The programme was strategically designed to empower educators with advanced pedagogical frameworks, learner-centric teaching methodologies, and transformative approaches suited to the rapidly evolving, technology-driven higher education landscape. It brought together faculty members from multiple disciplines, fostering a dynamic environment of academic exchange, collaboration, and rethinking of traditional teaching paradigms.
A significant intellectual foundation of the programme was attributed to Prof. Aravind Chinchure, whose academic vision, in collaboration with the leadership of Manipal University Jaipur, played a pivotal role in shaping the FDP into a structured initiative focused on teaching excellence, innovation, and transformational learning practices.
The programme commenced with an impactful inaugural address by Prof. Rajan Saxena, Former Vice Chancellor of SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai. He highlighted transformational leadership in higher education, underscoring the evolving responsibilities of educators in cultivating critical thinking, multidisciplinary learning, innovation, and technology-enabled education to prepare students for future challenges.
On the second day, Prof. Arun Sreekumar from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad conducted an interactive session on the Case Method of Teaching. Through practical illustrations and engaging dialogue, he demonstrated how real-world case-based pedagogy enhances analytical reasoning, decision-making skills, and problem-solving capabilities among students.
The third day featured Prof. Veena Vohra, Professor at the School of Business Management, NMIMS Mumbai, who led a session on Experiential Learning. She emphasized active participation, reflective practice, and immersive learning experiences as essential tools for deepening student engagement and conceptual clarity.
The fourth day focused on emerging academic frontiers, including neuroscience-based learning and the expanding role of Artificial Intelligence in education. Prof. Sophia Gaikwad, Head of the Symbiosis Teaching Learning Resource Centre at Symbiosis International University, Pune, delivered insights on learner-centric teaching strategies based on cognitive understanding of how students absorb and retain knowledge. This was followed by Prof. Shailesh Kumar, Chief Data Scientist at Jio and Dean at Jio Institute, who explored the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence on academic ecosystems, teaching methodologies, research practices, and institutional frameworks.
The concluding day featured an address by Prof. N. Jayasankaran, Former Vice-Chancellor of Kanchi University and Director General of Bharathidasan Institute of Management, on the theme “How to Become a Masterful Teacher.” He shared reflections on continuous professional development, reflective teaching practice, effective communication, and meaningful student engagement drawn from decades of academic leadership experience.
The valedictory ceremony included certificate distribution, reflective learning exercises, the launch of Faculty Learning Circles, and the Teacher Empowerment Centre Teaching Pledge Ceremony, reaffirming Manipal University Jaipur’s commitment to sustained academic excellence and collaborative faculty development.
The programme was successfully executed under the guidance of Dr. Nitu Bhatnagar, Provost of Manipal University Jaipur, and Dr. Vijaylaxmi Sharma, Director of the Teacher Empowerment Centre, who played key roles in its organisation and implementation.
Manipal University Jaipur, a National Assessment and Accreditation Council A+ accredited institution, continues to position itself as a leading centre for higher education, with a strong emphasis on teaching quality, research advancement, innovation, and holistic student development.
The Faculty Development Programme concluded with a strong institutional message of transforming classrooms into spaces of inspired, future-ready, and innovation-driven learning.
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