A session on Critical Thinking and Liberal Arts was organised on 4 August, 2026 at Rajmata Krishna Kumari Girls' Public School, Jodhpur. The session aimed to introduce students to the importance of critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, and the wide range of opportunities offered by a liberal arts education.
The session began with a warm a welcome of the guest speaker Ms. Surabhi, Assistant Manager, Ashoka University.
The speaker introduced students to the concept of liberal arts education, highlighting its flexibility and interdisciplinary approach. Through examples from various fields, she demonstrated how subjects such as history, economics, psychology, literature, political science, philosophy, and Management studies can be studied together to develop a holistic understanding of contemporary issues. The speaker also highlighted the wide range of undergraduate programmes and interdisciplinary courses offered at Ashoka University, explaining the flexibility of the liberal arts curriculum. This interdisciplinary approach enables students to pursue multiple academic interests while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The session was highly interactive, with students actively participating by asking insightful questions about the global opportunities offered by the university, admission requirements, and the preparation needed to build a strong application. They showed keen interest in understanding the academic, extracurricular, and personal qualities that university look for in prospective students. The speaker addressed their queries in detail, providing valuable guidance on application strategies, profile building, and the importance of developing critical thinking, communication skills, and a well-rounded personality to succeed in higher education.
The key takeaways from the session are as follows:
The session enabled students to understand the importance of critical thinking as a vital life skill that goes beyond memorising facts. The discussion on Liberal Arts highlighted the value of interdisciplinary learning, where knowledge from diverse fields such as humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts helps develop creativity, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills. The session also emphasised that Liberal Arts education equips students with the adaptability and analytical abilities required to thrive in an ever-changing world and prepares them for a wide range of career opportunities.
