International Conference on Computing Paradigm (ICCP 2020) is a flagship conference of Don Bosco College(Co-Ed), Yelagiri Hills and IIR focusing on the entire innovative research and enabling technologies related to Computing systems.
Content Creation & Career opportunity
The Department of Business Administration of Don Bosco College (Co-Ed), Yelagiri Conducted the program on : Content Creation & Career opportunity.
Content writing is creating content to communicate a message or facts or ideas to the targeted audience through posts, blogs, articles & videos. The chief guest for the session was Ms. Jayasri Sridhar who is a budding YouTuber and Recruiter at Emudhra. Ms. Jayasri spoke of the qualities of the content writer. The session gave importance to content writing in view of development business and brand. Ms. Jayasri Sridhar explained the benefits of being a content writer with her past experience.
Skills for content creators such as communication skills, editing skills, and knowledge about social media were introduced to students and practical examples were given.
The students provided positive feedback and it was more of a practical and interactive session. The chief guest assured the support and career guidance for students. Special gift vouchers were given to students from the chief guest as a token of appreciation.
Watch the recorded session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRR6Ew-dOgU
Climatical changes from Corona to Cyclone Nivar
Department of Management Studies Conducted Webinar on Climatical changes from Corona to cyclone Nivar.
We don’t have direct evidence that climate change influences the spread of COVID-19, but we know that climate change alters how we relate to other species on Earth and matters to our health and our risk for infections.
As the planet heats up, animals big and small, on land and in the sea, are headed to the poles to get out of the heat. That means animals are coming into contact with other animals they normally wouldn’t, and that creates an opportunity for pathogens to get into new hosts.
Many of the root causes of climate change also increase the risk of pandemics. Deforestation, which occurs mostly for agricultural purposes, is the largest cause of habitat loss worldwide. Loss of habitat forces animals to migrate and potentially contact other animals or people and share germs. Large livestock farms can also serve as a source for spillover of infections from animals to people. Less demand for animal meat and more sustainable animal husbandry could decrease emerging infectious disease risk and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
We have many reasons to take climate action to improve our health and reducing risks for infectious disease emergence is one of them. The session was headed by Advocate Vetri Selvan who is one of the founding members of an environmental organization called Poovulagin Nanbargal.
The session focused on the following questions:
- How likely are we to see infectious diseases spread as a result of climate change?
- Why are emerging infectious diseases on the rise?
- What actions can we take to prevent future outbreaks?
- The communities most at-risk, and how and why both COVID-19 and climate change harm them?
- Why is it so important for health officials to talk about climate change now?
Watch the recorded Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMUyYQR_CvE
DBC Tura observes World Environment Day through Webinar
DBC Tura observes World Environment Day through Webinar
The Don Bosco College, Tura on 05th June 2021 joined the entire world to celebrate World Environment Day. To commemorate the event, the College organised a Webinar on the theme “Ecosystem Restoration through Stakeholders”
Shmt. Agatha K. Sangma, Hon’ble Member of the Parliament was the speaker and spoke extensively on the need to conserve the environment. She urges the students and the participants to do something to conserve the mother earth. She said that as a Member of the parliament she had great enthusiasm to safeguard the environment and said that she is ready to go out of herself to see that the environment is conserved by all.
Shri TTC Marak, IFS (Retd.), the Chairman of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Government of Meghalaya in his speech narrated the steps undertaken by the Government from earlier days to conserve the environment. He said that there is a great need to take care of the environment and successive governments in the state of Meghalaya have worked towards building a self reliance and a balance ecosystem in the state. He concluded by calling upon all to bring about awareness in the mindset to safeguard the environment.
Prof O.P. Singh, noted academician from the Department of Environmental Studies, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong delivered his message on the occasion and thank the Don Bosco College for giving the platform to speak on World Environment Day. He exhorted the students and the participants to avoid wastages and dumping of waste into the environment. He said in this way we can help in conserving the environment.
