Globally, the impact of the pandemic on youth has been systemic, deep and disproportionate. With educational institutions closed, many young people have been experiencing persistent sadness. Now more than ever every student needs much more than book-learning and assessments for holistic development. There is a need to broaden the commonly understood view of ‘education’, restructuring it to include resilience building and soft skills.
Shawn Achor’s book, The Happiness Advantage, holds that a positive mindset is the first step towards achieving mental well-being, putting this into practice IIT Madras is offering the ‘Habits, Happiness and Success’ course to its students to enable essential and powerful habits to achieve a positive mindset, healthy body, and thus, happiness.
Spearheaded by Professor Sivakumar, the former dean (Students) of IIT Madras and an alumnus himself and supported by the IIT Madras Alumni community, the course brings together a scientific and holistic approach to ‘soft’ skills, such as interpersonal relationships and professional growth strategies. Doing away with the standard mode of one-way lectures the course is interactive, activity-based, and driven by the students who participate in them. The cultivation of mindful and productive core habits and proven practices like meditation, exercise, good sleep, building good habits and replacing bad ones, journaling and practising gratitude and kindness are encouraged. These have become all the more important during the lockdown period when schedules and lifestyles were completely disrupted.
The course runs six simultaneous batches, facilitated by a 12-member team, which cater to more than 150 students (and receives double the number of applicants).
The course has been very well-received by the students. The student enrolments went up every semester as they shared their transformative experiences with one another. Students found themselves invigorated, and liberated having access to a safe, non-judgemental space for honest, heartfelt discussions.
The facilitators also find fulfilment and meaning in contributing towards the students’ growth. Being alumni themselves, they are continuing the rich tradition of giving their time and expertise to the institute. Having gone through very similar experiences, they are able to relate to the students, offering timely and considerate advice.
By pioneering a network of support systems, IIT Madras is dedicated to addressing a wide range of issues students are facing from academics to extracurriculars to ensure the mental, emotional and physical well-being of students in these trying times. Alumni local and global have come together to contribute to their alma mater and help a new generation of students, making this initiative all the more meaningful and unique.
Original News Link
https://www.educationtimes.com/article/campus-beat-college-events/88944645/portal-exclusive-how-local-and-global-alumni-can-come-together-to-contribute-to-their-alma-mater
