{"id":8745,"date":"2024-05-16T09:47:33","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T09:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shooliniuniversity.com\/blog\/?p=8745"},"modified":"2025-10-07T15:47:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T10:17:20","slug":"innovating-liberal-arts-for-the-future-at-shoolini","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shooliniuniversity.com\/blog\/innovating-liberal-arts-for-the-future-at-shoolini\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovating Liberal Arts for the Future at Shoolini"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the Head of the Chitrakoot School of Liberal Arts at Shoolini University, Associate Professor Purnima Bali<\/a> is at the heart of the department. She brings over 16 years of rich teaching and research experience to her role. An award-winning educator and prolific researcher, Associate Prof Bali has contributed extensively to English literature, cultural studies, feminism, and world literature through numerous international publications.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognised with prestigious accolades like the \u2018Young Faculty Award 2016\u2019 and \u2018Bright Educator Awards\u2019 in 2017 and 2018, Associate Professor Bali also holds editorial positions in several esteemed journals and serves on advisory committees for national and international conferences. With a PhD in English Literature from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, she continues to inspire students and colleagues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this interview with Shoolini IMPACT, the CSLA Head shares her inspiring journey, her vision for the Liberal Arts program at Shoolini University, and her ongoing projects to enrich the academic landscape.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.\u00a0What fuels your passion for teaching, and what attracted you to Shoolini University?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll through my childhood and youth, I missed having a good teacher and mentor. This is why I always wanted to become a teacher and make a difference in the lives of young people. One thing that attracted me to Shoolini University was the culture, the environment, and the beauty of the place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The students and faculty members come from diverse nationalities, especially within the Liberal Arts department, which includes faculty from Syria, Taiwan, China, Ethiopia, Iran, and all around India. This diversity is the real beauty of the university, as it allows us to learn, unlearn, and relearn from those around us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe Shoolini University<\/a> has a positive aura. Every morning, I look forward to coming to campus. There’s never a day when I don’t feel like coming to the university and meeting everyone. I\u202fhave never experienced\u202fthis, even though I\u202fhave been a part of many schools and universities across the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.\u00a0How did you make Shoolini one of the best Liberal Arts universities in India?\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the Chitrakoot School of Liberal Arts<\/a>, we follow an interdisciplinary approach. Although programs like BA English (Honours)<\/a> focus on English literature, our students benefit from courses in History, Political Science, Sociology, foreign languages, and Hindi. This interdisciplinary method distinguishes Liberal Arts from core programs. Our students also gain exposure to international and renowned speakers through various initiatives during the program.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We go beyond academics at the Chitrakoot School of Liberal Arts by conducting various activities to enhance student exposure. Our annual Literature Festival, held every March or April, is a highlight, featuring lectures from diverse speakers, including film producers, singers, poets, chefs, athletes, actors, and bands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have recently received approval from the academic council to start the Center of Excellence for Language Learning (CELL), offering several programs: <\/p>\n\n\n\n