April 28: Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, an institute of eminence, has introduced a new mandatory “Social Conduct” course for all first‑year undergraduate students across its campuses in Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad, and Dubai, marking a significant step towards embedding emotional intelligence, ethics, and social responsibility into higher education.
Rolled out in the current academic year, the course brings structured learning around emotional intelligence, relationships, consent, gender sensitivity, safety, and well‑being directly into the formal curriculum. With this initiative, BITS Pilani becomes one of the few institutions globally to make such education a required part of a degree programme, reinforcing the idea that universities must prepare students not only for professional success but also for responsible participation in society.
The course was developed by Striide, an organisation founded by Nidhi Chaitra Girish, a BITS Pilani alumna (Batch of 2023), and was integrated into the university curriculum through the efforts of Dean Prof Radhika Vathsan and Professor Indrani Talukdar, who worked to embed it within the institute’s academic framework.
Unlike short workshops or compliance‑oriented training, Social Conduct is designed as a structured, credit‑bearing learning experience. Delivered in an asynchronous online format, it uses interactive activities, reflection exercises, scenario‑based learning, and assessments to help students engage thoughtfully with real‑life situations commonly encountered during university life.
Designed to address the social and emotional realities students encounter as they enter university life, the curriculum covers areas many learners engage with for the first time in higher education. It begins with emotional and social intelligence, focusing on self‑awareness, empathy, resilience, stress management, and mental well‑being, before moving to relationships, gender, and sexuality, where students explore identity, challenge stereotypes, and learn to communicate boundaries. A core component addresses consent, sexual misconduct, and safety, including power dynamics, bystander intervention, digital safety, and the biological and psychological impact of trauma. The course also familiarises students with laws, campus policies, reporting mechanisms, and issues such as substance use, peer pressure, and recovery pathways.
Prof. Radhika Vathsan, the Dean of Academic Undergraduate Studies, and Professor Indrani Talukdar, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences said,
“As part of the course rollout, a workshop was conducted at the Goa campus for 860 first-year students, using a blend of conversation, film, and debate to explore themes such as gender identity, stereotyping, and the POSH Act. Through these reflective discussions and immersive activities, the workshop encouraged students to think critically about gender, consent, and personal boundaries, helping them build empathy and thoughtful judgment rather than rely on predefined answers.”
Commenting on the initiative, Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said,
“Creating campuses where every student feels safe, respected, and supported is integral to who we are as an institution. The Social Conduct course encourages young adults to reflect on how their actions shape the communities they live in, and equips them with the awareness and responsibility needed to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.”
By embedding conversations around empathy, boundaries, accountability, and care directly into the academic curriculum, BITS Pilani is expanding the definition of education beyond technical and professional excellence. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that higher education must also equip students with the social and ethical understanding needed to contribute to safer, more inclusive communities.
