Notification
Mahatma Gandhi University
ICHR Inter-disciplinary Refresher Course
11 January – 5 February 2010
Mahatma Gandhi University is organizing an Inter-disciplinary Refresher Course for College and University teachers on the topic “Theory and History”. The Course, recognized by the University Grants Commission, is fully supported by the Indian Council of Historical Research. The Course to be held at the Mahatma Gandhi University Campus will be from January 11, 2010 to February 5, 2010. Being an inter disciplinary programme, apart from teachers in History, the teachers in Philosophy, Economics, Sociology, English and Political Science can also apply. The application forms and other details can be had from the University website www.mguniversity.edu. Filled in applications shall be submitted to the Director, College Development Council, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarshini Hills PO, Kottayam 686 560 latest by 30.12.2009.
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application form
Priyadarshini Hills,
15-12-2009
Director
College Development Council
Refresher Course on “Theory & History”
Venue: Mahatma Gandhi University Campus
11-01-2010 to 05-02-2010
The language of theories and concepts is too technical to be easily understood by all. Many teachers and students fail to understand the actual meaning of technical terms used in theories and concepts. The tenuous understanding of some of them has, suffers from oversimplification precluding the theoretical/conceptual connotation of the terms. Therefore, it has been found necessary to formally introduce the conceptual/theoretical terminology along with its technical semantics.
While the course postulates theory its central focus, the emphasis that follows automatically is that of the holistic understanding of human existence or the perspective of interconnectedness of human affairs and social processes, without their being viewed as independent facets, a practice too rigidly and widely accepted by all. Conceptualisation keeps a distance from their discussions in the classroom and textbooks that they follow. Consequently, the conventional method of conceiving the social, economic, political, cultural, religious etc., as independent compartments continues. The primacy of the political, despite the claim to have conceived it in terms of structures and processes, however allows an otherwise potential text to slip into the dynastic format presented in a new template. The primary block to the learning of the theory is this compartmental perception that precludes the need for interpretation and hence the possibility of theoretical application. The refresher course in theory and methodology will enable the teachers to use theories to understand the research questions better.