COL-CEMCA, AIU and SVU Join Hands to Organise Online FDP on TEL and Blended Learning for Educators


The Commonwealth Educational Media Centre (COL-CEMCA), Commonwealth of Learning (COL)’s Asian regional centre, and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) are collaborating to conduct Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) on Technology-enabled Learning (TEL), and Blended Learning in AIU’s Academic and Administrative Development Centres (AADCs) hosted by member higher education institutions (HEIs) across India. The first FDP in this series was held at the NorthCap University in Gurugram, Haryana. The second webinar is being hosted by the Faculty and Staff Development Centre (FSDC) at Somaiya Vidyavihar University (SVU) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from 13 to 17 January 2025.

This landmark FDP is focusing on empowering the SVU faculty members to adopt TEL and blended learning to enrich their teaching and learning practices. The webinar was inaugurated on 13 January 2025 by eminent dignitaries from COL-CEMCA, AIU, and SVU, with more than 70 participants attending the session on Day 1. The event highlighted the increasing importance of these approaches in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which was underlined by all the speakers on this occasion.

Appreciating this initiative, Professor Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, SVU, emphasised the importance of educators’ capacity building in specific technologies to ensure effective adoption of TEL and blended learning. Professor Pillai expressed his gratitude to COL-CEMCA for its support, envisioning this partnership as the foundation for many more future innovations and collaborations.

Dr B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA, provided a detailed programme overview, highlighting the five key transformations advocated by NEP 2020, i. e., multi-disciplinary education and flexibility, increased focus on research, leveraging technology for education, and greater autonomy for HEIs performing well. He lauded SVU’s innovative efforts under the leadership of Professor Pillai to become one of the best HEIs in delivering education face-to-face, online and in open and distance mode. 

Dr Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, AIU, in her remarks, expressed gratitude to SVU and CEMCA for organising the programme, especially during AIU's centenary celebrations. She discussed AIU’s efforts in teacher training, including creating e-content and incorporating AI into teaching-learning practices. Dr Mittal elaborated on the prospects of technology in revolutionising problem-solving and personalised learning in education.

In her observations, Dr Ranjana Parihar, AIU, commended the visionary approach of the programme, made possible by CEMCA’s generous support. She emphasised its potential to equip participants with a deeper understanding of TEL and blended learning practices.

The inaugural session was anchored by Dr Preeti Rawat, Ms. Shreya Nair from FSDC-SVU. In her remarks, Dr Rawat emphasised the critical need for TEL and blended learning in modern education. She shared insights into the role of FSDC in advancing faculty capacity building and commended the programme for addressing these emerging needs.

This five-day FDP promises to pave the way for innovative approaches and greater adoption of TEL and blended learning in HEIs across India. 

Country: 
India