Liberal Arts
Symbiosis Centre for Liberal Arts
Messages:
Message from visionary President and Founder Director, Dr. S. B. Mujumdar:
“Liberal Arts education teaches you how to think rather than what to think. It empowers you to develop your own opinions, attitudes and values not based upon the authority of parents or professors, or upon beliefs and prejudices. It will enable you to know how to learn and how to organize ideas. Liberal Arts will enhance your creativity, originality and emotional intelligence.”
Message from Principal Director Dr.Vidya Yeravdekar:
“I believe that the right education can help transform the destinies of communities. You students will play leadership roles in the future and guiding you to become compassionate and critically conscious citizens is our goal. Welcome to our Symbiosis Centre for Liberal Arts where I am sure you will not only learn a lot, but will also enjoy an intellectually stimulating environment replete with debate, unhampered discussion and free inquiry.”
Message from Principal Dr. Hrishikesh Soman:
Message from Principal Dr. Hrishikesh Soman:
“A liberal arts education may not generate ‘jobs’ for you immediately, but will surely make you a leader in your chosen field of specialization.
Most importantly, liberal arts will free your mind from prejudices, blind beliefs and superstitions and enable you to appreciate classical music and dance, science and politics, beauty and diversity of nature and imbibe courage, confidence and compassion in you.
It is to help you reap the benefits of a Liberal Arts education that we started the Symbiosis Centre for Liberal Arts in 2006.”
Most importantly, liberal arts will free your mind from prejudices, blind beliefs and superstitions and enable you to appreciate classical music and dance, science and politics, beauty and diversity of nature and imbibe courage, confidence and compassion in you.
It is to help you reap the benefits of a Liberal Arts education that we started the Symbiosis Centre for Liberal Arts in 2006.”
Mission:
The mission of the Symbiosis Centre for Liberal Arts is to create innovative multi-disciplinary educational programs which inspire students to develop creative thinking and become effective and responsible leaders in society.
Today, there are about thirty two courses from various fields such as Literature, Cinema, Media, Sciences, Economics, Music and more, with the choice of attending either morning or evening courses. The student has the option of completing the entire diploma, which requires the completion of six courses, or choosing to enrol for just individual courses.
Today students come to us from a number of colleges in Pune. Students will share their class room space with young girls and boys (and some older adults too!) from varied educational backgrounds. All our students are simultaneously studying for the bachelor degrees in arts or commerce or science or fine arts or even working. This variety adds to the flavor of the class interactions and discussions.
Teaching and Learning
A liberal arts education involves a focused study in the liberal arts disciplines (humanities and social sciences, language and literature and sciences) with the aim of developing the ability to question and think critically.
An emphasis on different ways of thinking and the development of skills of analysis and communication is paramount as is the development of an individual’s values and attitudes. It aims at encouraging creativity and the ability to think outside the box as well as cultivating the confidence to question issues from multiple points of view.
An important question therefore is, is the experience with the contrasting thoughts represented by the arts and the sciences, merging harmoniously with business studies / traditional subjects?
Our faculty is vastly experienced and competent, their varied educational, corporate and social expertise giving students an informed and deeper perspective on life. The in-house faculty of Symbiosis College of Arts & Commerce as well as the visiting faculty have been most open and forthcoming, and coupled with their expertise, has resulted in some of the most animated sessions in a classroom.
Our faculty is responsible for devising courses and updating it annually. Learning methodology typically includes interactive siinars and group discussions, team learning through projects and assignments, self- learning through library reference and apprenticeships/ internships, audio-visuals, lectures and guest speakers/ experts, visits and workshops.
Students are evaluated on a continuous basis. Faculty devise their own creative methodology (unique to each course) which includes essays and term papers, projects, weekly activities / assignments, presentations, class participation and case studies. The traditional final examination that tends to test only their rote learning is avoided as far as possible.
Today students come to us from a number of colleges in Pune. Students will share their class room space with young girls and boys (and some older adults too!) from varied educational backgrounds. All our students are simultaneously studying for the bachelor degrees in arts or commerce or science or fine arts or even working. This variety adds to the flavor of the class interactions and discussions.
Teaching and Learning
A liberal arts education involves a focused study in the liberal arts disciplines (humanities and social sciences, language and literature and sciences) with the aim of developing the ability to question and think critically.
An emphasis on different ways of thinking and the development of skills of analysis and communication is paramount as is the development of an individual’s values and attitudes. It aims at encouraging creativity and the ability to think outside the box as well as cultivating the confidence to question issues from multiple points of view.
An important question therefore is, is the experience with the contrasting thoughts represented by the arts and the sciences, merging harmoniously with business studies / traditional subjects?
Our faculty is vastly experienced and competent, their varied educational, corporate and social expertise giving students an informed and deeper perspective on life. The in-house faculty of Symbiosis College of Arts & Commerce as well as the visiting faculty have been most open and forthcoming, and coupled with their expertise, has resulted in some of the most animated sessions in a classroom.
Our faculty is responsible for devising courses and updating it annually. Learning methodology typically includes interactive siinars and group discussions, team learning through projects and assignments, self- learning through library reference and apprenticeships/ internships, audio-visuals, lectures and guest speakers/ experts, visits and workshops.
Students are evaluated on a continuous basis. Faculty devise their own creative methodology (unique to each course) which includes essays and term papers, projects, weekly activities / assignments, presentations, class participation and case studies. The traditional final examination that tends to test only their rote learning is avoided as far as possible.
History of SCLA
It was Symbiosis President and Founder Director Dr. S. B. Mujumdar’s dream to start a centre for liberal education in India. Conversations Dr. Mujumdar had with Sam Pitroda, Chairperson, Knowledge Commission of India and Harish Shah, Professor Ieritus, Stanford triggered off the need for a centre that would nurture socially responsible leaders.
The Symbiosis Centre for Liberal Arts was inaugurated by Dr.Kiran Bedi in July 2006. It started its first semester with six courses from the 3 streams of Science, Humanities & Social Science and Language & Literature being offered to the students in the form of a value added Diploma.
