Faculty of Applied Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS, Formerly MRIU) is organizing a 5-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on ‘Recent Trends in Teaching and Research in Applied Science’ under the auspices of Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC). The objective of the FDP is to make the teachers aware of the elements of a good research proposal, and be able to describe and choose from the signature pedagogies used in the education. The FDP was inaugurated today by Dr. Amarendra Pani, Director- Research, Association of Indian Universities (AIU) in the presence of Dr. NC Wadhwa, VC, MRIIRS; Dr. M.K. Soni, Pro-VC, MRIIRS; Dr. R.K. Arora, Registrar, MRIIRS; Dr. Suresh Bedi, Dean FMS & FCBS, MRIIRS, and Ex-Director, IQAC, MDU, Rohtak; Dr. Sarita Sachdeva, Dean Research and Dean Applied Sciences, MRIIRS; Ms. Sanyogita Sharma, Director-MRIS and Faculty of Education, MRU; faculty members of MRIIRS and other participants.

Dr. Suresh Bedi brought the importance of quality teaching to the limelight. He said that quality is an endless journey as new demands arise in the education industry. He added that teaching-learning standards in research undergo continuous improvement, and thus, there is a dire need of effective teaching. This was followed by Dr. M.K. Soni giving valuable insights about the importance of quality in teaching as well as research.

Keynote address of the day was delivered by Dr. Amarendra Pani who said, ‘Teaching is to learning as selling is to buying’. He gave a presentation on ‘Perspectives on Research and Becoming a Researcher’ and discussed the reasons behind research- Reciprocation, Critical & Creative Thinking, Effective Teaching, Self-development, and Professional Advancement. ‘Knowledge Component and transmission of that knowledge are central to teaching but besides transmitting knowledge, a teacher also needs to trigger the critical thinking of a student’, he said. He also made aware the audience with the two terms- Competitive Compulsion and Academic Surrogacy.

Dr. NC Wadhwa said that considering the recent advancements and rising demand of the skilled workforce, it has become imperative to further improve the role of a teacher. Addressing the teachers, he said, ‘Once you have taken this profession, you have an obligation to discharge completely’.

Further sessions of the day were conducted by Ms. Sanyogita Sharma and Dr. Babita Parashar, HoD, Faculty of Education, MRU.

With a great headstart to the FDP, the second day is expected to provide more knowledge and experience to the participants.