Teacher training in our country has evolved over time based on the recommendations of various committees on education. In 2016-17 when International Institute for Higher Education and Capacity Building (IIHEd) was working on the State Higher Education Plan for Haryana under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), it was observed that teachers in Haryana are grappling with several challenges ranging from teaching, learning, research and academic governance. The State Higher Education Plan of Haryana, suggested, amongst other things, any effort in the direction of improving the quality of higher education should focus on the quality of teachers. The Plan recommended the organization of pre-service as well as in-service training programmes for the faculty members of Haryana. In January 2017, Department of Higher Education, Government of Haryana in collaboration with IIHEd, O.P. Jindal Global (Institution of Eminence Deemed To Be University), organized the first-of-its-kind in-service teacher training workshop to be held in a private university campus in the state.
The One Week In-service Training Programme for Faculty Members of State Universities and Colleges of Haryana on TEACHING, RESEARCH, ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE, was organized by International Institute for Higher Education Research and Capacity Building (IIHEd), O.P. Jindal Global (Institution of Eminence Deemed To Be University), sponsored by the Department of Higher Education, Haryana under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) on 16 – 20 January 2017 at O.P. Jindal Global (Institution of Eminence Deemed To Be University), Sonipat, Haryana, India. The event was organized under the supervision of Dr. Mahavir Singh, Principal Secretary; Mr. Mohammad Shayin, Director and Dr. Hemant Verma, Deputy Director, Department of Higher Education, Government of Haryana. This event was coordinated by Ms. Anamika Srivastava, Assistant Professor and Fellow, IIHEd and Dr. Yugank Goyal, Associate Professor, Deputy Director, IIHED under the able guidance of Prof. (Dr.) C.Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, JGU and Director, IIHEd and Prof. (Dr.) Y.S.R Murthy, the Registrar, JGU. The Programme Manager of the event was Ms. Nandita Koshal, Senior Research Fellow, IIHEd.
Unique features of the Programme-
a) Customizing a course keeping in mind the requirement of faculty members of the state universities and colleges of Haryana. The course included modules on teaching and learning, research and social impact, knowledge transfer, international collaborations, quality, academic leadership and governance.
b) Ensuring that the best faculty, facilities and infrastructure are made available for the Training Programme.
c) Adhering to international standards in the conceptualisation of the training programme and its implementation.
d) Invoking local issues and concerns, relevant in the context of Haryana in the class discussions and the special sessions.
e) Facilitating meaningful participation of the participants inside as well as outside the classroom.
f) Interaction with distinguished resource persons which not only included in-house faculty members but also eminent personalities like Chairman of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission.
g) Organization of recreational activities such as cultural programme, sports activities, yoga and aerobics.
h) Emphasis on mutual learning where all have gathered to better understand their own higher education system and make recommendations for each other.
Dr. Mousumi Mukherjee, Deputy Director, IIHEd initiated a partnership between IIHEd and UNESCO-MGIEP to train youth leaders and professionals in social and emotional learning (SEL) to promote the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this partnership, IIHEd team hosted a 3-day International Capacity Building Workshop in Socio-Emotional learning and the First World Youth Conference on Kindness to commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Two of the IIHEd faculty, Deputy Director &Associate Professor, Dr. Mousumi Mukherjee and Assistant Professor, Dr. Deepak Maun are also participating in facilitator workshops funded by UNESCO-MGIEP to develop online and on-campus blended-model of a training programme in collaboration with UNESCO-MGIEP to further scale-up socio-emotional learning as a core part of the curriculum and pedagogy within Indian Higher Educational Institutions.
MGIEP as a Type A research institute of UNESCO has already been able to gather a huge amount of evidence with brain-mapping and advanced research techniques in neuro-science that SEL does activate the mirror-neurons in the brain, which inspires humans to do altruistic things.
