Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ Launches Calendar of ATAL online FDP 2021-22 and 15 ATAL FDP begins
New Delhi: Emphasizing on implementation of new Education Policy across the country, the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), on Monday, inaugurated ‘Calendar 2021-22 for AICTE Training and Learning (ATAL) Academy faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) in the presence of the Chief Guest Hon’ble Education Minister, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
“I felt overwhelmed& pleasantly surprisedto learn that in previous year 2020-21, efforts of our ATAL Academy was endorsed by World Book of Record, London, wherein 948 online FDPs were conducted in online mode. Despite the raging pandemic&prolonged lockdown situation, the officials of ATAL academy & experts have turned that challenge in a golden opportunity wherein one lakh participants had been benefitted including faculty members, CBSE and other academic teachers, business persons, research scholars and also post graduate students. I appreciate & admire the courageousness and conviction of leaders of AICTE and officials of ATAL Academy for having found a way to continue the educational activities when there was complete disruption of offline education in India and topping it up with achieving more than what they had aimed for. I’m quite hopeful that during this year the ATAL Academy shall break its previous record and once again emerge as a shining example & champion for free online education for lakhs of participants,” said, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
The FDP scheme is designed to enhance the teaching and other skills of the faculty, and to make them aware about modern teaching toolsand methodologies. It provides an opportunity to acquire knowledge about current technological developments in relevant fields. It will not only promote the professional practices relevant to technical education but will also motivate the faculty to achieve a competitive teaching and learning environment, thus channelizing development with respect to academic qualifications and personal matters” said, Prof Anil D Sahasrabuddhe, Chairman, AICTE. Highlighting the present state of COVID, he also mentioned that AICTE has also instituted efforts and extended help to its own employees to overcome the challenges without disrupting any activities. A mobile application was also launched which was developed and demonstrated by Dr Chandra Shekhar Buddha. This noble app may be used by educational institutions for heling their employees during COVID emergencies.
“As online teaching and learning has become a new normal because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ATAL Academy has set out to conduct FDPs in on-line mode in year 2021-22 as well. AICTE has planned over 1300 online FDPs on thrust and emerging areas that aims to train 2 lakhs participants. It’ll facilitate faculty members to attaininformation needed in twenty first Century,” said Prof M.P. Poonia, Vice Chairman, AICTE.
“Employability of engineers became a serious issue over time, as businesses finds that the scholars come back totally unprepared for his or her desires. AICTE has taken a noble initiative of bridging this gap by training faculty members that successively can guide students in new emerging areas as well as soft skills’, said, Prof Rajive Kumar, Member Secretary, AICTE.
Dr. Ravindra Kumar Soni, Director, ATAL Academies, shared that the Faculty Development Programmes under the ATAL academy is conducted for five days in a week. He highlighted that these FDPs have been conducted by senior & eminent experts. “We were delighted to get support from resource persons not only from India but also from Industry and from academicians from foreign country as well. I would like to place my sincere thanks & gratitude to them for helping AICTE in this noble initiative” said Dr Soni.
Shri Rakesh Ranjan IAS, Additional Secretary (Ministry of Education),Dr. Shyam Sundar Pattnaik, Director, NITTTRChandigarh, Bhupendra Kainthola, Director, Film & Television Institute of India, Pune, Prof. Roopkishore Shastri, Vice Chancellor Gurukul Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar along with other officials of AICTE were also present on the occasion.