A Six-day Online FDP on Envisioning the Future: Multidisciplinary approaches in Research on Languages and Literatures

The Department of English and Foreign Languages at SRM Institute of Science and Technology hosted a Six-Day Online Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on Envisioning the Future: Multidisciplinary Approaches in Research on Languages and Literatures from December 2nd to 7th, 2024. The programme aimed to enhance teaching and research competencies among educators, researchers, and scholars, drawing 119 participants from institutions across India. The inaugural session, chaired by Dr. L. Kavitha Nair, introduced the FDP’s objectives of fostering interdisciplinary insights and skill development. Dr. D. John Thiruvadigal emphasized the transformative role of faculty development in higher education, setting the tone for the diverse sessions to follow. Notable topics on subsequent days included endangered languages and cultures by Prof. Shernaz Cama, research ethics by Dr. V. K. Karthika, and interdisciplinary studies such as Medical Humanities by Dr. Avishek Parui and the intersection of language and law by Dr. Prasannanshu. These sessions underscored the growing relevance of cross-disciplinary approaches in academia.

The programme featured a range of specialized topics, including identity and history (Dr. Sushant Kumar Mishra), multilingual strategies in teaching (Dr. Abarna Roy), feminist methodologies (Dr. Priyanka Tripathi), and digital humanities (Dr. Ashok Thorat). The discussions also explored the integration of literary research with pedagogy, storytelling in design thinking, and film studies’ methodologies. The concluding session on December 7th, led by Dr. Poonam and Dr. A. Poongodi, reflected on the FDP’s success in inspiring innovation and collaboration, with Prof. B. Neppolian encouraging sustained academic engagement. This FDP not only provided valuable insights into the multidisciplinary nature of language and literary research but also facilitated the exchange of ideas and methodologies crucial for advancing scholarly pursuits in contemporary academia.