Vidya empowers educators for academic excellence through FDP on Quality Enhancement and Effective Teaching Practices
| Vidya serves as a well-structured platform for holistic faculty development, fostering continuous professional growth by providing valuable exposure to quality assurance practices, innovative teaching methodologies, institutional expectations, and contemporary educational tools..The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Vidya Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), in association with the ISTE VAST Chapter and IE(I) VAST Chapter, organized a Faculty Development Programme (FDP) titled “Empowering Educators: Quality Enhancement and Effective Teaching Practices.” The programme was conceived with the objective of enhancing the professional competencies of faculty members and equipping them with contemporary teaching methodologies, outcome-based educational practices and quality enhancement strategies essential for higher education institutions. |
| The FDP is scheduled from 15 June 2026 to 22 June 2026 and aims to provide a comprehensive platform for faculty members to engage with experts from academia and industry, learn innovative pedagogical practices and strengthen their understanding of institutional quality assurance mechanisms.The inaugural session of the programme was conducted on 15 June 2026 at the College Auditorium.The programme commenced on 15 June 2026 with an inaugural set of sessions designed to set the academic tone for the FDP. The first session included Introductory Remarks: Lessons Learned delivered by Padma Shri Dr M Chandradathan (Former Director VSSC, Hon. Advisor,VICT), which focused on reflective academic practices and institutional learning from past experiences. This was followed by a session on Institution Excellence and Quality Improvement by Dr. B. Anil (former Principal – Govt Engineering College, Barton Hill, Trivandrum,Hon. Advisor,VICT) emphasizing the importance of continuous quality enhancement mechanisms in higher education institutions. The third session, Building Positive Teacher–Student Relationships, was conducted by Mr. Alex Chacko C (Motivational Speaker and Research Scholar, GEC Thrissur). The session focused on fostering healthy academic relationships through effective communication, empathy, and meaningful engagement, highlighting the role of supportive interactions in creating a positive learning environment. |
| On 16 June 2026 (Tuesday), the FDP featured the session V-FAST: Empowering Students for First-Time Success delivered by Dr. Shalij P. R. (Director – Academics). The session focused on strategies to support first-year students in adapting to academic life, improving retention, and building academic confidence through structured mentoring approaches. |
| The programme continued on 17 June 2026 (Wednesday) with Goal Setting and Professional Development Planning conducted by Mr. Banarji Bhaskaran (Founder and CEO,Onward Business Consulting & Training LLP, Trustee- VICT). This session emphasized structured professional development, aligning faculty goals with institutional vision, and long-term academic career planning. |
| On 18 June 2026 (Thursday), three important institutional sessions were conducted. The second session, Academic Regulations, Planning and Institutional Compliance, focused on internal academic frameworks and regulatory adherence. The third session, Academic Documentation for Accreditation and Quality Enhancement, addressed documentation standards required for accreditation processes and IQAC-driven quality initiatives. |
| The first session, Understanding Institutional Systems and Faculty Expectations, was led by Dr. Sunitha C. (Principal), providing clarity on governance structures, academic responsibilities, and institutional culture.The FDP on 19June 2026 (Friday) included a technical session on AI Tools for Effective Teaching and Learning, conducted by Mr. Vishnu Shaji (Asst Prof,ME Dept) and Mr. Arun Xavier (Asst Prof – Sr Grade,EEE Dept). This session introduced faculty members to emerging artificial intelligence tools for enhancing teaching delivery, assessment design, content creation, and student engagement. The afternoon sessions were dedicated to Micro Teaching, designed to improve instructional practices through peer feedback and reflective teaching. The first set of micro-teaching sessions was handled by Dr. Abhilasha P S (HoD, CE Dept), Dr. Rakesh Hari (HoD, ME Dept) and Dr. Mary Varghese (Prof, EEE Dept), followed by another set facilitated by Dr. Jeeva K A (HoD, AI & ML Dept), Dr. Sajay K R (HoD, CSE Dept) and Dr. Reji C Joy (HoD, MCA), focusing on refining classroom delivery techniques. |
| On 22nd June 2026 (Monday), the FDP revisited V-FAST: Empowering Students for First-Time Success session by Dr. Shalij P. R. (Director – Academics) reinforcing earlier discussions and emphasizing continuous mentoring strategies to ensure student success. |
| The programme concluded on 24 June 2026 (Wednesday) with another session of V-FAST: Empowering Students for First-Time Success, again led by Dr. Shalij P R at ACL. This final session consolidated key insights from the FDP, focusing on sustained student support systems and the role of faculty in enhancing first-year student outcomes |
| Overall, the FDP served as a comprehensive platform for faculty development by integrating institutional quality enhancement, pedagogical innovation, regulatory understanding, and emerging technological tools. The inclusion of interactive components such as micro-teaching, along with expert-led sessions on mentorship and AI integration, significantly contributed to strengthening teaching effectiveness and promoting a culture of continuous academic improvement. |
| The FDP successfully achieved its intended objectives by providing a well-structured platform for holistic faculty development. The sessions enabled participants to gain valuable insights into quality assurance practices, effective teaching methodologies, institutional expectations, and modern educational tools. Interactive components such as micro-teaching and mentoring-oriented sessions helped in improving classroom delivery skills and encouraging reflective practice among faculty members. Overall, the programme contributed significantly to empowering educators, enhancing teaching quality, and strengthening the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement wit the following objectives |
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| The flawless execution and coordination of the expert sessions were driven by a committed organizing team headed by Dr. Sanaj M. S. (IQAC Coordinator,Prof., CSE Dept.) alongside Co-Coordinators Mr. Sarath Babu Ramachandran (ISTE Coordinator, Asst. Prof.–Seln. Grade, ME Dept.) and Ms. Roshni Vijay (IEI Coordinator, Asst. Prof.,CE Dept).Their coordinated efforts created a highly professional atmosphere, allowing the valuable insights to resonate effectively among faculty members, inspiring them toward enhanced institutional excellence. |
| The Editorial Team of News & Events along with the entire Vidya fraternity in extending heartiest appreciation to Dr Sanaj, Mr Sarath,Ms. Roshni and all involved on the successful conduct of the session that conceives with the objective of enhancing the professional competencies of faculty members and equipping them with contemporary teaching methodologies, outcome-based education practices and quality enhancement strategies essential for higher education institutions. |
