The India Post, Chandigarh, August 22, 2008 :Professor Daljit Singh, former Chairperson and Dean, Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Panjab University, today emphasized that creativity and innovation in engineering students is not merely a gifted trait of a few, but can be inculcated in a majority of the students.
Professor Singh was delivering a lecture at the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training Institute, in the program on “Innovation and Creativity”. The participants included faculty members and HOD’s from various professional institutes all over the country.
Professor Singh pointed out that promoting critical thinking and creativity are the two major challenges of technical education in an era of globalization. The Indian education system is highly focused in promoting convergent thinking in our engineering students. It is imperative that we introduce an element of flexibility in our programs,
and promote divergent thinking also in our engineering students. The various techniques of promoting divergent thinking and creativity, and the critical role of the teacher were discussed in the lecture.
“A man’s mind, stretched by a new idea, can never go back to the original dimensions.”It is the responsibility of the teacher to ensure that his students strive for, and attain the new dimensions, through critical thinking, creativity and innovation, he said.
The lecture was coordinated by Professor Y K Anand, Chief of Media Centre, NITTTR.