There were 70 participants. In addition to teachers from GBTU and MTU, there were 21 participants from Royal University of Bhutan, including 6 senior deans and 2 senior participants from Himachal Pradesh Technical University, including the dean of studies.
The Royal University of Bhutan is planning to introduce this foundation course as a part of their Education for Gross National Happiness (GNH) module. Attached is their group feedback. The VC, Dasho Pema Thinley-ji, has committed to personally attending Ganesh-ji's next workshop on Human Values. The Education Minister may also participate. So they are taking this very sincerely. All national systems have been gearing up for this comprehensive goal, including planning commission and education. In July 2011, the General Assembly of the United Nations added Bhutan's model of GNH on its agenda to see whether it can be used as a development indicator.
Himachal Pradesh Technical University had already decided to introduce this foundation course. After the workshop, Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Dean of Studies, said that they have understood the significance of this effort more clearly during the course of the workshop. They plan to send the chairperson/director/principal of every college for this workshop as a preparation for introducing the foundation course, as a first step toward Value Based Education.
Consolidated feedback of the 21 Participants from Royal University of Bhutan
The workshop on Human Values and Professional Ethics has been fulfilling in many ways:
1. It has opened up new path to pursue the goal of GNH (and, over time, to facilitate GWH – Gross World Happiness).
2. It has made us realize the need to relook at the goals of our education and prepare for a paradigm shift to an education that empowers every student with the competence to live with definite human conduct.
3. The workshop has stimulated our thinking; it has made us realize and appreciate the values we already have. We have a renewed feeling of gratitude towards our family elders, teachers and all those who have instilled these values in us.
4. It has given us the direction for discovering the self on our own right – through a process of self exploration.
5. The workshop is so well designed that one can easily grasp its contents and relate to each one’s situation.
RECOMMEDATION TO RUB
1. This workshop is relevant for the policy makers and key decision makers. We recommend that VC and Minister of Education should attend this workshop.
2. Invite Prof. Bagaria and his team to Bhutan to conduct this workshop at a national level where most of our faculties could attend.
3. This course should be adopted as such, as a foundation course in the GNH module. It follows all the relevant guidelines for value education, i.e. it is applicable to all human beings, rational or amenable to reasoning, natural and verifiable. The content is all encompassing and its understanding can lead to human conduct, and thereby ensuring happiness and prosperity, which is the goal of GNH education.
4. RUB should adopt this program in the curriculum of teacher education.
5. This program is relevant for all, and it should also be introduced in school education.
6. We should, at an appropriate time, translate this into our language.
RECOMMENDATION TO COLLEGES
1. Identify a core group of faculties and develop their competencies to deliver the content
2. Organize workshop for the faculties
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