Others who spoke at the webinar included Shri Grebar Sonyo Ch. Marak, Forest Guard – Forest Department, Government of Meghalaya. Shri Abal Manda Sangma the Nokma of Romba A’dinggre. Shri Simpo D. Sangma, a Farmer and Shri James A. Sangma, a student of Don Bosco College, Tura. They shared their field of expertise in relation to the Environment.
The entire programme was conceptualized by the Department of Environment, Don Bosco College, Tura headed by Asst. professors Dr Aksana Neah Ch Marak, Head of the Department of Environment.
HAM radio licensing examination organized by Student satellite club-Parikrama
Student Satellite Club-Parikrama, at Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, organized a HAM Radio examination on February 28, 2021.
The Ham radio licensing examination is known as the Amateur Station Operator’s Certificate Examination (ASOC examination). It is conducted by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the Ministry of Communications, New Delhi at the Wireless Monitoring Stations located throughout the country.
There were a total of 40 student registrations from Goa and Maharashtra. Student satellite members also appeared for the examination for both the grades i.e. restricted and general license. The examination was conducted by Shri Nalnish Srivastava, Wireless Monitoring station officer from Bhopal and his team from WMS Goa. The entire event was coordinated by Prof.Mohini Naik, PI of satellite club, ETC Department and Prof. Sweta Morajkar, CO-PI of satellite club, COMP Department.
Faculty development program
WEB CONFERENCE CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN COVID ERA AND BEYOND Concept Paper
CHALLENGES & POSSIBILITIES
ORGANIZED BY CBCI OFFICE FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURE IN COLLABORATION WITH
DON BOSCO HIGHER EDUCATION INDIA NETWORK (DBHEI)
Technical Supported by Bosco Soft Technologies Pvt Ltd
The Covid-19 and national lockdown has forced the closure of schools, colleges and universities for 120+ days with a rare chance of reopening before September 2020. Economy and education are bidirectionally related. As the Indian economy is affected by pandemic lockdown, Indian education system has major setbacks. It throws unprecedented challenges to the educational leaders, managers and administrators.
Will our institutions, struggling with pandemic and financial crunch fall further behind or leap forward with new paradigms? There is a silver lining to the pandemic to focus on radical reforms, redefining conventional education models. It is opined that even if Covid vaccine is developed in a few months, pedagogies, academic processes and education objectives will change forever.
CBCI Office for Education and Culture organizes this conference together with DBHEI (Don Bosco Higher Education India Network) to bring Catholic education leaders on a digital platform, to probe deeper at the challenges and have online consultation on Catholic Education in COVID and beyond: Challenges and Possibilities.
The Conference focuses on five themes.
• Digital Transformation
• Student Empowerment
• Teacher Engagement
• Governance and Management
• Apostolic Metanoia
Starting from Friday, 17th of July, from 11.30 am to 01.00 pm, this series will be held on each of the topics on subsequent Fridays. Information is being sent to all the Bishops, Regional Secretaries, Diocesan Secretaries and related networks. High profile resource persons will guide the sessions and there will be time for open discussion as well. Reports of each of this consultation will be shared with all the Bishops. Registration link will be sent by 13th July 2020.
Each theme has two speakers to highlight the challenges and present possibilities to experiment and strategize. Participants can clarify the expounded concepts and contribute with their outlooks and case works.
Theme 1: Digital Transformation
Teachers and students are becoming digital savvy with online learning. The transition from brick-and-mortar classroom to blended learning model is realized quickly in affordable institutions. And yet, for most of the institutions, the major challenges are low internet bandwidth, lack of access to digital devices and untrained teachers.
The families of many a children do not have access to digital devices and high-speed internet connectivity. Will it widen the digital divide? Are there ICT integration possibilities for all groups of students, low- or high-income level and offer inclusive education?
The mental strain that teachers and students suffer due to excessive screen time and the struggle of parents to supervise home learning are also to be addressed.
