Seminar on reviving edn

Prof Dr Rafiqul Islam, holder of Kiliam Chair in Oil & Gas and faculty member of engineering, Dalhousie University, was present as the keynote speaker.

Prof Islam strongly argued against the traditional approach of education. He felt that the most important purpose of education was to be able to see something that could not be taught. It must be acquired through self-discovery or research, he added.

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He also talked about the role of 'creative thinking' and 'strategic planning' in the context of increasing knowledge.

The essential feature of the presentation was to demonstrate that the current inability to think creatively and independently and to see the wider perspective is a widespread legacy of an educational formation that stresses 'repetition of the formula'.

With the knowledge-based approach, the slogan is 'Intangibles before tangibles' --you think before you memorise.

Dr Islam said that knowledge-based approach makes the role of a teacher secondary and a teacher should become a partner in learning.

Muslehuddin Ahmed, Dr Enamul Haque, Dr Arifa Rahman, Dr Islam M Faisal and Prof Rafiqul Islam Mollah of North South University took part in the discussion.

Prof Baqui Khalily, acting vice-chancellor of Presidency University, chaired the seminar. Lucky Sen, director of the Centre, extended vote of thanks.

Students and faculty members of the Presidency University and teachers of other private universities attended the seminar.