Institutional - cum- Faculty Development Program (ICFDP)

An Institutional - cum- Faculty Development Program (ICFDP) was organised for all faculty members of Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi in Xavier School of Management (XLRI) Campus during 16-18 June 2022. 

The objective of the program was understanding the need for change and setting growth parameters for XISS. The tone of the Faculty Development Program (FDP) was set by Dr Amar Eron Tigga, Dean Academics, when he mentioned the Vision of the Director, to place XISS among the top-ranking B-Schools in India and even abroad. 

Dr Joseph Marianus Kujur SJ, Director, XISS in his welcome address explained the rationale for the program and the current scenario in the changing Business and Economic Environment. He shared about the role of the Faculty members as change agents who need develop plans for the future. He mentioned them to be solution providers, which will lead to the growth of the institution. He added that the Alumni and other stakeholders are important for any institution and it is essential to understand, accept and honour the change and work for individual and institutional development accordingly. He concluded with the need to check KRA (Key Responsibility/ Result Areas). 

In Session I, understanding the Need for Change in Higher Educational Institutions with reference to B-Schools and setting its growth Parameters & Processes were discussed. The highlighting points which emerged were:
Ph.D. and Publication are important for Faculty Programme & Student Outcome and Individual achievements of Faculty are two aspects to be balanced properly
Catchment areas for faculty to be looked into Culture (informal and uncontrolled environment) vs KRA (formal and controlled environment) needs to be balanced
Government Policies make an impact Teaching, Research and Consultancy are key areas to work on

 

During the Session II, understanding and implementing best practices of academic institutions (B-School), were discussed by the resource person emphasising on the policies adopted by the different IIMs for Faculty attraction and retention and how the value system of the institute plays an important role in its growth. He also discussed the challenges of resource generation in any B-school. The resource person stressed on students be the Captive Stakeholders. The session was followed by a question-answer round with multiple questions by many faculty members. 

In Session II, the major takeaways were:
We need to build upon our bargaining power and internal strength and be adaptive to the changing environment A Practical approach is needed to introduce a new course
Micro management is to be done at the peer level Mentorship and Tutorials can be continued
Academic calibration can be done through high-powered incentives and decided with internal discussions keeping the constraints in mind Under the scope of improvement, Research and Publication to be strengthened by active collaboration which has to be incentive-based, Consultancy and MDPs need to be worked upon, and Case Studies to be written and published were discussed as well. 

A clarity is needed in differentiating strategies and expanding the market for XISS

 

 

 

During Session III, “Roles and Responsibilities of the Faculty Members and their ownership in bringing change” were deliberated upon. Further, taking the session ahead the Resource Person explained the three models of running an academic institution:

1. Institutions where academic and administrative work are orthogonal

2. University Model

3. Institutions where the administration is largely in the hands of the faculty members.

Meanwhile, during Session IV, future and developing a road map (a) Program-wise (b) For the Institute (In Context of Emerging Market trends) were elaborated. Director, XISS highlighted the role of management as well as faculty members concerning ownership towards institutions. Dean Academics mentioned the role of the two-day-long ICFDP as a way to carve out the future of XISS. He also mentioned the interrelationship between the Society of Jesus, Regulators and Market requirements. 

Later, the faculty members were given a group activity in which they had a meeting Program-wise and they brainstormed on the road map for their respective Programme as well as institution based on parameters as given:
a. Curriculum h. Faculty as a resource person
b. Pedagogy i. Staying Relevant
c. Research j. Benchmarking with other B schools
d. Publications k. Retention of Jesuit values while responding to market demands
e. Industry connect l. Digital or Online courses
f. Case studies m. Executive Program
g. Projects and Consultancy  

 

Session V witnessed the road map and action plan presented by the respective Head of Programmes (HoP’s) before the audience. Meanwhile, during Session VI the rapporteur team consolidated Session V and presented a PowerPoint presentation on the findings of the program.

On the concluding day, Session VII focused on synthesis and takeaways of the program, where the resource person stressed on the importance of taking this idea ownership to process ownership. Director, XISS initiated an exercise by asking the faculty members to come out with one word that sums up their experience of the ICFDP programme and work around it. Dr Pradeep Kerketta SJ, Assistant Director, XISS proposed the vote of thanks and the ICFDP concluded with a group photograph.