The University of Norfolk

Moderators: Franklin Ross, [Jingdao] Guanchang

Post Reply
User avatar
Vilhelm Benkern
Posts: 3833
Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:08 am

The University of Norfolk

Post by Vilhelm Benkern »

The University of Norfolk, or Vidyāsadman Nirdasyu (विद्यासद्मन् निर्दस्यु - Norfolk's House of Learning) is an institute of higher education based in many campuses across the Condominion. It was founded by the Aryashti government during the years of divide but has now been expanded to include western Norfolk. Its mission is to house, categorise, enhance and spread the corpus of knowledge that has been attained by humanity, and identifies closely with the Arya philosophy and the religion of Ritam. These days it is an expectation that certain professionals (medical practitioners and lawyers), civil servants and politicans have a degree (sthāna, स्थान) from the University, though in many walks of life such as commerce, university education is considered unnecessary.

Entry requirements
In order to be admitted to the University, students must be able to prove to the satisfaction of their tutors that they are on a path to learning, vidyā (विद्या). This is done on a case-by-case basis and is assessed in a number of ways: evidence of previous study, of intelligent published works, of intellectual capacity and a desire to learn. Sanskrit is not a requirement but it is strongly advised that all potential candidates begin to learn the language as early in their application process as possible. Nevertheless this is a low bar to entry, and the only limit to the number of students is the number of tutors, which varies year to year. Out of the many eligible students, the best are selected to start their studies on a rolling basis every six months. Once enrolled, candidates become known as śravaṇa (श्रवण) - those engaged in listening in order to learn. There is no fee for tuition, the costs being covered by the Condominium government, but students are expected to support themselves or be supported by their parents, unless this is impossible in which case bursaries, scholarships and studentships are available.

The Four Stages of Academic Achievement
The first stage of university education lasts one year and takes place in local Teaching Halls, or Vyākhyānaśālā (व्याख्यानशाला). There is at least one Teaching Hall on each of the nine largest islands that form up the Condominion's territory. This is a preparatory stage where the śravaṇas are grouped together under chattra (छत्त्र), 'Sheltering Tutors', who introduce the students to the main precepts of physics, medicine, philosophy, mathematics and art. It is also the stage where students master 'student-survival' level of Sanskrit, which is also enough for administering Aryashti government throughout the land. At the completion of this year of study, students are granted the foundation or 'root' degree (jaṭasthāna, जटस्थान). At this point, less gifted or ambitious students choose to leave the system with a firm basis of knowledge in a variety of areas to allow them to either engage in those areas of work which do not require higher degrees, such as business, or, following on from the local nature of the Teaching Halls, simply opt to work in local government. Others proceed to the next stage.

The second stage lasts one year and involves travelling to one or the two Vyākhyāsthāna (व्याख्यास्थान) or Lecturing Rooms. One is located in Traisoss/Satyapura, the other in Cape Rackham/Gadhawarahat. Here, students take lessons from a variety of lecturers called ādhātṛ (आधातृ), givers of knowledge. These lessons follow the same basic lines as the subject areas during their time in the Teaching Halls. The students spend this year deciding which of the two types of school they will proceed to: the physical and medical, or philosophical and artistic. No degree is awarded and it is very rare for students to leave the University after only the second stage, without completing the third.

The third stage lasts another year and also takes place in the Lecturing Rooms. At this stage, other tutors called cakṣas (चक्षस्) take on the role of spiritual teacher, guiding the students in further study in one of the two categories they have decided to take. The phyiscal/medical route focuses on the sciences and their impact on the world, while the philosophy/art route stresses the purpose of government and the works of humanity. It should be noted that in both routes, mathematics are studied at this level also. At the end of this year, the students are granted the undergraduate or 'stem' degree (saralayāyinīsthāna, सरलयायिनीस्थान). At this point, most students leave the higher education system for professions, certain levels of civil service, and other walks of life where their new skills and knowledge can enrich the lives of their fellow citizens. This includes becoming tutors at this level and all the lower levels of the University. However, those with particular flair in a given subject proceed on to the next stage.

The fourth stage lasts two years and takes place in two different departments, depending on which branch (science or humanities) the student favours. Scientific students go to the Vidyāvyākhyānamaṇḍapa (विद्याव्याख्यानमण्डप) or Technological Institute, located in the environs of Tymaria City/Sarvabhaumapur. Humanities students go to the Vidyāmaṭha (विद्यामठ) or Temple of Wisdom in the new capital of Augesbury/Nirvata, though this was formerly located in Traisoss/Satyapura. In either case, the students (postgraduate in international terms) are supervised by a personal adhyāpaka (अध्यापक) or teacher guarding sacred knowledge. This fourth stage is divided into two clear sub-stages: the first, a year of immersing oneself in the most advanced learning of a particular field, be it the study of the human skeleton, or the philosophy of visual perception. This includes visiting foreign libraries and universities and assessing the learning of other nations and paths to ascertain whether it is compatible with the Arya philosophy. The second sub-stage involves each student researching, preparing and presenting what is called their apas (अपस्), their sacred work or reflection on what they have learnt throughout their studenthood, possibly involving empirical research if necessary. If the apas is completed to a satisfactory extent, as determined by three of the adhyāpaka from the fourth-stage institution of which they are a student and two of the adhyāpaka from the other, the student is no longer a student. They receive a final degree, known as the 'blossom' or 'flowering' degree or bhavyasthāna (भव्यस्थान), and have many choices as to what they go on to do. They may commit themselves to their Fourth-Stage institution and become an adhyāpaka themselves, or they may become a tutor at any other level of the University system. They may go into government or the civil service at the highest levels. They are expected not to go into the world of commerce, though it is not unheard of. They have become a full part of the Vidyāsadman Nirdasyu and are protected from arrest for certain offences relating to hate speech, defaming companies or individuals or criticising the government.

Engagement with the Community
The section of the University with the closest links to the normal citizenry are the Vyākhyānaśālā or Teaching Halls. Everyone who is taught at such a Hall is roughly a local, as should be the tutors, and many of the lessons learnt there are done with specific reference to the problems or wonders of that specific area. Lecturing Rooms are quite isolated from the normal people as students and tutors focus on higher matters, though the Vidyāvyākhyānamaṇḍapa/Technological Institute and Vidyāmaṭha/Temple of Wisdom are more citizen-facing because they are the primary mouthpieces for the leading minds of the day, from whom ordinary citizens have much to learn.
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

User avatar
Aryeztur
Posts: 2121
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:16 am
Contact:

Re: The University of Norfolk

Post by Aryeztur »

I will have to study this in detail.
The Great King, King of Kings, King of the World

User avatar
Vilhelm Benkern
Posts: 3833
Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:08 am

Re: The University of Norfolk

Post by Vilhelm Benkern »

As detailed here, the Vidyāvyākhyānamaṇḍapa/Technological Institute has relocated to the old buildings of the Vidyāmaṭha/Temple of Wisdom in Traisoss/Satyapura (in the district of Bodhamandira/Bloomsburg).
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

Post Reply

Return to “Norfolk”