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SRM University-AP

Breaking the Academic Silos of Disciplines: Liberal Arts Education at SRM University-AP

Open Open | 21 Jul, 2023

Dr P Sathyanarayanan, Pro Chancellor, SRM University-AP

SRM University-AP introduced the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (SLASS) in 2018 to set new benchmarks for liberal arts education in the country. The school comprises six departments: Literature and Languages, History, Psychology, Economics, Commerce, and Liberal Arts. It aims to establish a fertile ground for liberal arts education in India. The primary agenda of the new-age school is to break the academic silos of disciplines and offer students a more comprehensive integrated learning experience. SRM University-AP has integrated research with undergraduate programmes to further this idea. The school envisions the holistic development of students through multi-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary learning approaches. The emphasis is on developing both theoretical and skill or practice-based knowledge.

Interdisciplinary foundations and research through participatory, experiential, discursive and student-centric learning practices are offered at the school. Industry connects and skill/project-based courses at the school actualise an application-driven problem-solving pedagogy. The school offers an optional 4th year for research training and academic writing along with the 3-year degree. A choice-based credit system is followed by the school wherein specialisations are available for students. The curriculum is research-oriented, dynamic, and flexible, which enables students to choose courses and minors from other disciplines/schools in the University.

A steady growth in the number of publications over the last three years is observed in the school, of which 70% are Q1 and Q2 publications. More than 70% of students pursue higher studies at prominent universities abroad. Students at the school have secured admissions at Erasmus University, Netherlands; Manchester University, UK; University of Westminster, London; Liverpool Business School, Westminster, London; Adelphi University, New York; Pace University, New York and more.

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