Best Practices II

Title of the Practice

"Train the Trainer”

Objectives of the Practice

The prime goal behind this practice is to provide faculty members ample opportunities to further train themselves in technical knowledge, research areas, and other academic/pedagogy-related areas to keep abreast with the latest in the fields by providing various incentives and facilities to all faculty members.

The Context

Faculty members are among the important stakeholders for an institute, as they are directly involved in shaping the students’ present and future. Therefore, their incessant learning is very crucial in this rapidly changing world not only for the betterment of the students but also for faculty members to remain relevant in the domain. The fact that there is a minimum one-generation gap between teacher and student, further demands the concept of training the trainer.

The Practice

Oracle training, research promotion policy, participation in FDP/MOOC, and NITTT modules are the measure to ensure full implementation of the Train the Trainer concept.Throughout the year various programs are arranged through the SVKM’s central training department, Mumbai for teaching and non-teaching departments. The beauty of all these trainings is that they focus not only on teaching-related or field-related initiatives but also on the overall makeover of the staff. They focus on holistic development through training programs on leadership, management, teaching-learning, humanity, social values, international affairs, and others. All these programs are arranged online with impeccable tracing starting from announcement to enrollment to finishing of the same on-time-tested platform that is Oracle. The research Promotion Policy has been framed to promote research in the institute. This is a research-linked financial incentive for each faculty member to boost their research portfolio in a win-win situation. Monetary incentives are provided to faculty members for such accomplishments as patent granting, fetching research grants, publication of research/review articles in impact factor journals, designing add-on courses, and fetching consultancy among others. Throughout the year faculty members keep updating themselves by enrolling in different FDPs and MOOCs. Faculty members enroll in NITTT modules.

Evidence of Success

Continuous oracle training has led to a transformation in the faculty member’s teaching style and other aspects. Encouragement to attend various FDPs has developed subject-related and emerging field-related skills in faculty members. As NITTT modules are scientifically designed by AICTE, New Delhi, after successfully attempting all the examinations of these modules, the teaching staff has developed a sense of analyzing the needs of students of different learning levels. Research promotion policy has reflected the good number of publications year on year.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

As mentioned earlier, there is a minimum one-generation gap between faculty members and the students, they are teaching. Here comes the concept of up and reskilling. Our faculty are always keen to bring and learn new ways to make the overall teaching-learning experience non-monotonous and more fruitful from students’ perspectives. Maximum faculty members have either completed all or are in the process of completing NITTT modules. Our high-tech institute with a fully modern, supportive, and dedicated team makes all efforts to make things easier for faculty members. Faculty members keep learning various online tools for delivering content like MS Office, MOODLE, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google Classroom. Incessant learning is the beauty of our institute and this point gels very much with the fact that teachers should keep unlearning for better learning of new or upcoming technologies or course content. It means because of world-class infrastructure and ever-ready competent faculty members to up and reskills themselves it was not a big deal to practice the philosophy of "Train the Trainer”.