Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, Hosts Conclave on Liberal Arts Education in the Age of AI
As a reaction to the rapidly changing times brought about by Artificial Intelligence, the School of Liberal Arts and Behavioural Science,Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, organized a dialogical Conclave that pivoted around the theme, “Liberal Arts Education in the AI Age.” It was a one-day, on-campus event, aimed at helping liberal arts students understand the importance of AI tools that can be empowering and enabling for future jobs and for the understanding of the intersection of technology, society, and ethics in the i-paced world.
As the Keynote speaker,Prof. Pramod K. Nayar, the UNESCO Chair on Vulnerability Studies, University of Hyderbad, and the recipient of the President's Award in 2018 for Best Research in Humanities, congratulated the modern infrastructure and progressive liberal arts curriculum of the School. He asserted that, in the wake of AI being ingrained in the lives of everyday living, students must be made to meditate upon its social, ethical, and political implications. He also asserted that technology without humanistic vision can be disastrous, and the more advancements technology makes, the more requirement of liberal arts degree would be in place.
Prof. Pramod K. Nayar briefly shared that liberal arts should not only address AI as a technical phenomenon but should also incorporate human values such as justice, equity, and interpretations in discussions about technology. He also mentioned that such problems as climate change or mental health issues, or the search for a balanced life needed to be interpreted with literary, linguistic, and artistic means. He said- AI should not be implemented to control, but instead to be used for public good. He further claimed that traditions and languages had to be recontextualized to remain meaningful. Hailing the efforts of CU-UP, he stated that the university is doing a great thing in offering a strong and noteworthy course.
Speaking to the audience was alsoDr. Onkar Nath Upadhyay, the Head of the Department of English & Modern European Languages at the University of Lucknow, who congratulated the University management for the dynamic academic culture and modern infrastructure, focusing heavily on enhancing employment prospects for liberal arts students. He acknowledgedCU Uttar Pradesh as one of the first to integrate AI in education and emphasized worldwide partnerships and an increasing international image, which has massive benefits with respect to the professional development of students and international exposure.
Dr. Onkar Nath Upadhyay defined liberal arts as an interdisciplinary field that cultivates the development of overall personality and leads to a plethora of career opportunities. He pointed out that mental health is a very significant part of the curriculum, but even more significant should be given. He also brought forth the role of liberal arts, which acts as a point of convergence between them and concepts such as technology, humanities, social sciences, and education, and though not all liberal arts help to nurture the overarching growth of learners, supporting the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
He also pointed out that the liberal arts curriculum of CU-UP endows communication skills, ethical reasoning, critical thinking, and the ability to solve problems. He also mentioned the Kalas of Indian tradition (16 Kalas) that had a fundamental position in the educational heritage of the country.
The conclave stressed again the need to change learning systems so as to keep abreast with innovation. The liberal arts program, with its holistic system and practical focus on globalization, innovation, and morality, was the most appropriate element in creating future-ready professionals.
Eloquently addressing the matter on the occasion,Dr. Thipendra P. Singh, Pro Vice Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, spoke of the importance of human-centered education in the age of the digital world. He said it is not just about preparing students to be ready to get jobs, but it is also about preparing students to work on jobs that may never exist.
TheB.A. Liberal Arts program at Chandigarh University, developed by the School of Liberal Arts and Behavioural Science, is designed to prepare future-oriented thinkers, entrepreneurs, and socially-conscious global citizens. With a focus on human-machine synergy, its curriculum reflects the needs of a workforce driven by collaboration between artificial and human intelligence.
Concluding the session,Dr. Om Prakash Dwivedi, Director, Faculty of Humanities & Liberal Arts, shared the foundational vision of CU’s AI-enhanced liberal arts model. He explained how the university is building an educational environment that values cultural, emotional, and ethical literacy alongside technical competence.Dr. Om Prakash Dwivedi then quoted Google Project Oxygen as an example, where technical expertise was ranked the lowest in a list of attributes of successful employees.
By bringing together distinguished scholars and thought leaders, the conclave reaffirmed Chandigarh University’s commitment to a comprehensive, inclusive, and forward-thinking education system, one where Artificial Intelligence is viewed as a complement to human creativity and values, not a replacement.
