CREATING A CHANGE
LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION TEACHES US TO BE GOOD CITIZENS, TO ENGAGE IN HEALTHY DEBATES AND COMMUNICATE WELL SAYS VINEET GUPTA, FOUNDER AND TRUSTEE, ASHOKA UNIVERSITY
There is a growing demand for an alternative college education system which doesn’t base itself only on how one scores in Class 12. Seeing this as an opportunity to kick-start a change, Vineet Gupta, Founder and Trustee of Ashoka University, Sonepat, shares his vision for having a broad-based system of education which trains students to be good citizens. An engineering graduate from IIT Delhi, Gupta is also the Managing Director of Jamboree Education.
HOW CAN A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION SYSTEM BE DESCRIBED TO AN INDIAN PARENT LOOKING FOR ALL-ROUND VARSITY EDUCATION?
The classic definition of liberal arts would be the type of education which every citizen should have. A broad-based education that moulds you to become a good citizen, it must enable people to be able to engage in debate, have a perspective on governance and grounding in literature. Since business and its processes dominate the world currently, citizens should also have an understanding of economies and how societies function. That’s why education must encompass social sciences, humanities and sciences; pretty much the entire gamut of knowledge.
HOW INDIAN UNIVERSITIES SHOULD FOCUS ON BROAD-BASED EDUCATION? AT ASHOKA UNIVERSITY HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
The manner in which education is imparted at Ashoka University makes both options possible—a broad-based education along with a focused approach. Since it is broad-based, it not only makes you a good citizen, but also a person who has the chance to go deep, in say physics or mathematics or literature or economics. Ashoka University provides a 3+1 model to achieve the depth and breadth of the curriculum in four years. The university gives students an opportunity to further specialise at the master’s level or opt for specialised courses.
FROM GRADUATING AS AN ENGINEER TO STARTING A COMPANY SUCH AS JAMBOREE. HOW DID YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE EDUCATION SYSTEM INSPIRE YOU TO START ASHOKA UNIVERSITY?
My education and career inspired me to have deep faith in the broad model of liberal education. I was trained as an engineer but for my career as an entrepreneur, most of the skills and knowledge I needed were self-taught. I think engineering or any other degree is great but a broad-based four-year education helps you develop the skills which every undergraduate requires. My education did give me a solid background of analytical and problem-solving ability but I had to develop a broader understanding of society, gain communication skills and critical thinking on my own which were acquired through experience and self-learning.
HOW HAVE RECRUITING COMPANIES RESPONDED TO THE AVAILABILITY OF HOLISTIC GRADUATES FROM ASHOKA UNIVERSITY?
I think there are two kinds of jobs that are available. Jobs that need specialisation fall in the first category such as those of a doctor or an architect. These demand people to have specific skills and training. But these are probably half the jobs. The other half inhabits a wider domain. All jobs in communications, sales, marketing, entrepreneurship and other 21st century jobs are extremely broad-based and they need people with a strong and exhaustive background. Many employers for such jobs look for smart, intelligent people. Recruiters
EDUCATION MUST ENCOMPASS SOCIAL SCIENCES. HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES
are a little agnostic if you’ve only studied literature or mechanical engineering or history. They look for graduates who have the ability to communicate effectively, can synthesise ideas and express them well with a basic understanding of technology.
THE ADMISSION PROCESS OF ASHOKA UNIVERSITY AND OTHER LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES REQUIRES STUDENTS TO WRITE A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. STUDENTS OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES AT A LOSS WHILE FILLING APPLICATION FORMS SINCE THIS CONCEPT IS RELATIVELY NEW TO THEM. ANY ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?
Be honest. More than language and creativity, we are looking at a story. If students are narrating their life story in a truthful manner and if that story is interesting, we’ll take you. We’re more focused on finding stories which match our requirements rather than how innovatively they are written. We also focus on the student’s curiosity to learn. I run Jamboree and I’ve seen thousands of students apply and have observed that you just need a very truthful, well thought out answer.