The School of Tribal Heritage and Tribal Indology (Home Science, Psychology and Education Programmes), KISS-DU organized a three-day webinar on “Indigenous Youths in Institutions of Higher Learning: Their Wellness, Health and Life Skill Education” from 17th May to 19th May 2022 through hybrid mode. Home Science Programme organized day 1 on 17th May 2022 and day 2 on 18th May 2022 was organized by Psychology Programme. Professor Bhaswati Patnaik, Head, Department of Psychology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar who was invited as the distinguished speaker.
Professor Bhaswati Patnaik highlighted Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Deemed to be University as a model university across the globe for its uniqueness in preserving, protecting and promoting indigenous knowledge and culture to mainstream the indigenous youths in higher education. She focused on the present scenario in the institutions of higher learning and stressed upon the fact that indigenous students should not leave their self-identity and be with the native people after being educated. For this, the curriculum must be relevant and include topics on indigenous practices which will shape their identity and belief system. She expressed her happiness as KISS has been practicing the same as recently appointed the Professors of Practice to make the students aware in promoting their culture while learning when they are away from their native places and residing in the residential campus of KISS. She focussed on the idea of a reorientation in perspective of Higher education through the ‘four R’s i.e., Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, Responsibility to address the three components of mind Cognition, Affect and Conation. She emphasized on involving the students in assigning responsibilities in student activities, participation in curriculum framing, participation in multicultural education of teachers, empowering them to choose the skills and knowledge.
Supplementing the lecture of the distinguished speaker, Professor Deepak Kumar Behera, Vice-Chancellor, KISS-DU expressed his concern on the fact that we have to educate ourselves to address the various needs of the tribal students while teaching to them. He stressed upon the innovative practices implemented in KISS such as appointing the Professors of Practice as the traditional intellectuals and the Professor Emeriti as the modern intellectuals to make the indigenous learning process more vibrant through both curricular and co-curricular activities to make them skilled. He also highlighted the various unique practices such as entrepreneurship training of students, vocational activities, sports, dance, music and many more.
While introducing the distinguished speaker, Dr. Sujata Acharya, Principal, KISS and Director KISS Wellness Centre, KISS-DU threw light on the academic achievements and remarkable work in the field of education. Professor Namita Mohanty, Professor Emerita KISS-DU gave introductory remarks at the beginning of the session. Mrs. Shradha Smaraki Das was instrumental at moderating the whole session and Mr. Nilamani Moharana facilitated the question-answer session.
Mrs. Ananya Das, Head, Psychology Programme, KISS-DU summed up the session and proposed the Vote of Thanks.