Report of National Workshop on Community Colleges As an Alternative Mode of Education A Road Ahead

(October 03-04, 2015)

The National workshop was organised /took place on October 03-04, 2015 at the Satyagrh conference hall of M.S.Panwar community and Technical College ,Solan

The inaugural ceremony commenced with the lighting of the lamp by a group of dignified persons Chief Guest Sh.Dinkar Burthoki Director of Higher Education, Chairperson of the Workshop Sh.Vinod Gupta , Prof Zoya Birring, Dr.Dhaval Patel ,Prof (Dr)T.D.Verma (Dean) & Dr.B.S.Panwar President, M.S.Panwar Community & Technical College which was followed by Saraswati-Vandana.

Prof (Dr)T.D.Verma Dean M.S.Panwar Community & Technical College, formally welcomed all the dignitaries on the dais and participants from the various parts of the country, colleagues, guests and students. He made audience aware about the significance of community colleges and the importance of skill based education in the country .He deliberated upon the objectives of this workshop.

Dr.B.S.Panwar President, M.S.Panwar Community & Technical College elaborated upon the thrust areas of skill based and need based courses in which college is currently active. He described and explained the importance of Community Colleges as an Alternative Mode of Education - A Road Ahead in today’s world. He also gave presentation on his one and half month long visit to Community Colleges in Michigan & Texas, U.S. and the best practices followed by them.

Chief Guest Sh.Dinkar Burthoki Director of Higher Education, in his address emphasised on the skill based education and told as to how community colleges can play vital role in skilling students. He informed the gathering that presently two community colleges are being run by Himachal Government in Nalagarh and Paonta Sahib and one is proposed to come up in Una.

Keynote speakers in the first session of the workshop were Dr.Dhaval Patel and Prof Zoya Birring . Dr. Dhaval thoroughly discussed the concept and credit system implemented in USA and said that future of community colleges in India is very bright if established and managed properly. Prof Zoya Birring focused on brushing up arithmetic and communication skills. She gave a detailed presentation regarding community colleges in USA and Associate Degree programmes in practical skills.

Chairperson of the Workshop Sh.Vinod Gupta Ji in his remarks appreciated the efforts of Dr.B.S.Panwar President, M.S.Panwar Community & Technical College, who has been putting a great deal of efforts in community service by running skill based job oriented courses for past 11 years. Sh. Gupta assured to extend his full support and cooperation to the college management in times to come as well.

All the guests were facilitated at the end of the inaugural session.

THE FIRST TECHNICAL SESSION

The first technical session was chaired by Dr. Biren Das, Registrar, Tejpur University, Aasam. Amitava.Mitra Prof of Economics Rajeev Ghandi University,Itanagar,Arunachal Pradesh gave a wonderful presentation on eco tourism and scope of this profession in hilly regions. Prof (Dr.) Mamta Bhatia from Delhi University expounded her detailed views on the courses and project which can help students groom their skills. She also told about UKERI & CII projects .She encouraged participants to explore opportunities and offered all support. Chairman Dr. Biren Das concluded the final remarks which was followed by an open house.

2ND DAY

Second day’s first session started at 10:30 am which was chaired by Dr. Mamta Bhatia .Keynote speakers for this session were Sh.Malay Dewanji,Honrary General Secretary of All India Association of Volunteer Agencies ,Delhi and Sh.M.L. Garg Fellow Member of Institute of Engineer India. Both explained the need of the skill based education & also focused on the strategy that should be in place to involve the students.

Dr Dr.B.S.Panwar President, M.S.Panwar Community & Technical College in his comprehensive presentation spelt out as to how community colleges can work as an alternative mode of education and how this mode fits best to our society. He highlighted the vision, concept and philosophy of community colleges. He laid an emphasis on the Industry –Academic Interface and also illustrated the difference between community colleges and other vocational institutions.

