Media Release

Puttur, Mar 19: The PG department of social work has been organizing seminars and workshops for students and practitioners, mainly of social work stream and of other fields every year.

The department realized its aim of organizing a national seminar ‘Philosem-2013’ on the theme ‘reinforcement of civic education towards a sustainable society’ on March 12.

This mega event was inaugurated by Dr H Madhava Bhat, principal, Vivekananda College, Puttur. In his inaugural address he expressed that all have their own way of expressing life, preferences and privileges, society should become more conscious about civic education to evolve a sustainable society.

Fr Gerald D’Souza, correspondent of the college and president of the function congratulated the PG department of social work and wished that this event bring changes in attitude and vision among the participants.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Mohan Singhe, assistant professor and MSW course coordinator, Mangalore University. In his address, he spoke at length regarding various dimensions of sustainable development and the importance of civic education for the emergence of a sustainable development.

The message by the principal, professor Leo Noronha, conveyed a clear vision about civic education and the duties of citizens to create a value based society.

Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro, chair Person of PG studies expressed the importance of seminars and such events which provides possibility of listening to eminent personalities and  in turn fills the minds of people with a profound experience.

At the inaugural function, Krishna, the coordinator of ‘Philosem-2013’ opened the theme of seminar with an introduction and Prasanna Kumar, coordinator of PG department of social work, encouraged the participants to utilize every opportunity for excellence.

The valedictory of the event was held in the evening. In his valedictory address Dr Ilango Ponnuswamy, professor and head, department of Social Work, Bharathidhasan University, Tamil Nadu expressed his pleasure for having chosen civic education as the theme of ‘Philosem-2013’, which is contemporary and quite relevant in the present society where the values are degrading.

Principal, professor Leo Noronha, presided over the function and Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro campus director adorned the seat of chief guest.

The first session of the day witnessed the unfolding of the sub-theme ‘Civic education in contemporary society: concepts and perspectives’ by Dr Johnson Prasant Palakkapillil CMI, principal of Sacred Heart College, Cochin, Kerala. The speaker brought out the topic in a befitting manner, adding as well as connecting to the simple events in the daily life. Professor John B Sequeira HOD department of Sociology moderated the session.

The second session was handled by professor D Prince Annadurai, admission in-charge and assistant professor in Social Work, Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai on the topic ‘Determinants of civic- education: prospects and challenges’.

Professor Ganapathy S, HOD, department of Economics moderated the session. The speaker highlighted the importance of being civilized and further said civic education is more about living than learning, we learn many things but forget to practice.

The third and last session on ‘Fostering Civic –education: social work response’ was dealt by Dr Ilango Ponnuswamy, professor and head, department of social work, Bharathidhasan University, Tamil Nadu. Shedding light on to the subject the speaker explained the rights, duties and responsibilities of citizens.

He challenged as well as encouraged the participants to improve their profession by tackling the current realities. He further appealed them to have a unified thinking and feeling. The moderator of this session was professor Vincent Pinto, coordinator of  PG Courses, St Mary’s College, Shirva.

The number of participants consisted of practitioners, faculty members and students from social work as well as management studies, NGO personnel, representatives from various development organizations.

Rakesh Kiran Tauro and Rochana D’Souza were the student representatives of the seminar.