Media Release
Mangaluru, Oct 28: 'NEP 2020' is the buzzword we get to hear more often nowadays as Government of Karnataka has announced the implementation of New Education Policy from the current academic year itself in its higher education institutions. It has not only opened up a new dimension of skill based learning for students but also imposed several challenges to its implementation in true spirit. A question that triggered the minds of many academicians is 'Are we NEP ready?'
In this regard, to guide and empower the commerce faculty members with necessary skills that would be required to handle courses under NEP, a series of Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on 'Empowering Commerce Teachers for NEP 2020' has been organised under the aegis of Mangalore University in association with Mangalore University Commerce Teachers Association (MUCTA), St Agnes College (Autonomous) Mangaluru, Government First Grade College, Kavoor and Mangala Alumni Association (MAA).
The curtain raiser for the series of this innovative FDP was held virtually through webex platform on October 4, 2021 at 4.30pm. Dinesh Kumar Alva, chairman, Maps Group of Institutions, Mangaluru and the president of Mangala Alumni Association delivered the inaugural address. Addressing the audience Alva congratulated the organizers for conducting the FDP series in a unique manner and stressed on the need for empowering the faculty members to attain the objectives of NEP in its true spirit. Sr Dr M Venissa AC, principal, St Agnes College (Autonomous), Mangaluru welcomed the dignitaries and virtual audience. The principal in her welcome address emphasized on the challenges that teachers have in adapting and embracing new skills to adjust to the changing scenarios in higher education.
This unique Faculty Development Programme was conducted from Monday to Sunday, from 5pm to 8pm, three hours daily, in three batches, each batch consisting of 100 commerce teachers for seven days a week to upgrade the skills required to teach courses under NEP curriculum. Hence the tagline of the FDP was rightly framed as 'Invest 20 hours now to reap the benefit for a life time'.
The emphasis of the FDP was to assist commerce teachers to leverage the use of ICT tools and equip them with modern day teaching, learning and evaluation methods so as to implement NEP 2020 the right way, and contribute towards attaining its goal of education for developing skills with a practical exposure on the given subject and laying down an educational foundation among students to enhance their employability quotient, thus making BCom programme more relevant and skill oriented under NEP 2020.
The first batch was kick-started on October 4, 2021 at 5pm soon after the inaugural ceremony and concluded on October 10. 2021 with a brain storming session on the B.Com curriculum under NEP. Professor P L Dharma, registrar of Evaluation, Mangalore University was the chief guest of the valedictory of the first batch of FDP and Dr Anasuya Rai, principal, University College, Hampankatta, Mangaluru and member of BOS of Commerce was the guest of honour. The second batch of the FDP started on October 11 and ended on October 17, 2021. Dr Jennifer Lolita, joint director of Collegiate Education, Mangaluru Region was the chief guest of the valedictory of the second batch and Dr Ummappa Poojari, associate professor, Shree Gokarnanatheshwara College, Mangaluru and member of BOS of Commerce was the guest of honour. The third batch of FDP began on October 18 and ended on October 24, 2021 with a brain storming session at 4pm.
The main valedictory for all the three batches of FDP was held on October 24, 2021 at 5pm. The vice chancellor of Mangalore University professor P S Yadapadithaya, who is also the chairman of the State Level Curriculum Draft Committee for Commerce and Management was the chief guest. In his inspirational address, professor Yadapadithaya guided the teachers to adopt the qualities of resilience, in addition to the attributes such as openness, confrontation, trust, autonomy, pro-activeness, authenticity, ability to work in collaboration and an experimentation mind set to prepare oneself to cope up the challenges of NEP 2020. Teachers should have the positive mindset to convert the problems into challenges and challenges into opportunities to reach the pinnacles of success. There is a need to learn the latest skills & technologies available to enhance the employability possibilities of our students. Teachers are the game changers under the New Education Policy and education for life should be the main motto of every teacher, he stressed. He encouraged teachers to accept NEP without tear and fear and assured all the help needed to empower the teachers.
The participants of the FDP shared their feedback and appreciated the convenors of the FDP for their relentless services towards organising the FDP which benefitted them immensely to upgrade themselves.
Dinesh Kumar Alva, chairman, Maps Group of Institutions, Sr Dr M Venissa A C, principal, St Agnes College (Autonomous), Dr Shivaram P, principal, GFGC, Kavoor were the guests of honour during the Valedictory programme.
Over 250 faculty members from 82 affiliated colleges of Mangalore University benefited from the FDP and were awarded with a participation certificate.
Louis Manoj Ambrose, assistant professor of Commerce, Govt First Grade College, Kavoor and general secretary, MUCTA and Dr Devi Prabha Alva, associate professor of Commerce, St Agnes College (Autonomous), Mangaluru and vice Ppresident, MAA were the convenors of the series of FDP. They were ably assisted by the co-convenors Roshni Yeshawanth, assistant professor of Commerce, Govt First Grade College, Haleyangady and joint secretary, MUCTA, Sabina D’Souza, head, department of BBA, Sheryl Preethika, assistant professor of Commerce, Rodney Vaz, assistant professor of Commerce, St Agnes College Autonomous), Mangaluru.
Professor Louis Manoj compered the valedictory programme. Dr Devi Prabha Alva elaborated the journey of FDP’s held in 3 batches. Sabina D’Souza welcomed the participants. Roshni Yeshawanth proposed the vote of thanks.
Due to the overwhelming response of commerce teachers of Karnataka State in general and Mangalore University affiliated colleges in particular, the convenors of the FDP have decided to hold another Faculty Development Programme shortly to extend the benefits of the same to as many teachers as possible.