JAMMU, APRIL 06: Government College for Women (GCW) Parade Ground on Monday inaugurated a two-day Faculty Orientation Workshop focused on strengthening Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Design Your Degree (DYD) pedagogy.
The workshop aims to equip faculty members with innovative, student-centric teaching approaches that encourage interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking and experiential engagement in higher education. Approximately 100 faculties from Degree Colleges of the Jammu Division are attending the programme.
Principal Dr. Ravender K. Tickoo formally welcomed the dignitaries and participants. In his address, the Principal highlighted the successful implementation of the DYD programme at GCW Parade Ground and its transformative impact on students. He noted that the initiative has significantly enhanced creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills among learners, while fostering greater ownership of their academic journey. He emphasized that such initiatives are aligned with the broader vision of reforming higher education through innovation and flexibility.
Dean, DYD Programme Dr. Alpana Vohra introduced the workshop schedule and provided an overview of its objectives and structure. Initiating her address with a reflective question on the student-centric nature of higher education, she elaborated on the philosophy of the DYD framework, which enables students to design their own academic pathways based on their interests and aspirations. She underscored the role of the programme in promoting holistic development through the integration of disciplinary knowledge with real-world applications and skill-based learning.
The workshop commenced with an interactive introductory session, during which participants shared their expectations. This segment fostered an open and collaborative environment, encouraging dialogue and exchange of ideas among faculty from diverse disciplines.
The academic sessions were conducted by distinguished resource persons from the Cluster Innovation Centre, University of Delhi, including Dr. Geetanjali Kala (Associate Professor, Media and Communication Studies), Dr. Asani Bhaduri (Assistant Professor, Molecular Biology) and Dr. Mohd Saleem Mir (Assistant Professor, Heritage Tourism).
Dr. Mohammad Saleem Mir delivered a detailed session on the concept and implementation of the DYD framework, discussing its flexible curriculum, interdisciplinary approach and emphasis on learner autonomy. He also shared practical strategies for integrating the model into existing academic systems and highlighted the importance of mentorship and continuous assessment.
Dr. Asani Bhaduri conducted a comprehensive session on Project-Based Learning as a key pedagogical approach within the DYD framework. He emphasized its role in bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world applications and illustrated how PBL fosters collaboration, analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. He also discussed effective project design, assessment methods and inclusive learning practices.
The sessions witnessed active participation, insightful discussions and meaningful exchange of ideas among attendees, reflecting a strong commitment to pedagogical innovation.
The first day concluded on a productive note, providing participants with valuable insights into contemporary teaching-learning methodologies. The deliberations laid a strong foundation for the upcoming sessions, which will focus on hands-on experience in designing and implementing interdisciplinary and project-based learning frameworks.
The workshop is being coordinated by Dr. Gurpreet Kour, Coordinator, DYD, GCW Parade Ground and Dr. Randheer Kour, Assistant Professor, Punjabi. Proceedings of the session were conducted by Dr. Sukriti Sharma, Assistant Professor Department of English.
