St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a one-week self-paced online Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on Institutional Values and Best Practices as a part of the Ignatian year celebration to mark the 500th anniversary of Ignatius’ cannonball moment from June 20 - 27, 2022. The inaugural speech on Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm was delivered by Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SXUK.

A total of 28 faculty members attended the FDP. In each session, video lectures and study materials were shared with the participants. They also visited the St. Xavier’s College (SXC), Raghabpur Campus as a case study of this FDP. Rev. Fr. Johnson Padiyara, Superior and Vice Principal of SXC, Raghabpur campus delivered a lecture on ‘Jesuit Higher Education in the Raghabpur Campus’.

Dr. Sadhana Karali, Headmistress of St. Paul’s High School, Raghabpur shared the history of Raghabpur and their working experiences. Amrito Rong, a senior teacher of the school talked on ‘Jesuit Education-A tool for personal and social transformation in Raghabpur Mission’ and ‘The History of Jesuit presence in Raghabpur’ respectively.

The post lunch session was taken by Ms. Cheryl Francis, Director of Social Work and NSS, St. Xavier’s College. She discussed about the creation of Self-Help Groups (SHG) in the presence of women from the villages she worked with.

On the concluding day, 28 certificates were handed over to the participants and 6 certificates were given to the organising team members.

- Ms. Krishna Roy