Pune, 22 December 2025

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), COL’s regional centre, in collaboration with Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune (Deemed to be University) and its Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), successfully organised a five-day online Faculty Development Programme (FDP) from 16–20 December 2025 on “Empowering Higher Education Institutions in Technology-enabled and Blended Learning.” The programme witnessed the participation of over 100 faculty members from higher education institutions across India.

The FDP opened with opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Safia Farooqui, Director,
Centre for Online Learning, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, followed by the welcome address delivered by Dr. A. N. Suryakar, Director (Administration), Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune. He highlighted that in the rapidly evolving educational landscape, technology is no longer a choice but a catalyst for transformation. He noted that the FDP aimed to equip educators with the necessary knowledge, tools, and pedagogical strategies to seamlessly integrate digital resources, foster collaborative learning environments, and enhance student engagement through blended learning approaches. He also emphasised innovative curriculum design, effective use of learning management systems, immersive technologies, and aligned assessment practices, while acknowledging the efforts of the organising committee and institutional leadership.

Delivering the presidential address, Dr. J. S. Bhawalkar, Registrar, Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, described the current phase as a crucial juncture for New India, where blended education extends beyond the mere combination of offline and online teaching. He underlined the importance of enabling faculty to understand and leverage technology-driven digital platforms and their expanding role in the Indian education system. Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he described it as a blueprint for the future that mandates a fundamental shift towards blended learning to help India realise its vision of becoming a global knowledge leader.

In his special address, Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA, stressed that blended learning becomes meaningful only when courses and programmes are intentionally designed to provide rich learning experiences for students. He observed that higher education institutions today are shaping life experiences rather than merely imparting education. He also called for rethinking the role of teachers as facilitators who actively engage learners and for redesigning institutions to meet the needs of 21st-century learners through effective blended learning models.

The academic sessions began with a comprehensive overview of the salient features of NEP 2020, setting the context for educational transformation. Professor Nilesh Modi led a session on technology-enabled learning and its scope in blended learning, introducing participants to various educational technology tools. Dr. V. V. Subrahmanyam conducted an engaging, hands-on session on AI in teaching and learning, demonstrating tools such as ChatGPT, NotebookLM, Edcafe, and prompt-generation techniques. Dr. Papiya Upadhyay focused on Open Educational Resources (OERs), MOOCs, and LMS features, including hands-on activities on OER discovery, licensing, and submissions. Dr. Ashish Awhadiya addressed employability skills, policy frameworks, and opportunities available through SWAYAM and SWAYAM Plus for industry-relevant and credit-based learning.

Participant feedback at the conclusion of the FDP reflected strong appreciation for the programme. One participant noted that the FDP enhanced understanding of technology-enabled learning and innovative teaching practices, highlighting the interactive nature of the sessions, expert guidance, and opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The week-long, 15-hour FDP reflected the shared vision of COL-CEMCA and Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth in preparing future-ready teachers and classrooms. By empowering faculty with digital tools and contemporary pedagogical strategies, the programme marked a significant shift from traditional teaching methods towards more interactive, student-centred learning environments.