LUMS Vice Chancellor Participates in World Universities Summit
Share
Dr. Arshad Ahmad, LUMS Vice Chancellor, spoke about the role of interdisciplinary studies in overcoming challenges of the 21st century at the World Universities Summit. The three-day conference, held from July 21-23, was organised by O.P. Jindal Global University, and guests from all over the world participated in discussions on how the education environment has evolved during the pandemic.
Panellists at the discussion titled ‘Holistic Higher Education: Role of Interdisciplinary Studies in Overcoming Challenges of the XXI Century’, also included Dr. Malabika Sarkar, Vice Chancellor, Ashoka University, India; Dr. Ahmad Faris Ismail, Deputy Rector, International Islamic University Malaysia; and Dr. Diego Quiroga Ferri, Rector, Universidad de San Francisco de Quito Ecuador. The event was moderated by Dr. Jaideep Chatterjee, Executive Dean, Jindal School of Art and Architecture O.P. Jindal Global University, India. They discussed how holistic education must meet the emotional, social, ethical, and intellectual requirements of students through interdisciplinary training.
Dr. Ahmad spoke about the critical role of higher education to help advance human understanding and transform society. “Society has faced persistent challenges over time. Those challenges can get even more exaggerated [here] than in developed countries. The humanitarian, sociological and humanistic issues we face regarding inequity and scarcity - those are constants that we are all facing, and nobody anytime soon is going to be able to solve them through a single disciplinary lens.”
He also stressed on the importance of collaborating with students. “I think universities that are adopting students as true partners in their academic experience are going much further with interdisciplinarity. This is because students then become co-researchers, co-designers, co-presenters, co-learners; not just consumers.”
Dr. Ahmad lauded the organisers for creating a forum for inter-university collaboration. He urged students, faculty and staff and administrators to foster meaningful and sustainable collaborations with institutions and universities around the world. “Synergies will exist if we bring together people who are intentional in improving the wellbeing of the communities that we serve.”
To watch the panel discussion, click here.
