Annual General Meeting
15-17 November, 2014
Innovating in Higher Education
Embracing Autonomy, Technology & Industry Collaboration
Summary : Day 1
The 12th Annual General Meeting of the Don Bosco Higher Education, India (DBHEI) began on 15th November 2024 at Salesian College (Autonomous), Sonada. The event was organized in the Province of St. John Bosco, Kolkata, India as it marks its centenary year of establishment. The theme of the event of the three day meeting was Innovating in Higher Education: Embracing Autonomy, Technology and Industry collaboration. The total participants were 73 from the 11 Salesian Provinces of India.
The event opened with a Morning Prayer followed by the Holy Eucharist presided over by Bishop Stephen Lepcha of Darjeeling Diocese. At the inaugural function after the breakfast, Fr. Johny Nedungatt sdb, Rector of Salesian College Sonada welcomed the participants. Fr. Joseph Pauria sdb, Provincial of Kolkata, the host province and Fr. Jose Koyickal sdb, Provincial of Bangalore and President of DBHEI, addressed the gathering calling on the leaders on the sacred mission of educating the young. Fr. Babu Joseph sdb, Principal of Salesian College outlined the focus of the meeting in the line of the theme of the event.
Fr George Thadathil sdb, former principal of Salesian College and now the General Coordinator, IUS, Rome also addressed the participants and put forward the challenges and opportunities that await the Indian Salesian world in the field of education. The chief guest, Dr. Nupur Das, the Registrar of North Bengal University addressed the Salesian educators stressing on the importance of inclusive education.
In the first technical session that followed was conducted by the team from the United Board for Christian Higher Education in India. The focus of this session was on faculty training on leadership, fellowship, student exchange and service learning with community connects.
In the session following lunch, Fr. Sabu Thomas, of Sacred Heart College(Autonomous), Kochi took the participants through a hands-on session with AI based tools and applications useful for educators. The participants left for local site-seeing after the tea.
The first day of the meeting was concluded with the dinner followed by the night prayers and good-night talk by Fr Maria Antony sdb, Principal, Sacred Heart College (Autonomous), Tirupattur.
The executive members of DBHEI met together to plan the dynamics of the coming days.
Summary: Day 2
The second day of the AGM of DBHEI began with the Holy Eucharist presided over by Fr. Jose Koyickal sdb, President, DBHEI and Provincial of Bangalore. In his homily, Fr. Jose called on the Salesians to be Educators of values. The participants were taken for a tour of the campus of Sonada college after breakfast. The first session of the second day following the photo session was on Skill Education: Industry-Academia Interface by Mr. Anjo Joseph, from Assam Don Bosco University. The session focused on career options in global firms for students of our institutes. This session also had an open discussion on the theme presented.
The second technical session of the day that followed the tea break, was on International Exposure and Fund Raising, by Dr. George Kolath, Country Representative, Scottish Qualification Authority. Dr George presented avenues of global collaborations and resource tapping.
The session following the lunch was by Prof. Aloysius Edward J, Dean, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous) Bangalore. Prof. Aloysius called on all the NAAC accredited institutes to move towards autonomy at the earliest. The session also dealt and explained the parameters of NIRF (Nation Institutional Ranking Framework) grading.
The valedictory session then followed. Fr. P D Johny sdb, Vice President of DBHEI addressed the participants. He called on the Salesian Educators to remain focused on the pedagogy of Don Bosco and to ensure that our faculty know and live it. Fr. Biju Michael sdb, Regional Councillor, South Asia in his recorded message called on the participants to make their service of education inclusive ensuring a place for the needy and the abandoned.
As per the decision at SPCSA meeting of 2024 at Mumbai, a support staff, Mr. Robert Lepcha, of Salesian College Sonada, was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 10,000.00 and a certificate of recognition by DBHEI for his 30+ years of dedicated service.
As per the action plan of the year 2023, prizes were distributed to the winners of the National Level Entrepreneurship and Innovation competition. Following this, institutions that were accredited in the year past by NAAC, were awarded a certificate of appreciation. This was followed by the business session
Fr Jose Koyicksal sdb, President of DBHEI presided over the session with an invocation of prayer. Roll call of the Salesians present at the meeting was done by Mr. Valan Peter, Secretary to DBHEI. Minutes of the previous AGM-2023 and the Annual Report to SPCSA for 2023-24 were presented by Fr. Joby Joseph sdb, secretary and passed by the assembly. The financial report of the year 2023-24 was presented by Fr. K O Sebastian sdb, treasurer and was passed.
