Importance of Faculty Development Program

Faculty members serve as a key resource who share knowledge and abilities to pupils in companies or any educational institutes. These Faculty members are equipped with effectual faculty development program to handle drastic changes occur in educational institutes due to technological innovation.

Faculty development is signified as myriads of activities that educational bodies apply to enhance the role of faculty members. This encompasses programs aimed at augmenting the performance of faculty members in education, investigation and management as well as increasing organizational capabilities and culture. Faculty Development Programme (FDP) is intended to sharpen the teaching and research abilities of potential, new and experienced teachers, researchers and instructors.

Many intellectuals have explicated the faculty development program. Some have stated that it is an instructional development which accentuate the development of faculty talents involving instructional technology, small group teaching and prospectus design. In the view of other theorists, faculty development program is a professional development which equip faculty members in their professional accountabilities as instructors, scholars, and managers.

There is an unrelenting need of faculty development programs in today’s high pace and rapidly shifting paradigm. In country like India, there is unprecedented growth in educational institutes in every sphere such as medical, engineering, and management. This creates a challenge to institutes as there may be shortage in faculty staff to impart quality education. Sometimes, there is a requirement of professional faculty who can assist to improve programs and develop brilliant students.

 It is frequently observed that traditional style of schooling is ineffective to prepare pupil for future. In order to synchronize with modern path of education, it is imperative that faculty development programs must be conducted. These programs can well respond to developments in education, to continue to acclimatise to the emergent responsibilities of faculty members, and to perform arduous program assessments. Faculty development programs are also required for considering diverse training methods and formats, and inspire new alliances.

This programme is conducted to train and develop experts in their field to act as an effective resource guide and enthuse young pupils.  FDP is best for professional growth of teachers, researchers, and trainers working in state, central government and private institutions.

In simple term, FDPs have been established to improve instructional abilities. Faculty development programs (FDPs) have proven to be successful for improving teaching skills in higher education. In present scenario, faculty development program has immense significance in educational, medical, or technical stream as it offers range of programs for student growth. The major positive outcomes of faculty development programs are greater satisfaction in teaching or imparting education in any stream, changing in outlooks toward teaching and faculty growth, gaining knowledge and skills, alerting in teaching behaviour, and changes in pupil learning.

Currently, faculty development expressively focus on faculty awareness about vigour and revitalization of teaching capabilities, offering good support to stated institutional missions, and deal tactfully with the faculty member's and institution's ability to flourish in competitive edge.