Bringing waves of positivity and promise, Chitkara University along with Chitkara International School, Chandigarh and Panchkula, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (UNESCO MGIEP) here in Chandigarh.
The delegates from UNESCO MGIEP visited both the Chitkara Schools and Universities for the promotion of the collaboration and signing of the promising MoU. During their visit, the said educational institutions and the UNESCO MGIEP exchanged their best practices with each other that contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as agreed upon by the Member States of the United Nations General Assembly.
MGIEP is UNESCO’s Category 1 research institute based in New Delhi. It focuses on achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7 by working towards education to foster peaceful and sustainable societies across the world.
The institute actively engages in developing programmes that promote social and -emotional learning (SEL), innovative digital pedagogies, and empowerment of youth.
Presently, through the said collaboration, Chitkara Universities and Schools look to further the culture of “sustainability” and enhancing social and emotional competencies such as resilience, self-compassion and emotional regulation in young people and, teachers.
With the support of the UNESCO Institute and through this MOU, Chitkara will be offering courses to our youth through the Self-directed Emotional learning for Empathy and Kindness (SEEK) course, created by the MGIEP in association with Life University in the United States .
Also Chitkara Institutes will be looking forward to how to mainstream social and emotional learning for their teachers, through the SEL for Schools and Digital Teacher courses; and move into the pioneering idea of using SEL for our own decision makers.
The MoU was signed by Dr Madhu Chitkara, Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, the Dr Niyati Chitkara, Director, Chitkara International School, Chandigarh and Panchkula, and Dr Honey Chitkara, Principal & Associate Director, Chitkara International Schools, in the presence of Ms Ammaarah Martinus, Senior Programme Officer and Dr Richa Bansal, National Project Officer from UNESCO MGIEP.
Expressing her joy on the special occasion, Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, said, “The MoU with UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development is truly a stepping stone towards establishing greener and healthier spaces brought about by the joint endeavours of not just adults but also the dynamic children of country.
As educationists, it remains the need of the hour for us to give the youngsters a platform to make a difference to their societies, and this MoU, I believe, stands to do just that.”