Points for Reflection
1. What is your experience of digital education in your school? Is it positive?
2. How has the digital education/digital divide affected your school?
3. Are there ways in which we can democratize digital education?
4. Are there ICT integration possibilities for all groups of students, low- or high-income level and offer inclusive education?
Theme 2: Student Empowerment
The general poor learning outcome of millions of Indian children and youth needs a radical reform in pedagogy and delivery. Many children (nearly 56% as per ASER Report 2018) in primary schools do not attain basic skills in literacy and numeracy.
New forms of pedagogy with appropriate adoption of technology is an opportunity for change. Catering to diversity of students is a possibility with blended personalized learning. If Covid-19 is to stay, students must adopt themselves to online style of learning and be provided with the necessary equipment to have nonstop learning.
With social, technical, biological and political disruptions around, students need to be accompanied to understand their goals in life and attain true happiness. Many children from marginalized families may drop out of schools. Thousands may enter the child labor force and become vulnerable to trafficking and/or pushed into early marriage.
Twenty-first century skills (learning, literacy and life) must be universalized by incorporating into any course offered in a school or college. More of these skills to be imparted using virtual
learning environment than in traditional classrooms. eLearning must extend to co-curricular education such as dance, music, arts and crafts, yoga, physical fitness and sports. For instance, senior students can engage safely in local communities to handle pandemic and their real experiences in society can be guided and directed.
Points for Reflection
1. Is there a possibility of a new form of pedagogy with the adoption of technology?
2. How can students in our care be continued to be accompanied during and post COVID
days?
3. How can life skills be imparted using virtual learning environment than academics?
4. Have you evaluated your online education to see if values and competencies are delivered to the students?
Theme 3: Teacher Engagement
Getting the teachers accustomed to the new normal of online teaching is a major challenge. Teachers need to apply creative and innovative methods in migrating to online platform. Adoption to digital technologies, using seamlessly the e-learning resources provided by the government and handling the diversity of students require upskilling of teachers.
Teachers must also interact with the parents to enable their children to participate in blended learning from the conventional system.
Teachers need accompaniment too. Adapting to a new way of teaching and accompanying students has put a lot of stress on teachers. Besides knowledge in academics, the teachers need to learn new dynamics to cope with attention-deficiency, mental health of children and creative ways of assessing children’s learning capacity. Teachers need training in accompanying children virtually. Teachers need a new set of pedagogy to cope with teaching children whom they do not interact with face to face. What would be the basics of new pedagogy?
Points for Reflection
1. How has the school empowered the teachers to accompany the students, by way of knowledge and skills?
2. Have the teachers been left on their own to find the technology as well as other resources to continue with online education or has the school provided them with?
3. How have your teachers adopted digital technology? Do you have any courses
planned for them to be more productive and innovative?
4. Will there be emergence of digital educators and what type of pedagogy will they have to adopt?
Theme 4: Governance and Management
Covid-19 has provoked the dire need for digital infrastructure, teacher capacity and curriculum revamp towards holistic formation. It may not be a reality for our institutions for the disadvantaged and in rural areas. It is attainable with competent and visionary leadership. Better perspective and strategic planning are needed at the national, diocesan/provincial or institution level.
Catholic Community is blessed with a great pool of committed and passionate faithful. We need progressive and innovative leadership. It demands deep training, clear policies and procedures and well-remunerated faculty.
The Indian private school system has a serious risk of extinction with fund crisis. Fee waivers/deferment directives given by the government widen the risk. Financial management and fundraising need a revamp.
We need leadership development programs to improve our administrative practices, fund management, fund raising, building R&D culture and change management. For instance, many alumni are ready and willing to contribute donations to develop their alma mater.
Points for Reflection
1. What type of leadership is needed to cope with COVID and beyond COVID Education?
2. Will our Private schools survive the financial crisis and what plans have you made to avert major crunch of funds?
3. Is there credible management system in your school and what innovative systems have you created in the recent past to build up a resilient institution?
4. Is your institution community-centered? Have you received support from the community by way of financial support and otherwise?
