Action Research Workshop

A four day workshop on ‘Action Research – Methodology, Strategies and Supervision’ was organized by the Research wing of MIER College of Education to sharpen the research skills of its faculty members. Eminent educationist Dr. Lokesh Kaul, Prof. Emeritus and Former Dean Faculty of Education, H.P. University was the Chief Resource Person for the workshop. Chairman MIER, Dr. Arun Gupta was the Guest of Honour. Dr. Renu Gupta Director MIER formally welcomed the honoured resource person and the participants on this occassion.

Dr. Arun K. Gupta in his inaugural address stressed the need of Action Research for teachers and administrators for the improvement of their educational practices and said that MIER has emerged as one of the leading institutions where innovations in Education, Research, Training and New Technologies are initiated and experimented. He expressed that such workshops would help the faculty members to hone their action research skills and become better researchers. He exhorted the faculty members to extract, imbibe and assimilate the nuances of conducting research and embarking on the extremely challenging but rewarding journey of research.

In the workshop Dr. Lokesh Koul threw light on the nature of Educational research and briefed the participants about the concept, process and steps in conducting action research. He also explained the difference between action research and formal research and he emphasized that research needs cooperation, involvement, logistic support, courage and should have local and specific applicability. He suggested that the topics of action research should be related to the grass root problems and also stressed that competence should be developed in creating good questionnaires, conducting case studies and developing specific tools of measurement. He also disseminated information on the concept of Sampling to the participants.

In a separate session, Prof. Koul invited all the participants, to present their research topic prepared for conducting action research. The participants announced their topics one by one which were further modified and improved by the resource person. Finally the process of preparing the research proposal was discussed and thoroughly explained by him.

Dr Adit Gupta, Joint Director MIER expressed gratitude to the learned speaker for conducting a high quality workshop for the benefit of the faculty members thereby motivating them to become effective researchers. The Workshop concluded by distribution of certificates to the participants.

Action Research Workshop in Progress

Participants receiving certificates

RCI Sponsored Workshop on summit of minds on UNCRPD

A Two Day Workshop on Summit of Minds on UN Conventions for Rights of Persons with Disabilities sponsored by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) through its Zonal Coordination Committee (North Zone) was inaugurated at the MIER College of Education by Madam Usha Vohra, the First Lady of the State on 27th March, 2009. Mrs. Sara Johnson, Chairperson, Zonal Coordination Committee, was the Guest of Honour.

Dr. Arun K.Gupta, Dr. Renu Gupta, Prof. Abdul Aziz, Dr. Adit Gupta, Dr. Rajni Dhingra, Prof. & Head, Department of Home Science, Dr. S. Sapru, Registrar MIER, Dr. D.R. Kapoor, Dr. Sunita Zalpuri, Associate Professor, IMPA, Mrs. Santosh Magotra, noted social activist, Mr. Ashwini Jojra, President Sahyog and more than eighty leading personalities from different walks of life attended the workshop. The aim of the Workshop is to enable the participants for a free flow of ideas and brain storm so as to ascertain how Conventions of the UN regarding rights of the individuals with disabilities are applied in the society. The Workshop aims at evolving guidelines and practical measures for assuring a better quality of life and dignity for the persons with disabilities.

The Chief Guest inaugurated the Workshop by lighting the lamp of learning. Dr. Arun K.Gupta, Chairman , MIER in his welcome address described Madam Vohra as a highly intellectual, competent and experienced lady with vast regional, national and international exposure. Dr. Gupta enlightened the audience that MIER has emerged as a leading institution for training specialists for handling persons suffering from disabilities and is making genuine efforts to promote, protect and encourage differently abled individuals. He hoped that the Workshop would lead to the constructive sharing of ideas to overcome barriers and frustrations of the disabled so as to reach the Summit together.

Dr. Renu Gupta, Director MIER emphasized the need to mainstream the disability issue to ensure sustainable development and highlighted the Pre-amble of the UN Convention and threw light on the scenario of the disability in the perspective of violence, injury, neglect or negligent treatment, ignorance and exploitation. Mrs. Sara Johnson highlighted the activities and contributions of the RCI in championing the cause of the disabled in India. She apprised the audience about the multi-pronged and integrated efforts made by the RCI through its different schemes. She complimented the MIER for taking initiatives in this direction assuring of assistance to the institute to further its efforts for the empowerment of the disabled.

In her keynote address, Mrs. Usha Vohra dwelt at length on the causes, types and manifestations of disability. She enlightened the audience with the provisions of the Acts under the Indian Constitution and gave a clarion call to do away with prejudices, biases and discriminative practices so that the society can support, encourage and treat the disabled people with dignity and lauded the efforts of MIER in this direction.

A beautiful group song was also presented on the occasion depicting the aspirations, hopes and the potentialities of the disabled.

National Conference on Improving the Quality of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Issues, Practices and Assessment

A two day National Conference on “Improving the Quality of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Issues, Practices and Assessment” was organized by the MIER College of Education in collaboration with National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore. The Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education, J&K State, Jenab Abdul Gani Malik inaugurated the Conference. Seventy delegates from Jammu and Kashmir and Northern States participated in the Conference. The conference were spread over nine technical sessions in which more than thirty educationists and researchers presented their papers on diverse themes related to the topic.

Dr. Shyamsundar, Dy. Advisor and Regional Coordinator, NAAC, Bangalore, Dr. Lokesh Koul, Prof. Emeritus & Former Dean, Faculty of Education, HP University, Dr. Lokesh Verma, Prof. & Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Jammu and Dr. Amit Kauts, Dean, Faculty of Education, GNDU, Amritsar, Dr. Sunil Thaman, Registered QMS Lead Auditor, RABQSA, USA, were the Key resource persons of the Conference. Dr. Rajive Gupta, Director Colleges Development, University of Jammu, Prof. N.D. Wani, Director Colleges, Govt. of J&K and Dr. Meenakshi Kilam, Director Distance Education, University of Jammu graced the inaugural session.

Dr. M.S. Shyamasundar, Deputy Adviser, NAAC deliberated on the Role of NAAC in Improving the Quality of Teaching and Learning. He explained in detail the criteria employed by the NAAC for assessing and grading of colleges and universities to ensure the requisite standards in teaching and learning. He further highlighted that the need of the hour is to make higher education accessible, affordable and qualitative.

Dr. Lokesh Verma, Prof. and Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Jammu presented his views on Academic Initiatives with regard to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Dr. Verma, in his address, highlighted the role of Academic Staff Colleges (ASC), Centres of Excellence in different subject specialties, Curriculum Development Centres and countrywide Classroom for enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in higher education.

Thoughts on the Improvement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education through International Standard ISO 9001:2000 were put forth by Dr. Sunil Thaman, QMS and EMS, Registered Lead Auditor, RABQSA, USA.

Dr. Amit Kauts, Dean, Faculty of Education, GNDU highlighted on Best Practices with regard to the Improvement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education He was of the opinion that mindset of the teachers and taught need to be changed. He added that quality parameters need to be redefined and attitudes should also be imparted to the students along with knowledge and skills.

Dr. Arun K. Gupta in his valedictory address presented his views on the barriers in the attainment of quality of teaching and learning and best practices with regard to the improvement of teaching and learning in higher education. Dr. Gupta also suggested that by implementing best practices like the use of ICT, professional development of teachers, conducting research/extension activities, the quality of teaching and learning can be improved.

The participants appreciated the efforts made by the college for organizing such a conference and thanked the experts and keynote speakers for providing wonderful experiences during the conference. The session ended with the vote of thanks by the conference convener Dr. D.R. Kapoor.