~IIT Gandhinagar is hosting a two-week ITEC Faculty Development Program with faculty from 20 countries focusing on higher education, research, innovation and global collaboration.
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Sep 14 (VNI): IIT Gandhinagar is hosting a two-week Faculty Development Program for ASEAN and Global South under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program of the Ministry of External Affairs, with faculty members from 20 countries participating in the program from September 14 to 25.
The participants are from Algeria, Bhutan, Cambodia, Ecuador, Egypt, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. The program brings together faculty members from diverse higher education systems for sessions on teaching and pedagogy, research, innovation, international collaboration and institutional practices.
The ITEC Faculty Development Program covers contemporary approaches in higher education, including active learning, learner-centric teaching, curriculum innovation, international academic collaboration, research, innovation and incubation, institutional development and student well-being.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar, highlighted the importance of international academic engagement. He said the program provides a platform for academic learning, cultural exchange and building connections across countries. Encouraging participants to make the most of their time at IIT Gandhinagar, he said, “There are quite a lot of new things to learn in this program. I hope this helps us develop interesting partnerships and build relationships that help us grow as institutions.”
Prof Moona also spoke about IIT Gandhinagar’s efforts towards internationalisation and encouraged the participants to experience the academic and cultural diversity of Gujarat and India during their stay.
During the inaugural session, Prof Amit Prashant, Dean of External Relations, IIT Gandhinagar, stressed the importance of bringing faculty members from different countries together to exchange their experiences and perspectives on higher education. He said such interactions can help participants understand different academic practices and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
He also spoke about the changing role of faculty in a technology-driven world and the need to rethink educational programs to prepare students for evolving professional environments. He stressed that higher education must focus not only on technical skills but also on building competencies and confidence among students.
Dr Frank Mwamakula, Senior Lecturer, School of Education, St Augustine University, Tanzania, said the program had brought new insights that he could take back and adapt at his home institution while opening avenues for international cooperation in teaching and learning.
Phan Thanh Huyen of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, said participants could learn from each other’s successes and experiences and avoid difficulties that others had already faced. Joel Mark Baysa Barredo of Miriam College, Philippines, said the program offered an opportunity to understand the experiences and journeys of others in academia while collaborating on activities that could help participants grow.
The academic sessions during the program cover themes including ‘Role of Faculty in Future of Education’, ‘Active Learning in STEM Education’, ‘Learner-Centric Approaches for Online and Onsite Classrooms’ and ‘Innovations in Pedagogy and Curriculum’.
Research and innovation are also an important part of the program. Participants will be introduced to IIT Gandhinagar’s research ecosystem, support systems and achievements, followed by interactions with research clusters and centres and tours of research facilities.
The program also includes sessions on innovation and entrepreneurship, covering the innovation and incubation ecosystem at IIT Gandhinagar Research Park, interactions with startups incubated at the Research Park and a panel discussion on ‘Faculty and Startups: Building an Innovation-Driven Startup Ecosystem’.
Other sessions will focus on institutional administration and governance, alumni engagement, faculty development and support systems, student research mentorship and student well-being.
The program also includes study tours and visits to major sites in Gujarat, including the Statue of Unity, Sabarmati Ashram, Rani Ki Vav, Modhera Sun Temple and Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
The program will conclude on September 25 with participant feedback and a valedictory function. The inaugural session was moderated by Prof Ashutosh Srivastava, Co-Coordinator, while Prof Amit Prashant delivered the welcome remarks and Prof Rajat Moona addressed the participants. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Co-Coordinator Prof Sameer Patel. VNI NEWS, IIT Gandhinagar, ITEC Programme, Faculty Development Program, Ministry of External Affairs, Higher Education, Global South, ASEAN, International Collaboration, Research, Innovation, Gujarat, IIT Gandhinagar ITEC programme, Faculty Development Program, ITEC Faculty Development Program, faculty from 20 countries, higher education international collaboration, VNINews, VNINews.com