By Dr. Hari Sharan Chakhun, Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciencs
Lumbini Buddhist University (LBU) recently organized a comprehensive three days faculty training program designed to equip educators with the latest knowledge and skills for effective teaching in higher education. Dr. Hari Sharan Chakhun, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, facilitated the program.
Day 1: Opening and Paper Presentations:
Opening Session: The training program commenced with an opening session that emphasized the importance of the training, its modality, guidelines, relevancy, and expected outcomes. This session set the tone for the entire program by highlighting the significance of continuous professional development.
Chief Guest’s Address: Respected Registrar Dr. Tilakram Acharya underscored the benefits of the training program, particularly in terms of accruing points for promotions and professional development activities. He emphasized the value of acquiring new skills and knowledge to enhance teaching efficacy.
Executive Director’s Insight: Mr. Ukesh Raj Bhuju, Executive Director of the School of Development Studies, highlighted the role of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in facilitating such training programs, reinforcing their importance for academic growth.
Paper Presentation Session:
- Prof. Dr. Narayan Prasad Belbase:
- Historical Background, Modality, and Competency-Based Learning Application in Academia: Prof. Belbase discussed various teaching pedagogies and advocated for developing a model pedagogy for effective teaching.
- Enhancing Adult Education through Innovative Teaching Strategies and Technology Integration: This paper focused on pedagogy and intragogy, particularly for adult education strategies.
- Dr. Tikaram Paudel:
- Benefits of Competency-Based Learning: A Comparative Analysis: Dr. Paudel highlighted the advantages of competency-based learning, providing case studies like Sugata Mitra from Sri Lanka and Bharati Prajapati from Bhaktapur.
Day 2: Curriculum Design and Teaching Pedagogies:
Day’s Focus: The second day was dedicated to curriculum design, teaching pedagogy, assessment modalities, and evaluation elements. The sessions aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of these crucial aspects of higher education.
Paper Presentations:
- Dr. Tikaram Paudel:
- Exploring Teaching Approaches in Curriculum Design and Their Effectiveness: This session provided a comparative study of teaching approaches and ideologies in current academia.
- Prof. Dr. Peshal Khanal:
- Steps of Designing the Curriculum in Higher Education System: Participants learned about syllabus design, which is crucial for their project work.
- Assessment Procedures and Policies Applied in Higher Education Curriculum: This session delved into the assessment methodologies and policies prevalent in higher education.
- Prof. Chitra Bahadur Budhathoki:
- Integrating Goal Setting, Lesson Planning, and Technology in Teaching Pedagogy: The presentation focused on identifying major skills required in academia and how to pursue them.
Day 3: Advanced Teaching Techniques and Digitalization:
Paper Presentations:
- Prof. Chitra Bahadur Budhathoki:
- Essential Skills for Effective Application in Professional Teaching Learning Environments: Prof. Budhathoki discussed various teaching applications like TPACK, TK, TPK, TCK, PK, CK, and PCK. He also explained essential skills and qualities for effective teaching, referencing the Think-Pair-Share method and flipped classroom learning.
- Prof. Jiblal Sapkota:
- Techniques for Demonstrating Knowledge and Ideas Through Effective Record Keeping: Prof. Sapkota emphasized the importance of digital objective identifiers (DOI) and outlined essential components like title selection, problem statement, research questions, methodology, paraphrasing, and annotated bibliography.
- The Significance of Academic Writing in Higher Education: He discussed writing terminologies and techniques to develop a writing habit, stressing the importance of daily writing, small goal setting, and managing fear positively.
- Mr. Robin Panthi and Mr. Hikmat Rokaya:
- Digitalization and Its Implication Focused on Classroom Teaching and Resource Preparation: This session explored the integration of digital tools in classroom teaching and resource preparation.
Concluding Sessions: The training concluded with a demonstration by participants applying the training outcomes in their respective teaching areas. Key areas included understanding competency-based learning, teaching approaches, evaluation and assessment in higher education, and aligning curriculum with the job market.
Final Deliberation: Prof. Dr. Hridaya Ratna Bajracharya, former Vice-Chancellor of LBU and UGC Advisor, highlighted the importance and application of the training outcomes, meeting participants’ expectations regarding their practical application.
Closing Remarks: LBU Registrar Dr. Tilak Ram Acharya delivered the concluding note, reiterating the importance of the training program and its impact on professional development.