Tag: National Education Policy 2020

EduConnect

CM Dr. Pramod Sawant Felicitates Goa’s Young Robotics & STEM Champions

Tanisha Cardozo

In a proud moment for Goa’s education and innovation ecosystem, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, felicitated the State’s outstanding young achievers who have brought laurels through exceptional performances in Robotics and STEM competitions at national and international platforms. The ceremony recognised students who have excelled at prestigious events such as the World STEM & Robotics Olympiad (WSRO), VEX Robotics Championships, and the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), underscoring Goa’s growing prominence in technology-driven education.

The event brought together students, mentors, school leaders, and parents who have collectively contributed to this remarkable success. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sawant congratulated the young innovators and their mentors, stating that their achievements exemplify innovation, discipline, teamwork, and the spirit of scientific inquiry. He reiterated the Government of Goa’s strong commitment to promoting STEM education, innovation, and future-ready skills in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020. He emphasised that such accomplishments reflect the State’s determination to ensure that Goan youth are prepared to compete and succeed on global platforms.

The Chief Minister lauded the role of Qurious Mind Infotainment Pvt. Ltd., a Goa-based robotics education organisation, for its sustained efforts in nurturing young talent and building a robust ecosystem for hands-on STEM learning across the State. He also acknowledged the invaluable contribution of the Department of Education, Government of Goa, school managements, teachers, mentors, and parents who have collectively enabled students to reach new heights in competitive arenas.

Among those honoured were Ronav Chodankar and Ariana Chodankar of Sharada Mandir School, mentored by Dr. Deepa Chodankar, who received the Judges’ Choice Award – Young Scientist (All STEM – Open Category) at the WSRO National Championship. Shlok R. Juvatkar of Mahila & Nutan English High School, guided by Mahadev Mishal, secured 1st Place in the Junior Robo Race category. Students representing Goa at the VEX Robotics Regional and National Championships, including Mast Vedang Anay Kamat, Miss Surabhi Shubhesh Manerikar, Miss Rajvi Vishwanath Marathe, and Mast Shourya Ganpat Prabhu Kapdi, were also recognised for their exemplary participation.

At the FIRST Tech Challenge, students such as Soham Mahesh Redkar, Dhruv Sameer Salgaonkar, Sparsh Swapnesh Verlekar, and Sairaj Amonkar from Saraswat Vidyalaya, Mapusa, along with Anam Raza of Podar International School, Panelim, Avaneesh Devendra Phadte of Mushtifund High School, Cujira, and Sai Pranav Gandhi of Sharada Mandir School, Miramar, were honoured for leadership and excellence within the international competition framework.

Goa’s representation at the WSRO International Championship marked a particularly proud milestone. Students from New English High School, Digas Panchwadi—Miss Paravi Prakash Gaonkar, Miss Shravya Rajendra Naik, Miss Akshavi Ashok Gaonkar, and Miss Aarushi Arun Sawant—mentored by Atul Shirodkar, earned international participation recognition in the Industry 4.0 category, reflecting the highest level of competition and global exposure.

Additional accolades included Mast Dilraj Dilip Kavthankar of Pradnya High School securing 6th Prize in the Line Follower category under the mentorship of Prasad Gadekar; Mast Ian Nunes of St. Bartholomew’s High School, Chorao, mentored by Vincent Toscano, winning 5th Prize in Young Scientist (Algorithms); Mast Vedang Kamat of Saraswat Vidyalaya, Mapusa, mentored by Anay Kamat, earning 4th Prize in Industry 4.0; and the team of Manish Mahadev Gawandi, Nirbhay Manoj Talkar, and Mayank Sandeep Kavathankar from Pradnya High School achieving 3rd Prize in the Line Follower category, guided by Prasad Gadekar.

The ceremony concluded with an engaging interaction between the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the students, followed by official photographs, marking a proud and inspiring chapter in Goa’s journey towards becoming an emerging hub for robotics, innovation, and technology education. The achievements celebrated at this event stand as a testament to what focused mentorship, institutional support, and youthful determination can accomplish, placing Goa firmly on the national and global STEM map.

EduConnect

Infosys Springboard Hosts Batch II of Academic Leadership Programme at Hyderabad Training Centre

Tanisha Cardozo

The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) and the Goa State Higher Education Council (GSHEC), Government of Goa, recently organized the prestigious Academic Leadership Programme (ALP) at the Infosys Limited training centre in Hyderabad from 8th to 12th September 2025. This fully residential leadership workshop is a significant initiative under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, focusing on strengthening governance and leadership capabilities among faculty members of higher education institutions in Goa.

