KIIT and KISS among the first institutes to take up this resiliency course developed by UNESCO MGIEP

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) has signed a partnership agreement with UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) to provide Self-directed Emotional Learning for Empathy and Kindness (SEEK) online course for the staff and students of KIIT and KISS in a phased manner.

KIIT Deemed-to-be University and KISS Deemed-to-be University will be among the first universities worldwide to implement the MGIEP SEEK course, which has also been endorsed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India.

The course, based on the Compassionate Integrity Training, is developed by UNESCO MGIEP and Life University, USA. It seeks to build 21st century emotional intelligence skills and contribute to fulfilling the goals of India’s National Education Policy to impart social and emotional learning to create engaged global citizens. The course takes approximately 40 hours to complete and comprises lessons on ten skills in the span of three series.

The signing ceremony was graced by eminent dignitaries including Dr Anantha Duraiappah, Director, UNESCO MGIEP; Dr Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT and KISS; Satya Tripathi, Chancellor, KISS Deemed-to-be University and representatives from many embassies in Delhi and UN offices.

In his speech, Dr Anantha Duraiappah said, “SEEK is about finding yourself, being comfortable with yourself and being kind. With this, all else in your life journey will fall in place. I welcome the partnership with KIIT-KISS and look forward to their staff and students taking this resiliency-based course and truly hope they find it useful for cultivating greater self-compassion and contributing to the development of more peaceful and sustainable societies.”

Dr Samanta said, “KIIT and KISS are based on the ethos of compassion, kindness and humanitarianism. We are glad to partner with UNESCO MGIEP to equip our students and staff with emotional intelligence skills that help in building emotional resilience, especially when humanity is passing through testing times."

Satya Tripathi said, “The SEEK course will be deployed for 1,000 faculty and staff and 11,000 students in Phase I with all future students undertaking the course for credits in 2022.”

UNESCO MGIEP focuses on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.7 towards education for building peaceful and sustainable societies across the world by developing programmes that promote social and emotional learning, innovate digital pedagogies and empower the youth.

UNESCO MGIEP has partnered with Life University (USA) to create the Self-directed Emotional Learning for Empathy and Kindness (SEEK) – an online course that cultivates skills such as empathy, mindfulness and compassion so that youth are well-equipped to contribute towards the development of peaceful and sustainable societies.