Valedictory Session

Valedictory Session started at 3:30 pm .The chief guest of this session was Dr.(col.)Dhani Ram Shandil, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Govt. of Himachal Pradesh. Prof (Dr)T.D.Verma Dean ,M.S.Panwar Community & Technical College formally welcomed all the dignitaries and thanked them to be a part of this event. Dr.B.S.Panwar gave a brief presentation on community colleges to the audience. Dr.(Col.)Dhani Ram Shandil, in his address admired the honest endeavours of M.S.Panwar Community & Technical college to uplift the deprived sections of the society. He in his forward looking speech promised to extend his wholehearted support .On Philosophical notes Dr. Shandil advised everyone present to introspect about community colleges and launch a campaign in order to make it a success .He observed that career counselling is the need of the hour and coordinated efforts should be put into place & career counselling cells must be made so that students of Himachal Pradesh are benefited. He focussed on the need of setting –up many Community colleges in the state. He assured to undertake the concept of community colleges forward.

Madam Lalita Panwar proposed the vote of thanks. She thanked all the invited guests for gracing the occasion by their solemn presence and to all the participants of the workshop . Mr.Pramod Sharma Head-Administration& community outreach conducted the stage & Yashwant Thakur had been assigned with the role of the co-ordinator.Ms Saloni Gautam ,Mr.Rajat assisted in registration and providing lunch to the participants.

In addition to Himachal Pradesh the participants who attended the workshop had come from Chandigarh, Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh,Aasam,Gujrat Calcutta,Utter Pradesh,Uttrakhand and U.S.A.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

CHAIRMAN SH. VINOD GUPTA

Gupta Ji is Chairman, Meridian Group of companies is a pioneer of the medicine industry in H.P. A true philanthropist and genuine community leader;

He is a member, state Advisory Committee, Ministry of Health and Ayurveda H.P., President of Bhagat Drug Manufacturers Association Solan. Recipient of many awards. Under his dedicated mentorship Meridian Medicare has conquered new horizons.

CHIEF GUEST SHRI DINKER BURATHOKI

Shri Dinker Burathoki a personality of eminence. Imparting quality education in Govt. Institutions of Himachal Pradesh is his priority and continued efforts are being done under his committed guidance. He is leaving no stone unturned to upgrade the teaching standards.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER DR. DHAVAL PATEL

He is renowned Senior International Advisor, Social Innovator and Entrepreneur, Award Winning Speaker, Organisational Strategist and professor.

Dr. Dhaval Patel's passion is to help people globally especially in developing countries. He has spent many decades living in working with and travelling to over 70 countries in America, Asia, Africa and Europe to pursue his mission while actively leading social programs. Dr. Patel using his years of practical experience founded a global group called “I am Power Humanity” which is now strengthening the social human side of private sector businesses, non-governmental agencies, governmental entities, universities and schools. Dr. Patel spends his days lecturing, advising, and working administrators, faculty and students to deliver seminars offer strategic inputs and provide technical assistance.

Dr. Patel is an excellent linguist; speaks, reads, writes, understands English, Spanish, Gujrati and Hindi.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER PROF. ZOYA BIRRING.

Prof. Zoya moved to USA after getting her M.Phil. in Physics from Punjab University, Chandigarh. Later she got an M.S. in Mathematics from university of Houston, Texas. She taught Mathematics in US for over 30 years. First at University at Texas-San Antonio and then at San Jacinto College Houston, Texas. She was also the adjunct coordinator for the Mathematics Department and served as lead faculty and Acting Department Chair.She was very actively involved in numerous communities across the college district. She has also served as the mentor for international students in her college.

Besides this, she is well-versed in Urdu Poetry.

PROF. DR. T.D. VERMA, DEAN M.S. PANWAR COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Dr. Verma has done M.Sc. Agriculture, M.Sc. Forestry from U.K. He has also done P.G. Diploma in Public Relations and M.A. Mass Communication.

