IAJBS 23rd Annual World Forum University of Namur, Namur, Belgium

Experience level: 
Intermediate
Authors: 
DR. Mrs. NAMRATA VASUDEO JASROTIA

Education for Sustainable Development – An Indian Perspective

“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. In this article an attempt has been made to highlight role of academicians in inculcating and sensitizing the students apart from the Technical and Managerial Subjects, on Business Ethics, Personal Values, Corporate and Citizen Social Responsibilities, Intercultural Understanding, Education for Gender Equality, Health and Wellness Education, among the students so that they become responsible citizens and professional managers who can contribute constructively for the growth of the society and nation. These days spending a substantial amount of time on social media, impulsive web browsing and television watching is a disease of today’s society. The students spend a considerable amount of time on these activities and are greatly influenced by them in negative direction. This paper mainly aims to sensitize the academicians to draft a curriculum which leads to development of solidarity and sustainable managers for holistic development of the individual, their families, the society and the business as a whole so that the Corporate, Organizational frauds and other financial problems the frequency of which has tremendously increased over years will be minimized to a great extent although to remove it completely is just next to impossible. These days Institutions of Higher education mainly focus on developing cognitive skills of reasoning, knowledge and understanding abilities in students rather than on values, attitudes, ethics and behaviors which does not lead to sustainability in the long run. As a result what happens is that we produce managers who are always begrudging and not happy with what they have. They always work to seek more and more of materialistic things. This makes them do unethical and unwanted things, on which later they have to regret and it damages their career to a great extent too. This makes the entire workplace and home a battlefield full of challenges rather than a place to produce and contribute for the development of the society. Education is the only force that enlightens, enable and empowers people. The challenge we face is very big in nature, but so is the opportunity, and so, as educators, we have an unprecedented responsibility. Higher Education institutions are considered to be the incubators of tomorrow’s leaders and decision makers. The should deliver learning and research opportunities to advance knowledge in the area of sustainable development. The task before the academicians is challenging, but very essential; no other societal institution can play this major role. The author emphasis that in order to bring out Sustainable development in Higher Education, it should normally have four major components namely, Academics, Economy, Environment and Society. All the areas should be dealt in with the curriculum with equal relevance and importance. So that the students who graduate are sustainable and can contribute constructively and promote balanced growth. This article will highlight these areas with some case studies from India.