The following points of discussion came up in the meeting:
- It was felt that Non- Catholic faculty should not be encouraged for attending the AGM of the DBHEI, as there are many Catholic and faith related issues that are under discussion. The province delegate of higher education can ensure the same.
- It was felt that, as Policy makers of DBHEI institutes, we should enforce our Catholic identity in our institutions.
- Subscription to IUS global could be worked out with Fr. George Thadathil sdb, the General IUS coordinator now at Rome.
- Each institute was asked to identify and inform about an office staff to manage data entry to the DBHEI portal.
- A decision to build up an online course and assessment framework for our faculty who join our institutes, to complete an induction programme about our Salesian Pedagogy. Fr Maria Antony sdb and Fr Joby Joseph will work out the modality.
- The next AGM of 2025 was fixed to be organized by the province of Panjim, Goa.
- There was a suggestion to take up international visits and collaborations to other Catholic universities.
- There could be better resource sharing and strategies across the DBHEIs.
- It was mentioned to stress on the importance of Campus minister and value based education for all students in the campus.
- DBHEI should encourage, follow up and assist to proceed with accreditation for NAAC for all non-accredited institutions.
Suggestion was asked to initiate a research/industry focussed culture by establishing a corpus fund for research for DBHEI faculty.
Elections
As two of the executive members, Fr K O Sebastian sdb and Fr. Bivan R Mukhim sdb were finishing their second term of office, election to the above posts were held. Fr Maria Antony sdb, who was inducted with the approval of SPCSA filled one post becoming vacant. To the other post Fr Prince Raja sdb, from the Province of Trichy was elected unanimously.
The president thanked the executive body for their work and in particular mentioned the contributions of the outgoing members. Fr. Joby Joseph sdb, thanked Fr. Jose Koyickal sdb, the president and in particular acknowledged the hard work of Mr. Valan Peter, the secretary to DBHEI.
In the post tea session, Fr George Thadathil sdb, IUS General Coordinator Rome presented areas of concern from the Global IUS frame work. As the IUS Coordinator in Rome, he promised to look into the concerns of DBHEI at global level. Fr Christy Lourdenathan sdb, from UPS Rome, presented a research project where interested DBHEI institutions could be partners. The idea was welcomed by the meeting and Fr Christy promised to intimate related information to the board soon. This was followed by a session from Mr. Vallen Peter requesting timely updating of the DBHEI website by each institution. A faculty from the office of each institution is to be appointed in this regard. The days meeting came to an end with dinner and a family gathering organized by the Salesian brothers of Sonada followed by the rosary and goodnight talk.
New DBHEI Executive Members (Left to Right: Fr Maria Anthony sdb, Fr. Joaquim Lobo sdb, Fr. P D Johny sdb, Fr Jose Koyickal sdb, Fr Johnson Ponthempilly sdb, Fr. Joby Joseph sdb, Fr. Prince Raja sdb )
After dinner of the second day, the Salesian Student brothers of Sonada college organized a small sing-song for the participants, followed by rosary and good-night talk by Fr. Joby Joseph sdb, Secretary, DBHEI. Fr Joby thanked specially the Rector and the Salesian community at Sonada for all the help in the organization of the AGM.
Summary: Day 3
The third day’s programme began with the Holy Eucharist presided over by Fr. Joseph Pauria sdb, the Provincial of Kolkatta Province. In his homily during the mass, Fr Pauria called on the Salesians to be educators of hope in keeping with the theme of liturgy of the day.
After breakfast was the break out session according to provinces. The higher education coordinator of each province was to co-ordinate the discussion along the themes of the AGM and draw out lines of action for the coming one year and three years as a province. The leaders of each group presented their points and the session was moderated by Fr. K O Sebastian sdb. The assembly decided to ensure that these lines of action are carried out for the year ahead by each province.
Fr. Jose Koyickal sdb, the President of DBHEI made a final prayer of gratitude to God and the assembly sang a hymn to Don Bosco imploring his assistance for our way ahead.
(The result of the discussion are listed in another file): Annexure I
Following this session, the participants had an early lunch and departed for sight seeing to Darjeeling. They left in two buses and visited Padmaja Naidu Memorial Zoo and thereafter to St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling where tea was provided for all by the Jesuit fathers. All reached back to Sonada college by 6.30 pm and after dinner few of the participants left for their destination and the rest on the following day.
In conclusion, the three days Annual General Meeting of the DBHEI was of great importance. The coming together and sharing have themselves given focus to the Salesians in their field of education. Looking together, at the challenges and opportunities that are ever changing, gives each institution a sense to move ahead in synergy. We pray and hope that the decisions and proposals arrived at the AGM-2024 are realized in each of our institution for the good of the youth we are called to serve.