Patna: St. Xavier’s Concludes Six-Day Faculty Development Programme on Transformative Approaches in Higher Education

Patna: St. Xavier’s College of Management & Technology recently concluded its six-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on “Transformative Approaches to Higher Education and Research,” held from 19th to 25th July 2024. Faculty members from St. Xavier’s College of Education also participated in this enriching and enlightening event. The programme focused on the era of digital transformations and artificial intelligence, providing valuable insights into leadership, communication, and the use of AI tools in education.

The FDP was organized by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of St. Xavier’s College of Management & Technology. The inaugural session featured Professor Atul Aditya Pandey, a distinguished Professor of Geology at Patna University and Director of the UGC Malviya Mission Teacher Training Centre. Dr. Pandey, who also serves as the Chairman of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Bihar, emphasized the importance of diversity and innovation in transformative education during his address to the participating professors.

Throughout the six days, participants engaged with various resource persons who covered a wide range of topics. Fr. Joseph Sebastian SJ, Rector of St. Xavier’s College of Management & Technology and Director of the Province Development Office, addressed the importance of harnessing leadership potential and strengthening interpersonal relationships through compassionate communication. He also spoke on conflict transformation, highlighting different sensitivities that can form obstacles to becoming true leaders.

The second day of the FDP saw Fr. Dr. Alphonse Sebastian SJ and Dr. Supriya Shree demonstrating the practical applications of AI tools for research. Fr. Dr. Paul Pudussery CSC took over as the resource person for the next three days. He led discussions on recent trends and emerging issues in the context of policy change and convergent media. His topics included “Leadership, Governance and Management in Higher Education” and “Integrating Creative Thinking Skills and Pedagogies into Higher Education,” providing the faculty with comprehensive insights into these crucial areas.

The final day featured a session on mentorship skills conducted by Fr. Norbert Menezes SJ, Rector of St. Michael’s School. This session underscored the importance of mentoring in the development of new-age teachers. The valedictory session was graced by Dr. Manisha Prakash, Academic Head of Aryabhatta Knowledge University and Faculty In-Charge of the School of Journalism & Mass Communication. Dr. Prakash, who also serves as OSD to the Vice Chancellor and sits on various committees to enhance the teaching-learning process, provided her insights into transformative education.

The programme concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony and a renewed commitment to transforming youth through quality education, holistic development, and compassionate mentoring. Faculty members left with a promise to help students navigate the ever-evolving and uncertain world of artificial intelligence and digital transformations, emphasizing that the role of the teacher is more important and relevant today than ever.