City-based girl gets student of the year award in UK

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 21

Charu Dada, a post doctorate student at the Bangor University in the United Kingdom (UK), hailing from the city, has been awarded with “International student of the year” by the National Union of Students (NUS).

Dada, who has been studying in the UK for past seven years, said she had been doing research on topics, including global citizenship, citizenship education and curriculum planning and development.

She said, “The NUS in the UK has 600 affiliated student unions and there are around four lakh foreign students in the UK. The award is given on the basis of all round performance of students in academics, their involvement in extra-curricular activities and initiatives taken etc.”

When asked about the difference in the education system, she said, “Given the limitations of developing economy and high population, the education system in India is faring well, but still a lot can be improved by integrating subjects and with lesser dependence on rote learning.”

She said, “According to the Indian examination system, students are expected to learn and mug up, whereas in the UK emphasis is laid on understanding.”

Dada said, “There are ‘take-home’ exams in which students can take question papers back home and submit answers within a specified time limit. Even ‘open-book’ exams are also common there.”