arimbra Mohammed, district panchayat president, presided over the function.

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