Chandigarh January 4, 2022
Two weeks Refresher online course started today on the theme ”Advances in Pedagogy” at Panjab University(PU).
Eminent educationist and ardent Physicist, former Vice Chancellor of three universities and member of NEP 2020 drafting committee, Prof BS Rajput delivered the inaugural address at the Refresher course being hosted by UGC HRDC.
The course will run from January 4 to 17 2022. It is being attended by 37 faculty members from diverse disciplines ranging from Medical Microbiology, Engineering, Sociology, History, Geography, Sanskrit and English languages to Music. The resource persons and participants are from all parts of the country.
Prof. Latika Sharma coordinator of the course welcomed the chief guest and participants to the course. She briefly introduced the theme. Director HRDC PU Prof. S.K. Tomar introduced the chief guest and highlighted the importance of the theme in the current scenario of education.
Addressing the function, Prof B.S. Rajput said that education is the fastest vehicle for development of the man, the society and the nation. Education is for dissemination of knowledge, creating of new knowledge and generation of awareness about issues of national importance and challenges. A good teacher interprets knowledge and connects to that knowledge to society. Development of pedagogical competence is of prime significance for quality teaching. Communication is pivotal to the art and science of teaching, how a topic is conveyed to the student at his level and lifting it to the highest level. Inquiry based Socratic method, cooperative learning, student centric pedagogy for cognitive and skill development can make communication by teachers effective. Teachers have to encourage students for original thinking, creativity and expression of their ideas
Similarly Research has to be need based, relevant and not just to publish papers to fill gaps in foreign research. The NEP has recommended setting up of National Research Foundation so that the creativity and academic freedom of researchers can be geared too pertinent issues and needs of the society, Prof. Rajput added.
National Council for Integration of Vocational Education will provide guidelines for education from class 8 onwards so that instead of job seekers, young people may become job providers.
Teachers have to take a keen interest in identifying the unique potential and talents of the students so that they can be guided to pursue their ambitions in chosen fields rather than be in rat race.
Prof. Rajput shared his keen interest in Quantum computing for which he is known worldwide and several interactions to highlight that we need to keep the future in mind as we plan our interactions with students. Quality education and research comes from such commitment.
