Programme Officer, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, New Delhi, India
In an increasingly transactional world where crass commercialization is the goal, a large number of educational institutions face relational tensions arising from pressures to enroll maximum students, performance, and hierarchical governance structures. The complex pressures and relations lead to emotional burnout, and diminishing trust among students, educators, and administrators. Conventional disciplinary and managerial approaches often address conflict as a behavioural or compliance issue, neglecting its relational, emotional, and ethical dimensions. This paper introduces the JoyfulTalisman Design Canvas (JTDC) as a relational–pedagogical human-centred, values-based framework for conflict de-escalation and the cultivation of joyful, trust-based educational cultures. It aims to explore a practice-oriented model for educational institutions seeking to integrate wellbeing, harmonious and value-based workplace, democratic participation, and ethical learning into everyday institutional life.
Conflict-escalation, Design thinking, Human-centred, Joyful learning, Restorative practice, Participatory pedagogy
