Lucknow: The University of Lucknow, in collaboration with SWAYAM@Lkouniv and the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), New Delhi, inaugurated a five-day Online Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on “Empowering Higher Education Institutions in Technology-enabled and Blended Learning” on October 29, 2025. The programme will run till November 3, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM daily.
The FDP aims to enhance the digital competencies of educators and strengthen institutional capacities for technology-integrated teaching and learning.
The inaugural session commenced with Opening Remarks by Dr. Kiran Lata Dangwal, SWAYAM Coordinator, University of Lucknow. Dr. Dangwal underscored the rising importance of technology-enabled education in ensuring accessibility, inclusivity, and active learner engagement. She noted that digital tools and blended pedagogical approaches have become indispensable to improving the quality of higher education in India.
Dr. Bhavana Mishra, Registrar, University of Lucknow, delivered the Welcome Address, warmly greeting dignitaries and participants. She highlighted the programme’s alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which envisions technology as a transformative force in higher education. Dr. Mishra expressed gratitude to COL-CEMCA for its partnership and ongoing commitment to academic innovation.
The Presidential Address was delivered by Prof. Manuka Khanna, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, University of Lucknow. Prof. Khanna emphasized the university’s continuous efforts towards digital empowerment and pedagogical innovation. She remarked that technology should be used meaningfully to humanize education, enhance student engagement, and bridge the digital divide. She lauded the initiative as an excellent platform for educators to “learn, unlearn, and relearn” in tune with evolving global education trends.
In his Special Address, Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA, New Delhi, discussed the dynamic landscape of higher education in the digital age. He shared valuable insights on adopting blended learning models and urged educators to make use of Open Educational Resources (OERs) and digital platforms to build flexible, inclusive learning ecosystems.
The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Aflaq Ahmad Shah from COL-CEMCA, who expressed appreciation to the University of Lucknow for its collaboration and thanked all speakers and participants for their active engagement.
Following the inauguration, participants took part in a group activity on “Salient Features of NEP 2020”, facilitated by the COL-CEMCA team. The interactive session encouraged educators to reflect on the policy’s vision for learner-centric, technology-integrated education.
Over the next five days, the FDP will explore key aspects of blended learning, instructional design, digital evaluation, and sustainable technology integration in higher education.
The event marks another significant milestone in the University of Lucknow’s ongoing efforts to foster innovation, capacity building, and academic excellence through collaboration and digital transformation.
