Jaipur, Rajasthan, India – In a significant stride towards academic innovation, Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) has successfully concluded its five-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) titled “Foundations of Inspired Teaching.” Spearheaded by President Prof. Niti Nipun Sharma, this initiative by the Teacher Empowerment Centre (TEC) aimed to bolster teaching excellence and foster continuous pedagogical innovation across diverse disciplines.
The program was meticulously designed to equip educators with advanced pedagogical approaches, emphasize learner-centric teaching practices, and introduce transformative strategies essential for higher education in an increasingly technology-driven academic landscape.
Revolutionizing Higher Education Pedagogy
The FDP served as a dynamic platform, uniting faculty members from various fields for an enriching learning experience. Its core focus was on reimagining higher education teaching within a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and technologically advanced environment.
Prof. Aravind Chinchure played a pivotal role in the conceptualization and design of the program. His academic vision and insights, coupled with the leadership of Manipal University Jaipur, were instrumental in shaping the FDP into a meaningful initiative centered on teaching excellence, innovation, and transformative learning.
Insights from Visionary Leaders and Experts
Day 1: Transformational Leadership in Academia
The program commenced with an inspiring inaugural address by Prof. Rajan Saxena, Former Vice Chancellor of SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai. He spoke on transformational leadership in higher education, highlighting the evolving role of educators in fostering critical thinking, multidisciplinary learning, innovation, and technology-enabled education to prepare students for future challenges.
Day 2: Mastering the Case Method
Prof. Arun Sreekumar from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad led an interactive session on the Case Method of Teaching. Through engaging discussions and practical illustrations, he demonstrated how real-world scenarios and case-based pedagogy can significantly enhance classroom learning, while strengthening students’ analytical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
Day 3: The Power of Experiential Learning
The third day featured Prof. Veena Vohra, Professor at the School of Business Management, NMIMS Mumbai, who focused on Experiential Learning. She underscored the importance of active participation, reflective learning, and immersive educational experiences in fostering deeper student engagement and conceptual understanding.
Day 4: Neuroscience, AI, and Future-Ready Teaching
Day four delved into emerging dimensions of education, including the neuroscience of learning and the rapidly growing impact of Artificial Intelligence in academia. Prof. Sophia Gaikwad, Head of the Symbiosis Teaching Learning Resource Centre at Symbiosis International University, Pune, shared valuable learner-centric teaching insights based on how students process, retain, and apply knowledge effectively.
The sessions also featured Prof. Shailesh Kumar, Chief Data Scientist at Jio and Dean at Jio Institute, who explored the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in education. He discussed how AI-driven innovations are reshaping teaching methodologies, academic research, and institutional practices.
Day 5: Cultivating Masterful Educators
The FDP concluded with an insightful session by Prof. N. Jayasankaran, Former Vice-Chancellor of Kanchi University and Director General of Bharathidasan Institute of Management, on “How to Become a Masterful Teacher.” Drawing from his extensive academic and leadership experience, he shared perspectives on reflective practice, continuous professional growth, effective communication, and meaningful student engagement.
Commitment to Continuous Excellence
The valedictory ceremony was a significant event, including certificate distribution, reflective learning activities, the launch of Faculty Learning Circles, and the TEC Teaching Pledge Ceremony. These activities reaffirmed Manipal University Jaipur’s unwavering commitment to continuous teaching excellence and collaborative faculty development.
The Faculty Development Programme successfully fostered a vibrant platform for dialogue, innovation, reflection, and peer learning. Participants departed with a renewed sense of purpose and actionable strategies to transform their classrooms into spaces of inspired, meaningful, and future-ready learning.
Dr. Nitu Bhatnagar, Provost, MUJ, and Dr. Vijaylaxmi Sharma, Director, MUJ Teacher Empowerment Centre, were instrumental in the successful organization and execution of this impactful Faculty Development Programme.
About Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ)
Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) is a NAAC A+ accredited leading institution of higher education renowned for its commitment to quality teaching, research, and innovation. With a strong focus on holistic development and global exposure, MUJ continues to be a preferred choice for students across the country and beyond. For more details, please visit the official website of Manipal University Jaipur: jaipur.manipal.edu