St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a Faculty Development Programme for its own faculty members on May 4, 2023. Prof. Jebamalai Vinanchiarachi, eminent academician and former Principal Advisor to Director General, UNIDO was the resource person. The theme was ‘Teaching Teachers: Styles and Professionalism’.

While inaugurating the programme, Rev. Father John Felix Raj, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said that it is the Xaverian practice to invite erudite personalities to share their valuable advice. “We all are teachers as well as leaners. Teaching and learning is a continuous process,” he added.

While addressing the young faculty members of SXUK, Prof. Vinanchiarachi said, “Our education makes students eligible to make entry to employment; but not for employment.” Focusing on present education scenario, he said that a good teacher is realised for the purpose of education.

Advising teachers to remain committed to their goals, the veteran academician said, “A teacher should be intellectually trained, morally upright, spiritually inspired and socially committed to lead the nation.”

To be successful as a teacher, he advised the faculty members to remain as “a learning teacher and not to act as a learned teacher.” He directed the faculty members to act as “a logical thinker, an aggressive achiever and a gentle helper” throughout and maintain right proportional balance in all three aspects. “Good sense of humour helps a teacher to come closer to students and assists in imparting better teaching-learning process,” he said.

He also guided the faculty members to remain active in research works and how to write quality research articles and publish the same in internationally acclaimed journals.

In his concluding words, Prof. Vinanchiarachi said, “Don’t teach students to read; make them think critically.” He further advised teachers to give real life examples while teaching to sharpen students’ analytical frame of mind.

The FDP was concluded with an interactive session. All faculty members of SXUK attended the programme and found it highly enriching. Dr. Tanushree Biswas, Assistant Director of IQAC, SXUK coordinated the programme.

Somak Sen