 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 15: A two-day seminar on "Emerging Fields in Education Research: Shaping Future Directions with NEP 2020" was organised by MIER College of Education (Autonomous). Prof. Santosh Panda, Former Chairperson of NCTE, New Delhi, served as the Chief Guest, while Dr Renu Gupta, Chairperson of the MIER group, was the Guest of Honour. The seminar was also attended by Mrs Rupa Gupta, Joint Director of MIER; Prof. Mool Raj, Controller of Examination; Dr Monika Bakaj, Head of SSSH; along with eminent educationists, officials, scholars, faculty members, and students from Jammu and Kashmir and across the country. Its purpose was to bring together educators, administrators, and researchers on a common platform to discuss innovations, trends, and challenges in emerging fields of education research.
Prof. Adit Gupta welcomed all dignitaries, speakers, and participants attending the seminar. He emphasised that the theme reflects India's ongoing educational transformation aligned with NEP 2020. He stressed the importance of innovation, interdisciplinarity, and inclusivity in educational research. Prof. Gupta urged rethinking pedagogy, assessment, teacher education, and technology integration to develop a holistic and learner-centred education system.
Prof. Nishta Rana, Head of the School of Education, RDC, and Seminar Convener, mentioned that the seminar aimed to bring together scholars, policymakers, and educators to discuss emerging areas in educational research. She outlined the key themes, including digital education, social-emotional learning, cyber safety, skill-based and experiential learning, global citizenship, ethics, and responsible technology use.
Prof. Santosh Panda's keynote addressed the transformative impact of NEP 2020 on higher education, highlighting reforms such as multidisciplinary learning, academic mobility, and outcome-based education. He emphasised pedagogic innovation, SoTL, and the value of open educational practices. He also discussed digital transformation through AI, blended learning, and bridging the digital divide. The keynote concluded with insights on EdTech advancements, Indian Knowledge Systems, and the need for future-ready skills.
The seminar featured several keynote sessions, including the opening keynote addresses and paper presentations. Three keynote talks were delivered: Prof. Niradhar Dey (IGNOU, New Delhi) spoke on "NEP 2020 and Bridging the Digital Divide"; Prof. Kaushal Kishore (Head, Department of Educational Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi) presented on "Holistic Development of Learners: Vision of NEP 2020"; and Prof. J. N. Baliya (Central University of Jammu) addressed "Heartware Before Hardware: The Role of SEL in Balancing Technology and Humanity." Additionally, Prof. Santosh Panda led an interactive session on "Considerations Towards Publishing in High-Impact Journals." |
