Project, concept-based learning process need of the hour

Project, concept-based learning process need of the hour

Mangalore Today News Network

Dhrarmasthala, April 9, 2016: Delivering the convocation address at the Graduation Day ceremony of Sri Dhrarmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda and Hospital recently,  Executive Director of the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science and Technology’s (S&T) Vision Group on S&T Dr S Ananth Raj said exam-oriented educational system which evaluates the brilliancy of students is disastrous and dangerous.

 He said there is a need for project and concept-based learning process like in Canada, Taiwan and China.   "The policymakers should think in that direction and change the system of learning process. The Vision Group was set up in October 2009 to promote research and supports the researchers with funds ranging from Rs 6 lakh to 60 lakh. Karnataka is the only State which supports research through funding," he added.

Dr Raj said 1,638 proposals were received for research on various topics. "The group provides Rs 50,000 for projects extending to six months. It has covered 197 engineering colleges, 183 science colleges, nine Ayurveda colleges, 22 medical colleges, 40 pharmacy colleges, six dental colleges and two fisheries colleges in the State. As many as 1,751 proposals were received for 50 awards instituted by the group from all over State," he added.

He lamented most of the research projects are stopped in the middle in the country. There is need to support brilliant students. The number of awards has increased to 150 at present. As many as 600 researchers are supported in the areas of stem cell, Biotechnology, Microtechnology and neuro cells, he noted.

Dr. Ananth Raj said teaching at present is just the transformation process from teachers’ old notebooks to students new notebooks. Project-based education should be given emphasis. The concept of learning should be ’I Did I Understood’ instead of ’I Heard I Forgot’, he remarked.

He said Indians are losing identity in the urge to follow West. "Sanskrit language is slowly disappearing from the lives of Indians. We are not living. We are just existing. The purpose of life is to be happy," he said quoting the Tibetan spiritual leader The Dalai Lama.

Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr Veerendra Heggade said Indian civilisation, along with other ancient civilisations, put forth the foundation of the concept science and technology. Ayurveda is the effective form of medicine which goes in-depth into the root cause of the disease, unlike Allopathy, which focuses only on the disease. Ayurveda treatment is affordable to any poor man, he observed.