Mindful learning through art discourse, hands-on training

Incorporating art into vocational education adds immense value beyond just skill acquisition — it opens up space for creativity, self-expression and confidence-building, which are often overlooked in conventional job-oriented training.

The Art- Attack Club within the University School of Financial Studies Department of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, was set up with an aim to encourage students of all academic backgrounds to share creative expression through curated workshops and sessions.

In our recent crochet workshop, we witnessed how a seemingly simple craft can become a powerful tool for engagement, emotional well-being and even entrepreneurial potential. For many students, especially those focused on income security, vocational learning tends to follow a rigid, outcome-driven path. But when art is introduced, it allows them to slow down, think creatively and find personal meaning in what they produce. Crochet, in particular, encouraged patience, precision and mindfulness — while also sparking conversations around design, colour theory and individual flair. Several participants, who had never considered themselves ‘artistic’, were surprised at their own creative instincts and left with a renewed sense of capability. Beyond that, they saw how these artistic skills could be monetised — by designing customised products or starting small-scale ventures.

The workshop became not just a space to learn a craft, but also a platform to rethink what vocational education can offer. It proved that when creative discourse is integrated with hands-on training, students become not just workers, but creators —individuals capable of innovation, expression and self-reliance.

Usually, we as educators forego the significance of promoting innovation regardless of academic discourse. These hands-on practical training sessions stand as a true example of student empowerment and skill development. Every student learns and this learning is enjoyed up to the brim rather than tedious cramming.