DR. B.S. PANWAR, PRESIDENT M.S. PANWAR COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Dr. Panwar has founded the institution with his wife and that time it was the first community college in Northern India. The student population tends to be highly diverse with regard to age, experience, socio-economic background, and employment status, and Dr. Panwar is irrevocably committed to advancing his lifelong educational development while strengthening the economic, social, and cultural life of the community.

He has been running a one-man show for past 11 years, helping underprivileged, abused, and neglected students of Himachal Pradesh through his community service.

The Chair Person for this First Technical Session Dr. Biren Das

Dr. Das is the Registrar at Tezpur University in the state of Assam. He joined Tezpur University twenty years ago, and the school is currently playing a lead role in the development of community colleges and vocational training courses in Assam. Dr. Biren is known for developing strategies to engage various local enterprises in the community college system, particularly the tea, petroleum, textile, food processing, hospitality management, and tourism industries that hold high potential for the region's economic development.

First Speaker of this session Dr. Amitava Mitra

Dr. Amitava Mitra, Prof. Economics, Rajiv Gandhi University: Itanagar. Dr. Mitra is a senior professor in the Department of Economics at Rajiv Gandhi University. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he is currently the Acting Finance Officer, Director of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell, and Nodal Officer of University's Community College. He has completed several prestigious research projects focused on the environment, nature-based tourism, and rural livelihoods, including projects sponsored by the Indian government, the Indian Council of Social Science Research, and the United Nations Development Programme. He remains particularly interested in the development of community colleges.

Speaker Dr. Mamta Bhatia

Dr. Mamta Bhatia, she is an Officer on Special Duty, Centre for Professional and Technical Training, Campus of Open Learning at the university of Delhi, in addition to coordinating with industry partners to implement short term vocational courses. Her responsibilities includes budgetary provisions and grant implementation.

Dr. Bhatia received Masters of Philosophy and PhD in Physics and Astronomy from the university of Delhi.

Facilitation of the speakers

AN OPEN INVITATION

Dear Sir/Madam,

Greetings,

We are pleased to inform you that M.S. Panwar Community & Technical College is organizing a two-day National Workshop on

“Community Colleges As An Alternative Mode of Education in India A Road Ahead” on its premises in Solan H.P. on October 3rd & 4th, 2015. The main objective of this workshop is to create awareness about the Concept of Community Colleges in India and help the NGOs and Educational Institutions by providing them guidance on how  to start Community Colleges in their respective regions.

A panel of experts from India and USA including Fulbright Scholars who visited 9 Community Colleges in USA in September-October, 2014, would be the guest speakers on this occasion. Two academicians who are associated with the Community College movement in USA and have worked in Community Colleges in Texas shall be keynote Speakers on the Community College system in USA. Dr. B.S. Panwar would share his experiences of recent one month long visit to 10 Community Colleges in Michigan and Texas states of USA.

We are planning to bring out a Souvenir on this occasion. So, you are requested to send your papers for publication by September 20, 2015 in doc/pdf/ formats. However, due to scarcity of time, it will not be possible for us to provide you the opportunity of presenting the paper.

As all of you know, we are an upcoming Community College with limited means; it would not be possible for us to take care of your travelling expenses. The participants would have to bear their own travelling and lodging expenses. However, accommodation on the payment basis can be arranged on prior intimation. The Registration Fee for the Workshop is Rs 1,500/- per participant to be paid in the form of DD in favour of  Director, M.S.Panwar Community College payable at SolanThey would be provided working lunch, tea and snacks for two days along with the workshop kit.

We hope you will avail this wonderful opportunity of sharing your knowledge and ideas on Community Colleges and taking this movement further.

With warm Regards,

Yours Sincerely,

Pramod Sharma (Organising Secretary)
Assistant Professor
Head Administration, Admissions and Community Outreach
Mob: 9418477935, Email: prmo.sharma@gmail.com

Yashwant Thakur (Organising Secretary)
Mob: 9459022104, Email: yashwantt47911@gmail.com