Critical thinking and global exposure at Monash University Australia

Lavanya Raj / The Hindu / 9 july 2012

I always wonder why I chose to do my Ph.D in a foreign university. The word “foreign” brings about many feelings in us — love, hate, fascination, and excitement. The word “university” makes us wonder in anticipation how a place of educational heaven will be like. I had all these aspirations too. 

After three years of stay in Melbourne, I have come to know what individual work, struggles, intellectual satisfaction and achievement feel like in this context. I also understand that it has transformed me for the good. This penance has made me love Melbourne, still better — love my country/State.

I am a Ph.D research student (Educational leadership and quality in higher education systems) in Monash University. Monash university is ranked number 5 in Australia and 117 universally (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings). It exceeds certain expectations — Importance given to critical thinking, responsibility on the students to excel, freedom to discuss and debate, flexible study timings, global exposure, less importance to marks and more importance to practical application. 

Of all the mentioned advantages, I relate to individual work the most because it gives time and scope to spend long hours studying/writing, sharpening the mind without external disturbances of having to score marks alone. Quality in terms of understanding the subject is given priority.

Educational quality includes technology like computers, student web portal, video conferencing, continuous seminars, workshops, conferences and multiple libraries with generous lending options. Bachelor’s and master’s students have the opportunity to do coursework and research, working individually and in a group at other times, with students from different countries. 

Conveniences at campus include picturesque locales, kitchen facilities, cafes, restaurants, recreation spots, hair salon, banks, medical clinic and post office among other facilities. Student services include health care benefits and bus services between campuses. These facilities make life easier to be able to spend more time on studies.

The university provides opportunities to head and work in teams of varied interests — clubs, conferences, colloquiums and study groups. These opportunities will help you develop a global attitude that respects your own cultural roots. Living in a foreign country for extended periods of time can be exhilarating and enlightening. Travelling, learning the culture of the country, living differently tell you that life is all about experiences and what you make out of them. Adapting to a western culture is challenging even when we are exposed to western thoughts and styles of living. For example, university life puts complete focus on the student to perform. It transforms thought processes, making you meticulous and structured.

The beauty of living and experiencing a foreign land throws you into unexpected waters. Sometimes it is a smooth swim and at other, against the current. Nevertheless you can turn into a great swimmer — learning to respect the ocean and enjoying it. I wish I were more economically sound to pursue an international education; so, getting a scholarship before you take the flight is good. Knowing the university, networking with current students, finding accommodation beforehand can make the transition easier. Adjusting with housemates, shopping for groceries and cooking are skills you have to develop. A good way to take care of all this would be to read blogs and converse with current students.

City life is filled with activities to do — from theatre workshops and dancing to rowing and international cuisines.

All the best!

Ph.D Scholar - Leadership, Higher education and Quality

Monash University, Melbourne

Turning Points by A P J Abdul Kalam

B G Verghese :The Hindu:23 July 2012

Kalam disproved the notion that the President is only a constitutional ornament

The book reflects the man — simple, unsophisticated, dedicated, secular, self-made, a visionary, child-like in some ways and charmingly innocent in his breakouts from rigid protocol.

 His mission was to “ignite” minds to build a better and greater India. Though some eyebrows were raised when Dr Kalam was elevated to the Presidency, his work and conduct in office won him praise and affection from ordinary people who saw him as a People’s President.

 His vision was to see India become a Developed Society by 2020 with PURA (provision of urban amenities in rural areas) among the engines of change.

Rashtrapati Bhavan became an open house, especially for children, youth and scientists and a social laboratory. He was a man with a mission and sought to operationalise his ideas in “mission mode”. 

Though non-political, Dr Kalam had an astute sense of political and constitutional propriety and measured up to the political challenges he confronted during his term in office. He also disproved the strange notion that the President is no more than a constitutional ornament, a figurehead with no real role to play. When delicate issues confronted him he acted boldly in accordance with constitutional advice and the dictates of his own conscience.

Not a yes-man

Turning Points: A Journey Through Challenges well illustrates the point. He returned the Office of Profit Bill to Parliament to tidy up the concept — the first time a Bill had been sent back for reconsideration. He was deeply disturbed by the UPA government’s decision to dissolve the suspended Bihar Assembly in 2005 even before it could meet on the ground that the Governor had reported that efforts were being made to cobble together a majority by illegal means. 

The matter had been referred to the Supreme Court before which the President desired that his views should be placed through the Government counsel. Not satisfied that this had been done in the manner desired, Dr Kalam decided to resign office after approving the dissolution and was with some effort persuaded to withdraw his resignation that he had tendered on grounds of conscience, which he held to be his highest tribunal. He was no yes-man.

An innovator by profession, he was equally innovative in Rastrapati Bhavan. He promoted e-governance and wired up his office for a start. He proposed an e-judiciary and pressed for a national litigation pendency clearance mission. He initiated regular breakfast meetings with MPs and State Ministers to review and promote development from which the aim of a Developed India by 2020 emerged. To this end he also sought to construct a national prosperity index to measure progress in terms of both growth and welfare. These were not exercises in futility. They made people think and sowed the seeds of action. 

He noted carefully suggestions made in various reports and by wise heads and compiled these into a list of “do’s”. On the political plane he advocated independent selection panels for appointments to all constitutional and regulatory offices — an issue of current controversy — and a constitutional amendment that would permit the prime minister to appoint up to 25 per cent of his or her cabinet from outside parliament so as to bring in expertise. He also proposed that the Planning Commission be mandated to present an annual report to Parliament on actual achievements in relation to agreed annual targets.

His first outstation visit on being sworn President was to Gujarat soon after the bloody riots of 2002. Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee did not object but inquired if such a visit was essential. Dr Kalam thought so and did go, and was able to give comfort and bring succour to many and was escorted throughout by Narendra Modi. The visit did impart a healing touch and sent out the message that the nation cared.

One of the revelations Dr Kalam makes is that in 2004, he would unhesitatingly have called upon Sonia Gandhi to form the Government, as she had the mandate, but was surprised when she instead put forward Dr Manmohan Singh’s name as prime minister.

In the field of foreign affairs the President felt that in an increasing globalised world much commerce and other transactions are governed by international treaties. Hence the importance of vesting Parliament with the power to ratify all international agreements, a process not yet part of Indian practice unlike in most places elsewhere in the world. 

Here was a thinking President imbued with democratic values. When he visited South Africa to address the Pan-African Parliament he projected the idea of developing a Pan-African e-Network to connect Africa with an Indian core competency. The idea has gradually borne fruit. The President of course ardently supported the civil nuclear deal with the U.S. and spent time in Tamil Nadu to reassure fishermen and coastal residents that the Kudankulam nuclear plant will do them no harm.

Addressing the European Parliament, the President broke into one of his own compositions, an Ode to the European Union, which touched the Parliamentarians. The poem might not compare with those of Keats or Shelley but it came from the heart. Turning Points makes for simple reading but makes one realise how much an upright, thinking President can do.

TURNING POINTS — A Journey Through Challenges: A. P. J. Abdul Kalam; HarperCollins Publishers, A-53, Sector 57, Noida-201301. Rs. 199.