The response of the 60 youth delegates who participated from around the world at the First World Youth Conference hosted at JGU campus is encouraging. We can expect to see the ripple effects of this in the future around the world.https://mgiep.unesco.org/article/o-p-jindal-global-university-and-unesco-mgep-join-hands-in-a-unique-partnership
https://jgu.edu.in/blog/2019/06/27/first-world-youth-conference-on-kindness-gets-underway-jgu-partners-with-unesco-mgiep/
This Ten weeks training programme was organized during Spring 2019 by the IIHEd in collaboration with the Centre for Afghanistan Studies, Jindal School of International Affairs and Ball State University (BSU), United States funded by the USAID. Eleven faculty members, selected by the US Embassy in Kabul, from across Afghanistan participated in this 10 weeks long beginning in January 2019. The main deliverable of the AFFECT program for the Afghan participants was the design of a National curriculum on Public Policy, Public Administration and Development Management. Apart from this main deliverable, the project also aimed: –
To develop leadership and team-building skills among the participants.
Gain skills in working with different demographic groups in an academic setting. Increase English language proficiency.
Build computer skills to support academic programs and instruction.Engage with academics in their disciplines.
Gain exposure to academic research resources.
Develop relationships to foster lasting collaboration and mentorship.
In collaboration with BSU, various JGU staff contributed to provide administrative support to ensure the successful implementation of the academic components of the AFFECT program, as well as project coordination and logistical support related to housing, meals, transportation, meeting facilities, and technology support.
Over the course of four days, students from across the Commonwealth convened at O.P. Jindal Global (Institution of Eminence Deemed To Be University) for the second workshop in the Commonwealth Futures Workshop series organized by The ACU and the British Council in collaboration with Higher Educational Institutions in India, South Africa and the UK, reflecting on the role of student leaders in creating cohesive societies.
During the workshop, young people from around the world got the chance to share their unique knowledge, skills and experience, and present their ideas back to key actors from the higher education sector, wider civil society and policymakers.
The workshops hosted at JGU examined multidisciplinary themes, related to the concept of global citizenship, from participatory democracy to community engagement – as well as exploring social and emotional learning in the context of peace and non-violence.
Each of these concepts related to Gandhian principles and methods – and during the course of the workshop, students heard from leading academic experts and undertook site visits to contextualise these ideas. Expert speakers and organisations involved include:
Professor Ramin Jahanbegloo, Director, JGU Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Peace
Dr Rajesh Tandon, UNESCO-Chair in Higher Education & Community-based Research
Representatives from UNESCO-MGIEP
This event was convened in partnership with the British Council, Commonwealth Secretariat by the Vice-Chancellor’s office and faculty of the Centre for Comparative and Global Education at the International Institute for Higher Education Research and Capacity Building (IIHED)
After returning from the follow-up workshops at Durban University of Technology (DUT) in South Africa, one of the JGU Student participants, Parth Parikh got inspired to launch a Global Citizens Blog project to keep online communications after the workshop themes ongoing with his fellow commonwealth leaders.
The International Institute for Higher Education Research and Capacity Building (IIHEd) of JGU organized a two-day Principals’ Conclave from August 19 to 20, to discuss the possibilities and challenges of realizing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision within the school system.
It was held at JGU’s International Academy at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi, on the first day and at the JGU campus in Sonipat on the second day. The conclave had six sessions, one special lecture, and one book launch event conducted by renowned education specialists from our country, including our faculty members.
The conclave had six sessions, one special lecture and one book launch event conducted by renowned education specialists from India, including JGU members. The gathering of about 40+ principals and school administrators from Delhi NCR and Sonipat representing public and private schools benefited by understanding the possibilities and challenges of realizing the N.E.P.'s vision within school systems.
On 1st August 2022, the Australia-India VETConnect - Professional Learning program for VET Educators from India and Australia, was launched at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi. The VETConnect program, managed by the Asia Education Foundation (AEF), an initiative of Asialink at the University of Melbourne, is a teacher professional learning program that connects Vocational Education and Training (VET) teachers from Australia and India.
The aim of VETConnect is to build teacher capacity, integrate industry perspectives and increase the quality of school-based VET offerings across both countries. VETConnect aims to refresh this integral school engagement between Australia and India in line with the Indian National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and strategic industry and skilling priorities within the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and India. Prof. (Dr.) Mousumi Mukherjee, Executive Director of the Centre for Comparative and Global Education under the aegis of the International Institute for Higher Education Research and Capacity Building (IIHEd), O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) along with Ms. Karen Noble of the Asia Education Foundation are facilitating this collaborative action research-based training programme during the Fall 2022 semester in hybrid mode.
