COIMBATORE — Rithanya Sivaram, a Class 12 student at The Indian Public School, has launched Vibrance Hub, a groundbreaking platform that integrates project-based learning with wellness practices. This initiative aims to fill a vital gap in India’s educational framework as the country prepares students for a future dominated by artificial intelligence where creativity and innovation surpass rote learning.
Vibrance Hub focuses on essential skills like computational thinking and resilience while fostering a community for peer collaboration among young innovators. According to Sivaram, “In the age of AI, information is commoditized. What matters now is what you can make, how you think, and whether you can sustain creative work over time.”
The platform draws inspiration from MIT’s Lifelong Kindergarten framework—Passion, Projects, Peers, and Play. It emphasizes that maker education extends beyond simple creation; it builds important attributes in learners that technology cannot replicate.
“Atal Tinkering Labs have provided students with the space and tools to innovate at a national level. Vibrance Hub adds another layer by offering the support and wellness strategies to transform interest into prolonged creativity,” Sivaram added.
In many respects, Vibrance Hub symbolizes a return to India’s educational heritage. Before the colonial-era reforms cemented rote memorization as a norm, India’s gurukul system promoted experiential learning—encouraging students to engage in metallurgy, astronomy, and medicine through hands-on experience rather than passive absorption of facts.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 explicitly advocates for reviving this hands-on, maker-centric approach necessary for India’s economic growth. It recognizes that future prosperity relies on fostering a culture of creativity and innovation among its youth.
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), initiated in 2016 by NITI Aayog, is a significant step towards implementing this maker-centric philosophy across the nation. It aligns with the goals set forth by NEP 2020 by establishing a robust infrastructure for hands-on learning experiences and creative endeavors.
By bridging gaps in the educational landscape, Vibrance Hub stands as a testament to the need for adapting learning methodologies to the demands of the 21st century. As Rithanya Sivaram notes, “Vibrance Hub aims to equip students not just with knowledge, but with the ability to innovate and tackle real-world problems.”
This innovative hub could transform how students engage with their academic pursuits, emphasizing a balance between mental wellness and creativity. With Rithanya leading the charge, Vibrance Hub represents a progressive concept that could reshape project-based education in India.
