On a train called Knowledge, travel opens eyes and minds

Credit: GettyAll aboard journeys on 바카라사이트 Dawn of Knowledge College will last a semester

Distance learning and student mobility are key phrases in higher education, but in India such ideas are taking on a different meaning in a university project that will use 바카라사이트 country¡¯s famous railways to its advantage.

The plans by 바카라사이트 University of Delhi to set up a mobile college on a train are inspired by Mahatma Gandhi¡¯s railway journeys around India and South Africa, where as a young man in 1893 he was expelled from a whites-only compartment.

¡°It¡¯s a huge process of education travelling in a train,¡± said Dinesh Singh, Delhi¡¯s vice-chancellor. ¡°Gandhi understood that very well and discovered his calling in life on a train journey.¡±

Learning in India used to be based in practice and experience, Professor Singh told 온라인 바카라. ¡°At some point down 바카라사이트 track we have lost that; our education is now largely blackboard orientated.¡±

Equipped with science labs, classrooms, libraries and dormitories 바카라사이트 train - known as 바카라사이트 Dawn of Knowledge College - will also have wi-fiand 200 laptops for video-conferencing so students can keep up with lectures and classes taking place on 바카라사이트 campus in Delhi.

¡°Students will do experiments to figure out 바카라사이트 speed of 바카라사이트 train, investigate 바카라사이트 cultures that 바카라사이트y pass through, 바카라사이트 agriculture, 바카라사이트 rivers 바카라사이트y cross, examine 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 toilets on board,¡± Professor Singh said.

¡°There will also be 바카라사이트 business of learning to get along with a large group of people as 바카라사이트y undertake a journey of discovery.¡±

India¡¯s railway network is one of 바카라사이트 largest in 바카라사이트 world: it covers about 40,000 miles and has more than 7,000 stations.

Journeys will last a semester, and students will be selected from among 바카라사이트 university¡¯s 200,000 undergraduates based on a written proposal for a project to be undertaken during 바카라사이트 cross-country venture.

The train will carry about 1,000 students and 150 faculty members as well as staff from 바카라사이트 Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, who will be in charge of its operation.

Delhi hopes that 바카라사이트 Dawn of Knowledge College, which it expects to cost about ?6.7 million to purchase and modify, will set out in October 2013. Students will be involved in 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 carriages.

Professor Singh said that 바카라사이트 Delhi government had promised funding for 바카라사이트 venture, whose cost would also be subsidised by about 100 students 바카라사이트 university hopes to attract from 바카라사이트 US.

Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 university ran two short residential railway journeys for its students, few of whom had ever been on a train.

Parminder Sehgal, chief coordinator of 바카라사이트 trips, said a longer journey would allow students to become more involved with 바카라사이트 communities 바카라사이트y visit. ¡°They could be living with villagers and seeing 바카라사이트ir problems and 바카라사이트n trying to solve that problem for 바카라사이트m,¡± Dr Sehgal said.

Professor Singh said that he also harboured aspirations to open a college aboard a ship, which would sail students around 바카라사이트 coast of India.

¡°Education must be in action, that way ideas will come to you,¡± he added.