Five-Day Capacity Building Workshop for faculty members concludes at University of Jammu

JAMMU: A five-day Capacity Building Workshop for faculty members, organized by the Department of Buddhist Studies in collaboration with the Malviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC), University of Jammu, concluded successfully today. The workshop, held from February 9th to 13th, 2026, aimed to enhance the pedagogical and research skills of educators from across the region.

The valedictory function was graced by Dr. Sandeep Gupta, Regional Director, IGNOU, as the Chief Guest. Prof. S.K. Pandita, Director of MMTTC, attended as the Guest of Honor. 

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Guest Dr. Sandeep Gupta underscored the critical importance of such capacity-building initiatives. He highlighted that these programs are essential for equipping teachers to meet the evolving demands of higher education, particularly in the digital era. Dr. Gupta also took the opportunity to commend the Department of Buddhist Studies, noting that the department is dedicated to the advanced study and research of Buddhist philosophy, art, and culture, contributing significantly to the academic landscape of the region. He reiterated the need for continuous professional development to maintain academic standards and praised the department for its role in hosting such a vital workshop.

Providing a comprehensive overview of the workshop's academic rigor, Ph.D. Research Scholars Ms. Ginny Sharma and Ms. Ruchika Sharma introduced the esteemed Resource Persons and presented a detailed report on the lectures delivered. The workshop featured a distinguished panel of nineteen resource persons from premier institutions, including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi; Panjab University, Chandigarh; Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda, Bihar; the Central University of Jammu; and the University of Jammu.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. S.K. Pandita lauded the Department of Buddhist Studies and the organizing team for conducting a well-structured and impactful workshop. He encouraged the participants to actively apply the knowledge and skills acquired to foster academic excellence and drive institutional growth within their respective institutions.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Head, Department of Buddhist Studies, Prof. Mohd. Reyaz Ahmad, extended a warm greeting to the Chief Guest, the Guest of Honor, and all participating faculty members. He emphasized the department's commitment to fostering academic dialogue and professional growth. The valedictory session concluded with the distribution of certificates to the participants. A formal vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Vivek Sharma. Dr. Vivek Sharma and Dr. Rajesh Sharma were the coordinators of the five-day workshop. 

The proceedings were coordinated by Dr. Rajesh Sharma. The event was attended by the core organizing team and faculty members/non-teaching staff of the Department of Buddhist Studies, along with more than 30 participants from the University of Jammu and various Degree Colleges located in the far-flung areas of Jammu & Kashmir.