SCHOOL OF LIBERAL STUDIES

Our world today is undeniably digital. New technologies are creating opportunities to break free from the shackles of the past and act boldly to seize opportunities of the future. The digital world is, by definition, a borderless one. The impact of digital technology extends far beyond the digital sector itself; it offers us cost-effective and efficient ways to address societal problems.

Given the scenario, it becomes incumbent upon educational institutions to move away from the conventional, one-size-fits-all approach to learning. Institutions of higher education ought to open the minds of young learners to infinite possibilities, go beyond the prescribed curriculum, cultivate a problem-solving mindset and promote learner autonomy that enables continued and learner-driven learning.

Education must meet the demands of a global digital economy and help students become well-rounded, aware citizens who can participate fully in a dynamic society. It needs to equip students to grow holistically, cultivate respect for diverse perspectives, communicate effectively and become empathetic leaders with a deep commitment to public service.

The School of Liberal Studies (SLS), through its transdisciplinary approach, aims to create a unique pedagogical model and break the silos of conventional learning. It seeks to train young minds to tackle the upcoming challenges as we transition towards a society that is both just and sustainable.

SLS is a giant step forward in making UPES truly diverse and being counted among the few universities in the country that offer such an eclectic curriculum. SLS offer courses across multiple domains, including Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Literature, Applied Mathematics and Data Science.

Why Liberal Studies?

For the skills required to solve the problems the society faces, we look to the social and physical sciences that lend themselves to policymaking and the creation of techniques and technologies. Liberal Studies will teach students to draw upon history, literature, arts, cinema and other cognate branches of human knowledge and creativity to bring some clarity to the moral issues a society may face in making its policy and technological choices. While being exposed to the literary, philosophical, and creative heritage of their own regions, students must cultivate respect for the larger humanity. The teaching of Liberal Studies should help students develop a cosmopolitan outlook on their own lives and toward fellow humans, without in any way diluting their sense of commitment to the part of the world in which they find themselves.