Faculty Development Programme on “Transforming Higher Education: Institutional Autonomy and NEP 2020 Implementation”

The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) organized a Five-Day Hybrid Mode Faculty Development Programme on “Transforming Higher Education: Institutional Autonomy and NEP 2020 Implementation” from 10th to 15th May 2025. The inaugural session on 10th May 2025 began with the Presidential Address by Janab M. Nazar Mohamed Sahib and was chaired by Dr. T. Afsar Basha, Principal, Islamiah College (Autonomous), Vaniyambadi, who highlighted the pivotal role of autonomy in fostering innovation, accountability, and academic excellence. He emphasized how NEP 2020 empowers institutions to become dynamic, multidisciplinary centers of holistic learning. The first session, led by Dr. S. Mohamed Haneef, IQAC & NIRF Coordinator, Sadakathullah Appa College (Autonomous), Tirunelveli, focused on Curriculum Reforms and Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and its impact on employability and flexible, student-centered learning. The second session by Dr. Mohamed Imran Predhanekar, Islamiah College (Autonomous), Vaniyambadi, explored AI and Machine Learning in Enhancing Research Productivity, emphasizing the role of AI tools in literature review, report refinement, and data analysis for project-based learning. On the third day, Dr. J. Balavijayalakshmi, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women (Autonomous), Coimbatore, delivered a session on Learner-Centric Education in the NEP Era, discussing the paradigm shift from pedagogy to heutagogy and the importance of self-determined learning. The fourth day featured Dr. N. Sujatha and Mrs. Jayanthi Sivagami from Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women (Autonomous), Chennai, who elaborated on Quality Assurance, Accreditation, and Benchmarking Autonomy with NEP 2020, emphasizing graded autonomy, transparency, and continuous quality enhancement. The final session, conducted by Dr. S. N. Suresh, Vice Principal & Director - IQAC, Rathinam College of Arts and Science (Autonomous), Coimbatore, addressed Technology Integration and Digital Pedagogy, focusing on digital tools, LMS, e-resources, and AI-based educational analytics. The programme witnessed the participation of 358 faculty members who gained valuable insights into policy implementation, pedagogy, and quality enhancement. The FDP concluded successfully, empowering educators to innovate, collaborate, and inspire excellence in higher education.