Tetso College online Faculty Development Programme underway

Dimapur, July 13 (MExN): A five-day online Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on the topic ‘Rethinking critical theory and praxis in the humanities and social sciences’ organized by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Tetso College, got underway on July 13 with Prof Pardeshi Lal, Vice-Chancellor, Nagaland University, as the special guest during the inaugural session.


According to a press release from the organizer, the first day witnessed a total of 187 participants, 115 participants from across the country and 72 from Nagaland. The inaugural programme was chaired by Anjan K Behera, Assistant Dean, Tetso College.  In his welcome speech, Dr PS Lorin, Principal, Tetso College mentioned the significance of the FDP and its aims and appreciated all for participating in the programme in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 


In his inaugural address, Prof Pardeshi Lal stressed on the importance of Critical Theory as it influences the different components of the society. In trying to understand the subject further, he explained the growth of critical theory over time and mentioned that the original intellectual and political inspiration for critical theory was Marxism. In a nutshell, he observed that critical theory was characterized by the attempt to extend the notion of critique to all social practices by linking substantive social research to philosophy which has brought about important political and social insights through the cross-fertilization of academic disciplines. 


According to him, it also provided a continuingly fertile and imaginative perspective from which problems and contradictions of existing society can be explored. In his concluding remarks, he motivated everyone to actively engage in all the sessions and wished for the success of the FDP and its sessions.


While introducing the resource speakers, Dr S Elika Assumi, Dean and FDP Coordinator, Tetso College, maintained that the goal of the programme is to be at par with standards and guidelines of the university governing authorities at the same time ensuring the quality of collaboration and imparting knowledge.


Later, the first session was held with Dr Walunir Tzudir, Associate Professor at Amity Institute of English Studies and Research, Amity University speaking on the topic ‘incredulity towards knowledge in contemporary studies’ while the second session saw Dr Samata Biswas, from the Sanskrit College and University, Kolkata, speak on ‘Feminisms’ before concluding for the day.


The other resource persons are Dr Parthasarathi Muthukkaruppan, from the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, Dr M Shafeeq Karinkurayil, from Manipal Centre for Humanities, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka, Dr Chandan Kumar Panda, from Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, Dr M Dickens Leonard, from University of Hyderabad, Dr Achuth A, from St Joseph University, Nagaland, Dr Vipin K Kadavath, from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Dr Basil Darlong Diengdoh, from Dibrugarh University, and Dr Shreesha Udupa, from Nalanda University, Rajgir.