India, a land enriched with knowledge, culture, and heritage; where education played a pivotal role in transforming a child to adulthood in terms of knowledge. A land where gurukul educational pedagogy was considered as formal tutelage to transform and create the youth to be a wiser generation rather than mark driven.

Avantika University, a university that is built on the sprawling landscape of greenery, nature, and spaces that itself embody the classification of actual gurukul learning space. Far from the hustle and bustle of society and such serenity is vital for transforming the student mind to have a balanced, analytical vision and in-depth learning. The foremost focus of Avantika University is neither student-centric nor teacher-centric but it’s learning-centric.

Avantika University, inculcating the embedded culture of gurukul parampara introducing the School of Liberal Arts with a unique combination of Project-Based Learning (PBL) pedagogical structure where learning is disseminated through experiential-based rather than preconceived theoretical meanings. The structural pyramid course framework of the School of Liberal Studies is designed in such a way that the five elements of tattva’s such as Earth, Ether, Air, Water, and Fire are intertwined in order to create and transform the young generation to be a wiser generation. These five tattva’s of Liberal Arts are:

Life Essential

– Denotes to Water (Jal). Without water, life cannot be survived. It signifies emotions. This element teaches the students to know, understand and control the ethos of emotions and feelings about one own self. At the same time, it equips the students to know how to use the mind (in terms of thinking), Writing, and in elocution of thought process. It facilitates the shedding of emotional baggage of the past and ownership of present commitment and involvement. This discovery leads to human beings and connecting the universe is through education. It has courses like Discovering oneself, Critical & Creative thinking and writing, ethics and values, and learnings from Upanishad Ganga and the wisdom of the heritage.

Bharat

Denotes to Earth (Prithvi). Earth appears after space, air, sky, water, and fire so that life can root and civilizations can emerge. Once the seeds are planted the earth has the power to unfold into the full glory of magic and mystery, wonder and amazement of learning and heritage. The Nature of Earth tattva is to expand and bring forth life on this earth with the support of the four other tattvas and the dynamic interaction between the five tattvas. This element will disseminate the knowledge and understanding of one’s own origin, culture, and heritage. This will make the students more responsible and culturally disciplined. It will make them balance between traditionality and modernity. This tattva will have courses like Emergence of Human Civilisation, Indian Civilisation, and Indian Constitution.

Multi-Disciplinary

Denotes to Sky (Akash). Sky has always existed in the universe. This tattva is of letting the mind wander free energy, to be creative, imaginative, and experimental. Thus, it has no boundaries and is infinite. It ignites the imagination and creativity skills which becomes essential for students to understand the vital elements of life/universe. It will make the students more conscientious, thoughtful, and open to other’s ideas. This tattva is interlinked with multi-disciplinary nature where courses like: Humanities, Social Science, Arts & Design, Language and Sustainability Goals. As the imagination can weave a fabric of all hues and colors, textures and design and weave it into a holistic pattern.

Major:

Denotes to Air (Vayu). Without air, fire, and water life on earth cannot survive and unfold. Air also serves as communication and a carrier to other life where because of pollen life multiplies and diversifies. As such, air diversifies and multiplies, and with this cross-pollination different products emerge. This element will liberate the students for freedom of choice and freedom of speech. It will give their mind a parachute to fly and explore various subjects which will become a threshold for the world of knowledge. This freedom will make them more explorative in terms of gaining knowledge as well as enhancing their positive energy towards attaining their goals. This tattva will have courses of majors and minors.

Project

Denotes to Fire (Agni). This tattva in dynamic interaction with water supports the life of the universe and fosters growth. It signifies fire within. This element will take forward the students into the world of work and career. This element will make the student more creative and passionate about their own work and career. They will be able to appreciate and acknowledge the phrase ‘Work is Worship’ This tattva is associated with Projects focused entirely on experiential learnings. This tattva will have dissertation research on various topics of multiple subjects of student’s choices and interest.

Objectives of School of Liberal Arts

The objectives of the School of Liberal Arts which itself is a PBL are also based on the five elements of gurukul parampara. They are: Character Development and Self Discipline Intellectual Growth Social Sensitivity Preservation of wisdom and Culture Spiritual Ownership

Unique Features

Project and Process-Based Learning Wide range of courses to choose upon Participation in Arts, Design, and Creativity Entrepreneurship Development Personal Growth (Role and Identity) Inclusion of students in decision making Developing Measurement Tools

Upholding the ethos of gurukul parampara, Avantika University, will be charting the pedagogical structure in accordance with these five tattvas. These tattvas will embody the transformation of students in a holistic manner through Project-Based Learning through dialogue between students and faculty. School of Liberal Arts, Avantika University is the first of its kind in Madhya Pradesh in implementing and disseminating the Liberal Knowledge through Project-Based (Refer to the story @ the end as an example).

The uniqueness of PBL program of the School of Liberal Arts is driven by a value-based and value-added pedagogical structure which identifies and fosters incomparable skills of each student that will encourage them to excel in their area of interest. A positive step in transforming the attitude of parents in making their child to be wiser rather than mark driven.

Example A Prince’s question to his Guru

Once upon a time, a young prince asked his guru about the secret to success. The guru patiently listened to the young prince’s question. The guru told the prince to meet him near the never the next morning for his answer. The next morning the prince woke up early and went immediately to the river. There he saw that his guru was already there. As soon as the guru saw the prince, he asked the prince to walk with him towards the river. As they walked and walked and went in the river the water got up to their neck. The guru then ducked the prince into the water and the prince was so surprised by his guru’s act. The young prince struggled to get out of the water, but the guru was strong and powerful and kept him there until the prince started gurgling. The guru then pulled the prince’s head out of the water. The guru very slowly asked the prince, ‘What did you want the most when your head was in the water’? The prince immediately replied, ‘Air’. The guru then said, ‘That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air while you were in the water, then you will get it. There is no other secret’.

The above story reflects the gurukul learnings where PBL will be instrumental learning for the young generation who will be about to enter into the threshold of the world of career. Such PBL will be inspiring for the young generation who are burning for the desire of success but are perplexed as to how to channelize their energy for success.

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Bharti Venkatesh