Dr Monisa Qadiri, Prof A H Moon
We live in times when novel approaches and creative interventions are encouraged and called for in almost all spheres. So as proven, in the realm of education and learning, innovative measures have always been a catalyst for the progress of a nation. In Jammu and Kashmir, revolutionizing the entire framework of student learning and academic experiences has been attempted, through an unconventional idea aptly called the ‘College on Wheels (Gyanodaya Express)’. College on Wheels is an initiative conceived and implemented by Professor Dinesh Singh the then Vice Chancellor of the Delhi University over a decade back. So, being the Vice-Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Council (JKHEC) now, he devised and recently implemented this innovative project in J&K under the leadership of the Chairman of JKHEC and Lt Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha. JKHEC – the apex authority and key stakeholder for the advancement and control of the higher education system in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and is responsible for devising and implementing higher education-related policies and programs as well as organising and supervising the operations of all higher educational institutions of J&K.
The vision behind Gyanodaya Express draws inspiration from the life of Mahatma Gandhi, whose transformative journeys and multiple associated experiences played a major role in shaping his person through his engagement with diverse communities and for awakening a deeper social consciousness. Thus, while on this journey, the students are particularly reminded of Mahatma’s epic journey by train which changed his outlook towards life. That expected outcome could prove transformative for hundreds of young minds, who may not have stepped into the real world before this. It presented them with a chance of self-discovery and much more. In the words of Gustav Flaubert, a French novelist, “travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” Thus, such journeys enable youngsters in their formative period to shape their minds accordingly. In essence, College on Wheels aims to revolutionise the higher education scene by going beyond traditional classroom learning, textbook pages, and conventional pedagogies by incorporating hands-on and experiential learning. Who can deny the impact of real-world experiences on shaping a human mind? The concept offered students an unconventional educational opportunity entailing a ‘travel’ by fusing classroom instruction with exposure to the real world.
The J&K edition was launched last year on 19th November by the Lt Governor who flagged off the train from the Katra Railway Station. In its maiden journey, almost 780 participants including mostly students and around 100 faculty mentors from the universities and colleges of Jammu and Kashmir boarded this train. The participating institutions included University of Jammu, Affiliated Colleges of the University of Jammu, Cluster University Srinagar, Cluster University of Jammu, Islamic University of Science and Technology Kashmir, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Katra, Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC) University of Delhi, University of Kashmir, Affiliated Colleges of University of Kashmir while University of Jammu was the nodal university for the first tour. Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) – a significant partner in this initiative has been actively involved with the entire designing, strategising and implementation of Gyanodaya and other programs of the JKHEC including the presence of VC IUST as an active member of the JKHJEC. This programme in particular has witnessed a comprehensive planning and execution at every step by the university. One of our students even won a second prize in the Chakrkha Competitions organised on the Wheels.
The first voyage of this initiative was for the female students from J&K highlighting the importance of equitable access to educational experiences. We understand how myriad cultural and social norms view the idea of women’s safety and in most cases, rightly so. However, this tour gave them a chance to experience what Heller Keller has said, about ‘life’ that it “is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” Many of them have found this experience empowering through the different stages of life. The program should continue for future batches as well as it has set an indelible mark on the minds of all the travellers, particularly students, who realised that it gave them a deeper engagement with themselves and provided an opportunity for self-awareness. One of the participating IUST students felt that she ‘learnt compassion for strangers’, while another valued ‘inter-cultural experiences’ and exploration of different cuisines. Thus, from seeing some of them be apprehensive about being homesick, missing their favourite cuisine or not being able to literally ‘live’ on the train to seeing them stronger-mentally, emotionally and even physically. The graduation to more self-reliant, resilient and independent beings towards the end of the journey was apparent.
For J&K students, ‘Gyanodaya Express
The College on Wheels’ presents a unique educational journey to be undertaken on an aptly-equipped train rented from the Indian Railways that will visit different places across India. Of course, the train can become more comprehensive with time and incorporate more facilities and exchange spaces. The journey maps many aspects of India in economic, industrial, sociological and historical terms. The objective has been to make learning and education a project-based problem-solving experience where the train and the places on the itinerary become a college and a university for the students. During the train journey, the students visit Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad and Sewagram and Paunar Ashram in Wardha to experience the art of simple living and become conscious of handmade articles. Places like Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, and Gateway of India in Mumbai are surely important opportunities to explore the remarkable architectural and historical moments while visits to Mumbai Aircraft Carrier in Mumbai, Naval Shipyard in Goa, ISRO Bengaluru provide glimpses of monumental achievements in different sectors and seeing women excel in different areas overcoming glass ceilings was a major inspiring story for the young girls. The students are sure of this unique opportunity which would help them explore knowledge and gain experience of the world outside their classrooms.
During the two-week journey, students work on different innovative and research-oriented educational projects in groups under the mentorship of faculty members, who specialise in different disciplines. These efforts align with the vision of the National Educational Policy (NEP) 2020 and aim to enhance the quality of education. The role played by the Higher Education Council (HEC) of Jammu and Kashmir in driving these initiatives under the guidance of the Lt. Governor, has been instrumental in putting J&K at the forefront of the change. From IUST a participating group of 65 members including 58 female students and scholars and seven faculty mentors joined the journey. The students worked on 12 exclusive and innovative project ideas under these mentors which covered the themes of culture, technology, economy, history, communication, health and so on.
The Gyanodaya Express trains have been transformed to provide a learning ecosystem to the students that promotes critical understanding, problem-solving, and research. In future, more equipped onboard libraries will also present a unique opportunity to pursue academic goals and research about the interest areas. This entire experience somehow exposes students to diverse issues and concepts that they may not encounter otherwise, providing a rich context for experiential learning. To sum up, Gyanodaya Express can transform transit spaces into a mobile college or a university where learning takes place in realtime, and real places with fellow co-passengers becoming co-learners. These journeys offer students a unique opportunity to explore different places, cultures, and communities while delving into themes that are not typically found in textbooks. The upcoming student batches are set to board the train!
(The authors are Nodal Officer and Coordinator for College on Wheels at IUST.)
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