About Us
The Universal Human Values (UHV) Cell at the Punjabi University, Patiala aims to create an enriched existence and a happy life for its stake holders that fulfills human emotional and mental necessities which are much more than just survival. The UHV Cell intends to create awareness of a humane approach, reasoning, moral coherence, and propagate a value system based on generosity, benevolence and tolerance for fellow human beings. To holistically develop the faculty, non-teaching staff, students and researchers so that they effectively contribute to the welfare and progress of the society. The Cell intends to focus on the ethical and professional values so as to help create a society where human beings have mutual respect for each other and there is no preference based on differences such as caste or community. While propagating a happy and successful life through practice of values including honesty, compassion, empathy and accountability, the intent is to enrich our perspective of understanding individuals, society and situations.
The present education system has become increasingly skill based and the aspiration is to achieve what is considered valuable in terms of facilities. Value education is the weak link in the present education system. The result is that most of our efforts prove to be counter-productive and serious crises at the individual, societal, professional level may get manifested in maladaptive ways like aggression, anger, depression, frustration, health issues and frauds. Technology and virtual relations are pushing us towards being minotaurs. The Cell hopes to stem and reverse this flow towards humanity; moving from a mere existence to a meaningful- purposeful living.
At the personal level the UHV Cell proposes to mentor students to be committed-motivated human beings who recognize and nurture their own hidden potential and also help others to move forward. Our aim is that our students go out not just as individuals with high-employability, becoming rich in material possessions, but also be able to nurture compassion and contentment while navigating lifes challenges. Skills and education must be are complemented with wisdom and peace, within and around.
At the social level, the UHV Cell would also take initiatives to create awareness regarding the deplorable condition of the marginalized individuals or groups in the society. The Cell would address the woes of the marginalized by creating sensitization towards equality, human compassion and human welfare.
Objectives
- To train individuals to face real-life challenges with a solid grounding of a value system
- The UHV Cell is going to create space for self-reflection and self-growth through diverse forms of activities for all the members of the University. We aim to touch the professional and personal ethics leading to reasoning, inner coherence, and then translating them into interpersonal sphere.
- Realization of mutual fulfillment in every role played, be it in the context of family (parental or marital), in the context of job (be it as a leader, colleague) or be it in the context of physical environment. It would create awareness about proper conduct and to connect positively in every interaction.
- The UHV Cell would highlight the problems faced by the marginalized in various social, economic, and cultural spheres of life. Through enhanced human values the Cell would aid in reducing prevailing inequality and restoring the self-image and dignity of all at large.
- Through the UHV Cell an effort is being made to widen the horizon of the Universitys contribution to the social welfare of the society.
Future Plan
- Academic:To organize SPECIAL lectures, Symposiums, Seminars, Faculty Development Programmes, Short Term Courses on various UHV for non-teaching staff for students and researchers.
- Publications: related to UHV.
- Social welfare: Awareness campaigns.
Continuity and Footprints
All activities shall be recorded and shared via virtual tools. The purpose of this is not just temporary connections but continuous flow which can be revisited and re-examined.