FDP on TEL and Blended Learning Equips Educators with Skills to Navigate Digital Education
The Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), Commonwealth of Learning’s regional centre in Asia, collaborated with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and Apeejay Stya University (ASU), Haryana, India, to organise an Online Faculty Development Programme (FDP) from 20 to 25 February 2025, focusing on empowering educators in Technology-Enabled Learning (TEL) and Blended Learning (BL). The event, hosted by AIU’s Academic and Administrative Development Centre (AADC) at ASU, aims to equip educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of higher education in the digital age.
On this occasion, Dr Vijay Vir Singh, Vice-Chancellor, ASU, emphasised the importance of such training in light of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. "NEP is a student-centred policy that offers flexibility to learners, and blended learning is key to achieving this," he stated. Dr Singh highlighted the significance of active learning and the role of teachers in designing engaging activities to maximise student outcomes. "In blended learning, the teacher is central. Hand-holding students is crucial to ensure effective learning," he added.
Dr B. Shadrach, Director of COL-CEMCA, described NEP 2020 as a forward-thinking policy, which acknowledges how digitalisation, emerging technologies, and the greening of education are transforming every sphere, including teaching and learning practices. In this context, he stressed the importance of continuous professional development for educators. He also underscored the need for teachers to equip students with employability skills, addressing a common concern that many graduates lack the necessary competencies for the workforce. Expressing hope, he stated, “The ongoing training would empower educators to create and adopt OER for teaching purposes, ultimately helping students to achieve their aspirations, whether in employment or entrepreneurship.”
The event also featured insights from Dr Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, AIU, who spoke about the transformative role of technology in education, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Teachers faced challenges in adapting to technology-enabled teaching, and now with the advent of AI, the need for capacity building is even greater," she said. Dr Mittal also underscored the impact of technology on research and governance, urging educators to embrace continuous learning.
The five-day workshop offered a diverse range of sessions conducted by renowned COL-CEMCA consultants. On the opening day, attendees delved into the key aspects of NEP 2020 led by Dr Shadrach. The second day saw Dr Rajesh P. Khambayat present an engaging session on the concept and scope of TEL, as well as its role in blended learning methodologies. Following this, Ms. Sheriya Sareen introduced the participants to the Institutional Blended Learning Policy template. Dr Niradhar Dey explored the application of OERs, MOOCs, and LMS in education. Additionally, Dr Madhuri Dubey facilitated a session focusing on skill development and enhancing graduate employability.
Collectively, these sessions offered a thorough insight into cutting-edge educational methodologies, further solidifying ASU’s dedication to adopting technology and enriching the learning journey for both educators and students.
