| 26 May 2009 |
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Prince Hassan calls on education institutions to encourage critical thinking
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AMMAN (JT) - HRH Prince Hassan said education institutions should encourage critical thinking as a basis for knowledge, rather than merely focusing on rote learning.
The Prince made the remarks during the UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in the Europe Region which was held in Bucharest from May 21 to 24.
Prince Hassan was among the key speakers at the forum, along with former president of Romania Emil Constantinescu and several other scholars, according to the forum's website.
"Rote learning is brain antagonistic, and brain antagonistic pedagogies inhibit real experiential learning," the Prince said in his address, reiterating that universities need to ingrain in their students' minds "the ability to seek clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, significance and empathy".
Underscoring empathy, he said it is "the ability to step into someone else's shoes and see the world through their eyes".
"Inculcating these characteristics in students will ensure the cultivation of minds that can probe and analyse, create solutions to problems, and expand boundaries of knowledge further and further," he added.
Prince Hassan concluded his address by noting: "The time has come for higher education institutions to engage in a collective and meaningful conversation on how these ideals can influence and enhance the trajectory of higher education for the sake of future end-users."
The forum, which focused on the issues of education access, values, quality and competitiveness, sought to sum up the outcome of recent meetings on higher education in the Europen region, and assess developments and trends to develop the sector, the forum's website indicated.
During his visit to Romania, the Prince also met with Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church Daniel Ciobotea and President of Romanian National Academy Ionel Haiduc.
Also last week during a visit to Vienna, the Prince attended the Euro-Med Parliamentary Assembly on energy and the environment.
In addition, the Prince attended a meeting of the Club of Rome and the Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue in Vienna, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
Prince Hassan, who was accompanied by HRH Princess Sarvath, was also received by Austrian President Heinz Fischer and Austrian National Council President Barbara Prammer.
© Jordan Times 2009
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