The literature department successfully held it's conference on 23 -25 October, 2019 on the Value-Creating Education and Critical Thinking in a Global Word , the focus was on the literature, Literature is broader than written works with superior or lasting artistic merit. It has a deductive role to play in society. The novels and books generated from literature are not just any other manuals but items that create value in any education system.
Daisaku Ikeda, a Japanese philosopher, once said that "Persons merely excelling in such areas [as book learning and technology] are nothing more than parts of a colossal mechanism of the state and society. Truly desirable people of ability are creative people who untiringly pursue lofty ideals, who have rich individuality and who can make free and effective use of their knowledge and skills”.
The philosophy behind this statement formed the basis of today’s two broad themes - Value-Creating Education for Sustainable Development and Critical Thinking in a Global World. These two themes were the main topics of discussion at the Department of Literature’s conference in Research Week 2019.
This year’s conference had a total of 110 papers that were submitted and presented by scholars from diverse regions of the world. During the conference, the attendees had an opportunity to engage in healthy debates touching on issues to do with critical thinking and value-creating education.
From the deliberations, it was clear that the world is undergoing a period during which human activity has been the dominant-negative influence on climate change and the environment. This period is also known as Anthropocene.
In offering a solution, literature and the performing arts, which are related to literature, can serve as the best agent of change from negative attitudes. They can do this by replacing the negative habits with a new positive attitude. This can be done by not only responding to desirable role models but also rejecting socially maladjusted anti-heroes who are spurned by the community. Performing arts are a carrier of values and consequently, education is a basis of holistic success in any human being. Values are to be put to practice for one to be a successful individual.
By conducting annual Research Weeks, the University of Nairobi continues to cultivate a research-based approach to developing and solving problems affecting the society. Such activities are critical in improving a student’s understanding of his or her professional and policy context, organizationally, locally and nationally. The students gain critical thinking skills. The guest of honour in today’s congress was Dr Manu Chandaria. Literature is broader than written works with superior or lasting artistic merit. It has a deductive role to play in society. The novels and books generated from literature are not just any other manuals but items that create value in any education system.
Daisaku Ikeda, a Japanese philosopher, once said that "Persons merely excelling in such areas [as book learning and technology] are nothing more than parts of a colossal mechanism of the state and society. Truly desirable people of ability are creative people who untiringly pursue lofty ideals, who have rich individuality and who can make free and effective use of their knowledge and skills”.
By conducting annual Research Weeks, the University of Nairobi continues to cultivate a research-based approach to developing and solving problems affecting the society. Such activities are critical in improving a student’s understanding of his or her professional and policy context, organizationally, locally and nationally. The students gain critical thinking skills. The guest of honour in today’s congress was Dr Manu Chandaria.
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