 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 20: The Central University of Jammu under the leadership of Prof Ashok Aima, Honourable Vice Chancellor, collaborating with Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana USA in an International Project on Leadership through Sports Program for Jammu and Kashmir under U.S. Mission India Public Diplomacy Grants Program.
Central University of Jammu has organised series of National and International level events in past three years to energise academic rigor and scholarship among the young faculty and students besides conducting outreach activities for the larger benefit of the society. In line with the vision of the University to create a prosperous, vibrant society the present initiative was taken. The project is a two-phased program with the goals to strengthen people to people ties between the U.S. and India through a collaborative exchange of information, experiences, and expertise; and strengthen the leadership and administrative capacity of administrators and coaches, so they are inspired, empowered, and equipped to more fully support underserved youth, particularly females and youth from rural areas, to integrate in society through leadership based sports programming.
Under the Phase-I of the project an International Collaborative Workshop is being organized for 20 Jammu and Kashmir male and female grassroots sports administrators and coaches from 22nd -26th October 2018 at N.M.A.K.P. Sports Complex, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. During this workshop, the U.S. coaches will employ innovative active learning techniques such as role-playing, group discussions, case studies, team building activities, and field-based sessions as a way to fully engage the participants from Jammu and Kashmir in training related to the program goals. More specifically, the administrators and coaches will engage in workshop topics related to soccer, basketball and track and field skills, positive coaching behaviors, strategies for engaging girls and women, and sports administrative practices countering violent extremism, conflict prevention and resolution, building positive relationships with youth, and fostering civic engagement, teamwork, educational and vocational planning, and critical thinking.
The workshop will conclude with participants developing and sharing a community action plan with detailed objectives, goals, and tasks needed to implement effective leadership and coaching education through sport programming in their communities. Prof. Ashok Aima, Vice Chancellor, CUJ, Dr. S. Singh Jamwal, Sh. Ranjeet Kalra interacted with participants of Jammu region at Amar Singh Club and flagged-off participants for Delhi for Phase-I of the project.
In 2nd Phase professional American sports mentors/coaches from Ball State University will oversee a six-month online virtual mentoring program, where participants will be matched in small groups with at least 2 U.S. coaches and 3 other India participants. Small groups will connect through Facebook, email, and Skype sessions after the completion of the workshop. Central University of Jammu shall be the first University in Northern India to conduct such a Project for the benefit of Sports Administrators/Coaches etc. The aforesaid project shall be undertaken by Project Coordinators Dr. Jaya Bhasin and Dr. Shahid Mushtaq from Central University of Jammu and Dr. Lindsey Blom, Dr. Lawrence Gerstein, Dr. Lawrence Judge, and Prof. Sushil Sharma from Ball State University. In the present Project J&K State Sports Council, Department of Tribal Affairs and Department of Youth Services and Sports, J&K Govt are actively involved for selection of 20 local youth coaches, sport teachers, and sport administrators from across the state. The participants of the program represent all the three regions viz. Ladakh, Kashmir valley and Jammu and due representation is given to every gender. Two interpreters and one Project Assistant have been involved for smooth conduct of program.
In this program trainers from USA will share best practices on how to build sports and leadership programs in underserved communities. |