The ALP is designed to build and enhance the academic leadership skills of 30 faculty members from general and engineering colleges, as well as Goa University. The programme’s comprehensive curriculum was delivered by professional corporate trainers from Infosys Ltd., including Nivas PCS, Simran, and Dimple Bhasin. The training modules covered critical areas such as leveraging the Infosys Springboard platform for effective engagement, enhancing communication and teamwork, decision-making skills, team management, and collaborative learning. Importantly, the programme also introduced participants to emerging technological domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP), equipping academic leaders to stay future-ready.

Participants engaged actively through group presentations and evaluations, demonstrating their newly acquired knowledge and leadership competencies. This leadership development initiative is a vital step towards cultivating an empowered academic community in Goa, reinforcing the government’s commitment to higher education excellence.

The programme’s launch was marked by the flag-off of the 30 faculty participants by Prasad Lolayekar, Secretary Education, and Bhushan K. Savaikar, Director of DHE. The successful implementation of this workshop was made possible through the efforts of Dr. Niyan Marchon, Program Director and Professor, along with Vasant Narulkar from the Centralised Training, Internship and Placement Cell of the Directorate of Higher Education, who played key roles in conceptualizing and coordinating this transformative programme.

Following the workshop, these energized faculty members will promote the free online course content available on the Infosys Springboard platform to their peers and students. The platform offers over 20,000 courses spanning topics such as AI, time management, personality development, and many more, further advancing the reach and impact of this leadership initiative.

By integrating academic leadership development with cutting-edge technology and collaborative learning strategies, the Academic Leadership Programme is poised to foster a new generation of academic leaders in Goa, aligned with the vision of NEP 2020 for a robust and future-ready education system.

Events in Goa

ASSOCHAM Goa’s ‘Bridging Horizons’ Explores the Future of Industry and Academia in collaboration with DITE&C

allycaralgoa

Quepem, February 28 2025: The fourth edition of Bridging Horizons: Confluence of Industry, Institute & Innovation, organized by ASSOCHAM Goa State Development Council, in collaboration with the Department of IT, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, was held at the Government College of Arts, Science, and Commerce, Quepem. The event focused on the evolving relationship between education and industry, highlighting the need for skill-based learning, industry-academia collaboration, and workforce readiness.

The Department of IT, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, has been actively working to align talent with industry needs through skilling, reskilling, and upskilling initiatives. Efforts such as industry-academia meetings, venture capital events, and corporate partnerships are creating new opportunities for professionals and businesses, strengthening Goa’s position in the evolving job market. Bridging Horizons: Confluence of Industry, Institute & Innovation added to this momentum by facilitating discussions on skill development and industry collaboration, further emphasizing the need for a strong industry-academia connection.

The program featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Vijay Borges, Project Director, PMU CARES, Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Goa, on Skill-Based Education – Towards the Future of Work, emphasizing the need for skill-based education that aligns with industry demands. He highlighted the importance of Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) such as computational thinking, creativity, collaboration, and ethical awareness in preparing students for the workforce. He addressed foundational learning gaps and noted their long-term impact on academic progress and employability. He also discussed challenges like underemployment, demographic shifts, and the growing influence of automation, stressing the need for continuous upskilling and stronger industry-academia collaboration to bridge the skills gap.

A panel discussion on The Future of Industry and Academia brought together industry leaders to discuss Goa’s potential as an IT hub, sectors expected to expand, and the role of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in shaping education and employment. The discussion included perspectives from Shri. Mangirish Salelkar, Chairman, IT & ITeS Committee, ASSOCHAM Goa & CEO, Umang Group; Shri. Sudip Faldessai, Project Officer, Goa State Innovation Council, Government of Goa; Shri. Mohsin Shaikh, Founder Director, Haztech; Shri. Mahendra Tiwari, CEO, EthernetXpress India Pvt. Ltd.; Shri Bhavit Naik, Co-founder & CEO, Technorix; and Shri. Raghu Shetye, Director, DNA Goa Broadband. The panelists explored how industry-academia collaboration can help bridge skill gaps and create opportunities for economic development.

The discussions at Bridging Horizons highlighted the need for collaboration between academia and industry to align education with workforce requirements. The Department of IT, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, continues to support this effort by advancing skill development and promoting innovation.