Project-Based Learning in Focus: Regional Symposium Ends on a High Note
Hyderabad, December 23, 2024: The three-day Regional Research Symposium on Project-Based Learning(RRSPBL) began at Anurag University, Venkatapur in the city on Saturday
The symposium was organized by the Anurag Center for Educational Innovations (ACEI), in collaboration with the Aalborg Centre for Problem-Based Learning in Engineering Science and Sustainability, Denmark under the auspices of UNESCO and IUCEE – (Indo-Universal Collaboration for Engineering Collaboration)
As of now, India has 38 PBL-trained practitioners/faculty who have undergone a six-month program to qualify as RRSPBL Certified Faculty. A special ceremony was organized before the formal closing of the symposium and the 38 trained faculty and PBL practitioners were awarded their degrees.
Delivering valedictory remarks, Anurag Palla, Associate Vice President of Strategy at Anurag University said the symposium was a convergence of minds passionate about innovative pedagogy, collaborative learning and the transformative power of education.
At Anurag we believe that PBL represents a paradigm shift from conventional teaching methods, Anurag said
Speaking further he added that PBL empowers students to learn by doing, fosters critical thinking and bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world applications. Through the symposium, I think, we have gained invaluable insights into how PBL can be integrated into our curriculum to nurture tomorrow’s innovators, problem solvers and leaders.
Anurag University is always committed to being a hub for innovations, collaborative learning and global partnerships.
Speaking on the occasion the man behind the movement in India Dr Gopala Krishna Joshi, Founding Vice Chancellor of MIT Vishwaprayag University, Solapur said ‘Our mission is to build it as a massive movement, a movement of Project Based Learners and practitioners. Currently, we have 38 trained faculty. And we want to build a community of PBL-trained faculty. We need to increase their number. He urged all the colleges and faculty to join hands for a transformational change in Indian education.
The conventional methodology of teaching in Higher Education is dying. Project Based Learning (PBL) is the future of higher education pedagogy, he added
Under this program five universities in India such as Anurag University, KLE Technological University, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bennett University and Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education have adopted PBL. Anurag University is the only University from Telangana and one of the five universities in India to have 8 certified faculty in PBL, he added.
Dr. Xiangyun Du, Director of the Department of Sustainability and Planning, at Aalborg University, Denmark emphasized the need for educating engineers and scientists on this pedagogy. This opens a new page in the landscape of Engineering education in India.
Dr V. Vijay Kumar, Dean School of Engineering at Anurag University said the University has practiced PBL even when it was not fully autonomous. We are always at the forefront of embracing any disruptive teaching methodologies in the interest of the student community.
In her closing report Dr P. Saritha, Co-Convenor of RRSPBL said the theme of the symposium was “PBL for Interdisciplinary learning”. It has 152 registered participants from 21 institutions from fsix states such as Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The delegates deliberated on six tracts, and 35 papers were presented by 120 authors. The symposium had 5 keynote addresses, four-panel discussions, and four workshops.
Dr Raghu Indrakanti, Co-convenor & Technical Committee Chair of RRSPBL in his vote of thanks highlighted the efforts put in and mammoth tasks handled in making the symposium a meaningful one.
Ms. Neelima, CEO; Dr. Arachana Mantri, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vishnu Murthy, Dean CSE of Anurag University were among the 200 guests who graced the closing ceremony