Theme 5: Apostolic Metanoia
With introspection in every walk of life at this juncture, the Indian Catholic Church shall reexamine her identity as ambassadors of His Kingdom and disciples of Jesus Christ. The Church is for the poor and for the people of God. How do we respond to the cry of the incomeless teachers, aimless students and hopeless parents?
The Covid-19 should serve as a period of purification – metanoia. Our education institutions must come out of the pandemic, converted and revitalized with new paradigms, praxis and results. The renewed Church will accompany the downtrodden children and young, affirm the competency and contribution of the teachers, account management and administration with transparency and accredit our purpose of existence with the vision of Our Lord to become true instruments of salvation for all people.
Points for Reflection
1. How do we respond to the cry of the incomeless teachers, aimless students, and hopeless parents?
2. Do you believe your institution needs conversion? What are those aspects which you would like to correct and move forward?
3. What are those new paradigms and praxis you would envisage for your institution?
4. Can we transform our processes of accompaniment, affirmation, accountability and accreditation of our education institutions and the entire educative community?
Fr/Dr. Maria Charles SDB
National Secretary Executive Secretary
CBCI Office for Education and Culture
Fr/Dr. Thaddeus Gregory SDB
Don Bosco Higher Education Network
Annual general Meeting and Conference Trichy 2019
Creating a Salesian Campus Culture for all Salesian Higher Education Institutions in India
Nation’s Progress in the Constitutional way
The two days conference began with the arrival of the participants on 29th November at the venue.
The Inaugural session began at 9.10am on 30th November with Fr Maria Charles, Vice President presiding over. The session was compeered by the students of IDA course, Dimapur. It began with a welcome dance by students. The lighting of the lamp was done by the dignitaries. The presence of the IUS General Coordinator, Rev. Fr Marcelo Farfan was indeed very encouraging. The welcome address was given by Fr Jose Kuruvachira, Provincial of Dimapur. He gave some information about the Province, then welcomed everyone to the Province and wished the meeting to be very useful to all. As a sign of welcome, a Naga Muffler was put on the dignitaries.
Fr Maria Soosai , the secretary, gave an introductory speech. Fr Marcelo spoke on the various IUS programmes at the Continental levels and of the need to work along with the IUS. Fr Maria Charles spoke on the status of Higher Education in the country and the possible collaboration the DBHEI institutions could have with the DBYA- SA. At the end of the inaugural session Fr Jose George, the Provincial delegate of the Dimapur Province proposed the vote of thanks.
After a tea break, the first session was held, in which the invited speakers Ms. G A Bidyalakshmi Devi, Asst. Prof. of DBC Maram College spoke on the theme of: The Historical steps involved in the writing of the Indian Constitution. She spoke of the various processes involved in the writing of the Constitution. After one or two clarifications, the second speaker Dr Salikyu Sangtam, Asst. Prof. of Political Psychology, St Joseph University, Dimapur, spoke on the Structure of the Indian Constitution. Fr Joy Ullattil, executive member and higher education delegate of INK Province coordinated this session.
The afternoon session began at 2.30 pm with two presentations by Fr Casimir Motcham, Rector and Delegate of the Trichy Province on the theme: The role of youth in Nation building. He spoke on the Youth policy of India- 2014, and it was a very resourceful paper from where the participants could take many ideas to implement. The third resource person was Mr Jojo Mathew, Chief executive- ALS- New Delhi, and he spoke on the topic: Minority rights enshrined in the Constitution. Fr Innocent Suresh, Principal of Kohima, Don Bosco College coordinated the session
The morning sessions were re-organized due to the funeral of Fr Fr P L Joseph of Dimapur Province There were a few presentations by Fr Jose Palely on the theme of: What is the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution: its purpose and prospects as applied in Assam? Fr Maria Charles on the theme of: Nation Building with Young People and Fr Thaddeus, on the theme of: The Palmyra Evolution: Strategies for Fitness, growth and Excellence of DBHEI Institutions.
28th January, 2019 Fr A Maria Soosai, Secretary, DBHEI
