Education is an opportunity enjoyed best through discussions. At Lund University, discussions may lead to big change. Take advantage of that, writes columnist Saahil Waslekar in this week’s column.
This year is filled with progressive movement for the students of Lund University. There will be exchange students experiencing Lund and Europe, probably for the first time, degree seeking students who would finalise their thoughts on thesis topics and final year students who would enter the real world. Subsequently, making a mark in the real world. Except, what if, making a mark would be possible for every student whilst still in the University.
The vibrant conversations shared between students at the university might actually have great knowledge transfer potential. What if all this knowledge were to be captured and then transferred? Let us assume that there is an interest in advancing a particular topic of discussion in the future which shaped in the past. There is one way which could make this reality.
To begin with, it would be best to look at what we have around us. Lund University is a research university made up of several faculties. If one were to consider a specific problem statement or topic of discussion, it is highly probable that the solution to that statement enjoys a multidisciplinary approach. The solution, even though unknown at that moment would inherently be with a greater circle of students from various faculties.
Now that we have a premise, let’s construct a recipe of how this could work –
Step 0 – Students meet in the places where students meet and have discussions
Step 1 – In the interest of preserving their discussion, there is an open source platform where students upload their discussions
Step 2 – Other students who might be interested in a particular discussion would then meet offline and discuss, only to upload their discussion to the platform
Step 3 – This process continues and eventually every student, whether exchange or long term would consequently have a role in reshaping, what might be known as, a real world problem
The idea is based on the principles of transparency and the need for transformation. Imagine all those student discussions over classwork, public talks or even in times of public gatherings in order to support their views. If only those conversations were recorded somewhere. Probably, Live@Lund, the university’s online portal which hosts proceedings of individual study programmes, could play a role.
Then again, imagine all those discussions during dinner gatherings, Christmas evenings, pub crawls, Nation halls and house parties where students have met and probably in the morning discussed ways to solve the world’s problems. Wouldn’t it be so wonderful to contribute to a greater conversation?
