Colleges hold FDPs

Faculty development programmes (FDPs) to develop the skills of teaching staff were held at several colleges recently. Of these, the growing significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computer literacy in contemporary teaching and research practices, was highlighted at the five-day FDP organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell of Shrimati Indira Gandhi College.

At the Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, the FDP was aimed to equip faculty members with contemporary pedagogical approaches and technological tools required to effectively engage and educate Generation Z learners. In his address, S. Senthilnathan, Director (FAC), UGC–Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, Bharathidasan University, elaborated on the role of educators in fostering innovation and preparing students for global competitiveness.

The theme of the FDP held by J.J. College of Arts and Science, Pudukottai, was ‘Outcome-Based Education: Theory and Practice’. Participants actively engaged in discussions on curriculum planning, assessment reforms, quality enhancement, and innovative pedagogical practices.

Conference on aquaculture

A conference organised by the College of Fisheries Engineering (CoFE), Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University (TNJFU), Nagapattinam, provided a platform for academicians, researchers, and students to share their research findings, and explore innovative solutions for the sustainable development of the sector. The conference featured four technical sessions covering major disciplines of fisheries and aquaculture during which over 80 research papers were presented. The conference also featured invited talks by experts. S. Murali, scientist, ICAR-CIFT, Kochi, delivered a lecture on energy-smart fish process engineering; Subha M. Roy, of Smart Aquaculture Research Center, Chonnam National University, Republic of Korea, spoke on application of artificial intelligence in aquaculture and Karthick Rajendran, associate professor, SRM University-Andhra Pradesh, focused on environmental impact of aquaculture.

Grant for rural project

P. Prakash, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology and Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) Coordinator of Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College, has received a grant of Rs.1 lakh under the UBA–Social Entrepreneurship and Grassroots Innovation Scheme for a project titled “Entrepreneurship development of the rural community through household waste to health and wealth – An innovative approach of microgreen cultivation.” Implemented in Esanakorai village in Tiruchi district, the project was aimed at converting household organic waste into nutrient-rich substrates for cultivating microgreens. The Union the Ministry of Education had featured the project as a Success Story in the UBA Newsletter in July.

Orientation programme

Over 300 students of Arasu College of Arts and Science for Women, Manmangalam, Karur gained exposure to professional courses such as Chartered Accountancy, Cost and Management Accountancy, and Company Secretaryship at an orientation programme conducted jointly by the Departments of Commerce, Computer Applications, Professional Accounting and Business Administration recently. Guest speakers Sakthi Vadivel, Geetha Mani and Santhamani addressed the gathering and shared insights on the professional courses, career prospects, examination strategies and essential skills.