Tag: AI in education

EduConnect

St. Xavier’s College Hosts Six-Day Faculty Development Programme on OER and AI in Teaching and Research

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa organized a six-day Faculty Development Programme on “Open Educational Resources and Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Research” from October 18–24, 2025. The programme was inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) Gervasio S. F. L. Mendes, Additional Director, Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Goa, with Fr. Marianno Dias, Assistant to the Secretary, Diocesan Society of Education, as Guest of Honour. Also present were Dr. Osborne Terrence Dsouza, CEO and Co-Founder of Juana Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Officiating Principal Ms. Ursula Barreto, and Administrator Rev. Fr. Antonio Salema.

Prof. Mendes, in his keynote address, praised the college for conducting a timely programme, highlighting how artificial intelligence and open educational resources are reshaping higher education. The first two days of the FDP were led by Dr. Osborne D’Souza, who introduced participants to prompt engineering and demonstrated platforms including ChatGPT, Gamma.app, and Elicit.com for academic presentations and research. He also recommended Microsoft’s AI for Educators programme and emphasized the need for educators to upskill to adapt to emerging technologies.

On the third day, Dr. Gaurang Patkar, Professor and Head of Computer Engineering at Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, conducted sessions on AI-powered leadership, neural networks, and tools such as Socrative, Plicker, and Canva AI. He encouraged faculty to use AI as a co-pilot to enhance creativity and demonstrated Python-based exercises in machine learning and deep learning.

Day four featured actor and voice artist Mr. Ashwin Mushran, who delivered an engaging session titled “Million Dollar Presence,” emphasizing effective communication, warmth, and capability in creating a strong educator presence.

The final two days were facilitated by Prof. Santhosh Kumar G of Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, and Prof. S. Senthilnathan, Director (In-charge), UGC-MMTTC, Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu. Prof. Santhosh focused on student-centered learning, demonstrating tools like Vids, QuestionWell, Notebook LM, and AI Studio, along with hands-on activities for lesson planning and quizzes. Prof. Senthilnathan introduced faculty to OER platforms including LOC, NDLI, SWAYAM, MIT OCW, MOOCs, Virtual Labs, Khan Academy, podcasts, and blogs.

The valedictory session was graced by Joshua D’Souza, Deputy Speaker and alumnus, who praised the FDP as a game-changer for educators. The programme received positive feedback from both internal and external participants, reflecting the college’s commitment to equipping faculty with modern pedagogical tools to enhance teaching, learning, and research.

EduConnect

Workshop on AI Tools in Education Held at Goa Multi-Faculty College

Tanisha Cardozo

SPES’s Shri Gopal Gaonkar Memorial Goa Multi-Faculty College, in association with TLSC Dharbandora and the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), organized a thought-provoking and hands-on workshop on AI Tools in Education. The event was designed to engage and educate high school and higher secondary students and teachers on the emerging role of artificial intelligence in academic settings.

The workshop was inaugurated by Hon’ble MLA Dr. Ganesh Gaonkar, Chairman of GTDC, who shared his vision of future-ready education in Goa. In his address, Dr. Gaonkar emphasized the urgent need to integrate modern technology, especially AI tools, into daily teaching and learning practices. He encouraged teachers to adopt new digital methods to improve classroom engagement and effectiveness and motivated students to explore AI as a powerful tool for self-learning and creativity.

The session included demonstrations of various AI-based tools and platforms that can assist in content creation, personalized learning, evaluation, and virtual collaboration. Experts and facilitators guided participants through interactive examples showing how AI is transforming education across the globe.

With enthusiastic participation from both teachers and students, the workshop served as an inspiring introduction to the limitless possibilities AI offers in education. It also reinforced the college’s commitment to fostering innovation, digital literacy, and forward-thinking approaches in Goa’s academic ecosystem.

The event concluded with a message of continued collaboration and learning, encouraging all attendees to stay curious and proactive in adapting to the evolving technological landscape of education.

EduConnect

LeapUp-Dempo Initiative Set to Revolutionize Skill-Based Learning at Srinivassa Sinai Dempo College

Tanisha Cardozo

July 28, 2025 | Panaji, Goa: Srinivassa Sinai Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, an esteemed educational institution recently granted autonomous status, has taken a bold leap into the future of education. Through a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mumbai-based edtech firm LeapUp, the college has launched an initiative designed to seamlessly integrate 30-hour online certification courses into the existing academic curriculum.

This initiative marks a significant milestone in reshaping the educational landscape of Goa. “This is more than just an upgrade — it’s a transformational move toward future-ready education,” said Prof. Dr. Manoj Kamat, Principal of Dempo College. The primary goal? To ensure students graduate with both academic knowledge and job-market-ready skills.

Courses — all offered at no additional cost — span high-demand domains like Artificial Intelligence, Equity Research, Stock Trading, Six Sigma, Financial Modelling, Lateral Thinking, and Retail Business. Students will benefit from a flexible curriculum structure that includes both compulsory and optional modules, with audit options for extra learning.

LeapUp, co-founded by CA Harshit Shah and Ronak Gala, brings to the table a powerful LMS platform, a curated lineup of industry veterans as mentors, and rigorous assessments to monitor attendance and progress. This structure ensures a high standard of engagement and skill acquisition for every student.

“This collaboration is a blend of vision and execution. We’re not just talking about future-readiness — we’re building it into the system,” said co-founder Ronak Gala. Harshit Shah added that the entire program is exclusively available for Dempo College students in Goa, with self-paced learning, live sessions, and practical assignments.

The launch event was graced by college dignitaries including Vice Principal Dr. Sangeeta Chakravorty, Dean Prof. Deepali Churi, HoD Commerce Derina Rodrigues, and faculty members Asst Prof. Amit Naik, Gilbert Mendes, Shashi Yadav, and Vishwa Pai Raikar.

The LeapUp-Dempo initiative stands as a testament to what modern education can achieve when innovation meets intent — and sets a benchmark for institutions across India to follow.

EduConnect

Goa Embarks on AI-Powered Education: CM Pramod Sawant Launches Initiative in Schools and Colleges

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

In a move that signals Goa’s shift toward future-ready education, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has announced the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a formal part of the curriculum in both schools and colleges across the state.

This initiative aims to equip students with 21st-century skills that are becoming increasingly crucial in today’s tech-driven world. Goa is among the first Indian states to take such a bold step.

At the heart of this initiative is the creation of a dedicated AI Council, which will:

  • Design updated syllabi tailored to evolving industry demands
  • Oversee teacher training in AI tools and practices
  • Promote student-led AI projects
  • Collaborate with industry leaders and research institutions
  • Support and incubate AI-based startups from young innovators

CM Sawant emphasized the importance of preparing youth for global digital transformation. “We want students from Goa to not just be job-seekers, but creators and innovators. AI education will empower them to lead in the future tech economy,” he stated.

This move aligns with national priorities like Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Skilling India, positioning Goa at the forefront of tech-education reforms.

Beyond the syllabus, this is a systemic shift in mindset — encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial spirit from a young age.

By integrating AI into mainstream education, Goa is setting a benchmark for innovation, inclusivity, and adaptability in India’s education landscape.

As the AI Council begins its work, educational institutions across Goa will see significant upgrades in digital infrastructure, teacher capabilities, and learning outcomes.

With this initiative, Goa aims not just to keep pace with global trends, but to lead India’s charge into a technologically empowered future.