Need For Faculty Development Initiative (FDI) - Higher Technical Education

With the policy of liberalization in the field of higherproblemso Developing sense of belongingness for the
technical education all over the world in general and inorganization
India in particular there has been mushroom growth ofScope of FDI
private technical institutions which has been widelyFDI focus is on development of faculty for achieving
welcomed. The ever rising demand of technicalexcellence in teaching learning process. It is proposed
manpower has adequately been met by theseas a short term skill up-gradation programs for those
institutions. But the scenario does not look all that bright.who have made a choice of teaching as a career at
Shortage of competent teaching staff, both in terms ofInstitutes imparting Higher Technical Education. The
quality and quantity, has begun to cast its shadow oninstitutes should form a core team of the competent
the quality of instructions imparted at these institutions.teachers, which can be supplemented with persons of
This problem looks grimmer especially with the intakeimminence from industry, to carryout these courses fro
of engineering students posed to grow threefold in fivethe newly recruited faculty.
years. By 2012, annual engineering intake is projectedFocus Areas of FTP
to grow 300% with corresponding increase inFTP is recommended to concentrate on following
requirement of competent faculty. As a result of hugeaspects of teaching learning process.
spurt in demand of faculty engineering colleges all over1. Effective use of training aids
world are projected to face acute shortage of quality2. Motivating Students
faculty.3. Innovations in technical teaching
The main reasons as to why engineering education4. How to conduct lab sessions
world over has not been able to attract quality5. How to conduct tutorials
manpower can be summarized as follows:-o The6. Preparing lecture notes
Technical education globally is experiencing an7. Tackling mischievous students
unprecedented demand outstripping the supply of good8. Preparing web Notes
faculty members.o The quality institutes offering9. Imposing and maintaining discipline in class
masters and doctoral programs are limited and10. Need for going beyond curriculum
produce only a fraction of what this sector requires.o11. Tackling gaps in syllabus
There is a huge demand for the industry for well12. Communication skills
qualified engineers, which is considered better option by13. How to write in examinations
students passing out from these institutions.o Teaching14. Improving concentration
as career is considered a last option since it is not as15. Time management
rewarding financially as industry.o Teaching is16. Body language
considered less challenging than professional career.o17. Need for documentation
Teaching also associate with lower social status.18. Procrastination
In the teaching-learning process three aspects are19. Proactive approach
very important. These are:20. ISO certification
1. Assimilation of Knowledge by faculty (Depth of21. Student's assessment
knowledge)22. Conducting seminar and presentations
2. Transmission of Knowledge to next generation23. How to take timely and effective Feedback
(Teaching)24. Industrial visits
3. Ascertaining learning by students.25. Summer training
The huge paucity of quality manpower in academics is26. Paradigm shift from teaching to learning
resulting in recruitment of recently passed out27. Value added classes
engineering students without any prior experience as28. Designing Tutorial sheets
faculty members. More often than not these colleges29. What we can do for assisting in final placement
put fresh graduates straightway on the job of30. Personality development
teaching. They have little or no experience in handling31. Mentoring
the teaching process nor college have enough number32. Role of Project guides
of senior teachers to guide them resulting into the poor33. Inculcating self discipline
quality of teaching.34. Standard procedures followed in the Institute and
The author, having rich in experience of working in adocumentation
distinguished institution for over a decade, has35. Code of conduct for teachers
visualized this growing problem and have come with36. Institute vision, mission, objectives, rules and policies
an innovative solution to develop a Faculty Training37. Motivating of acquiring Higher education
Initiative designed to groom the newly recruited faculty,38. Leading from front
utilizing its rich human resource of senior faculty which39. Lab development
consists of professors from the top Institutions like IITs40. Goal fixation for the semester
and NITs, Scientists from research institutions andConduct
laboratories and professionals from industry. The mainThe training should preferably be conducted after the
objectives of using such resources are to developvacation period in summer and during winter vacation.
new ideas and make innovations in teaching-learningSenior faculty from each department of the rank of
process. The expertise of the Sr. professors andAssociate Professor and above can be assigned one
ex-corporate professionals can be clubbed totwo topic each for preparation 15 days prior to
transform the learning process from knowing ofcommencement of training. The detailed time table can
subject to understanding the subject. The Institute willbe prepared by the institute FDI coordinator in
conduct biannual 15 days programs for newly recruitedconsultation with the Principal and HODs. The
faculty keeping following objective in mind.proposed standing draft time table is as per appendix
Objectives'A' attached.
Development of following skills in newly recruitedAs a token of appreciation of the hard work done by
faculty:o Teaching learning methodologyo Teachingthe Faculty conducting training and in order to motivate
content developmento Development of requisitethem further, each faculty member conducting classes
Communication skillso Development of effective andcan be given some rewards which can be cash
progressive teaching plano Effective timeincentive, certificates of achievement or may be in the
managemento Leadership and motivation to excel inform of books worth certain amount decided by the
teachingo Application of knowledge to real lifeinstitution.