343 Innovation Champions to be trained by IISER Pune under iRISE Programme in Maharashtra 

Pune, 18th May 2022:  A 10-day Teachers’ Development Workshop started under the iRISE programme from May 18-28, 2022 at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (IISER Pune). This residential workshop aims at building the capacity of teachers from classes VI to X and creating Innovation Champions across different districts of Maharashtra state. 

A desired outcome of the programme is to train teachers in inquiry and activity-based learning, encourage innovation at student level, and enhance the quality of idea submissions thereby encouraging more and more entries for the DST Inspire MANAK programme.

 “Inspiring India in Research, Innovation and STEM Education Programme (iRISE)” is a flagship programme in collaboration between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Government of India, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, the British Council, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) UK and Tata Technologies and is being implemented by IISER Pune. The programme is supported by the SCERT, CBSE and various educational bodies of Maharashtra. 

The Phase II Batch was inaugurated by Prof. Jayant Udagaonkar, Director, IISER Pune and Vishal Solanki (IAS), DDG& Director of CPTP, YASHADA on May 18, 2022 at 10 am. Dr Sourabh Dube, Associate Professor, Physics, IISER Pune (Co-Project Investigator, iRISE programme), Vikas Garad, Deputy Director, SCERT, Tejaswini Alwekar, Head, Science Department, SCERT, Manisha Thathe, SCERT were also present at the event.

Shanti Pise introduced and formally welcomed the guests. Dr Sourabh Dube (co-PI iRISE programme) said, “In Maharashtra State, the target is to create more than 300 innovation champions, and 9,000 innovation coaches over 02 years from the pool of science and mathematics teachers in collaboration with SCERT, Pune, CBSE and Educational Societies (Rayat, Shree Shivaji, Matsyodari, Swami Vivekanand, Saraswati Bhuvan, Shirpur Shikshant Santhas etc.).”

He elaborated that IISER Pune will implement the Teachers’ Development Programme in phases. Having received more than 1,000 applications from teachers of SCERT, Educational Society and CBSE, phase I has successfully concluded with around 564 science and mathematics teachers in three batches. 343 teachers have been selected for Phase II, out of which about 60 teachers will be participating in the first batch of Phase II. During the 10-day workshop, teachers will be introduced to concepts of STEM Education, Process Innovation and Cascade Training Modules.

This workshop will engage the participating teachers proactively by incorporating inquiry and activity-based learning.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Jayant Udagaonkar, Director, IISER Pune, said, “Good teaching does not have any substitute and students should be encouraged to think on their own and have innovative temperament. Also, he expressed his happiness that programmes like these will build the next generation talent pools who would be joining the IITs and IISERs in future.”  

Vishal Solanki (IAS), DDG and Director, CPTP, YASHADA said that “There is a dearth of quality teachers in the field of Maths and Science in the state. Hence, these innovation champions should make the best use of this opportunity and they have been bestowed the responsibility of training thousands of teachers through the cascade training model.”

M.D Singh (IAS), Director SCERT communicated his best wishes for this programme. 

Vikas Garad, said that, “As the name “iRISE” suggests – the rise of participants as good science teachers begins with this programme and also asked the participants to make the best use of this lifetime opportunity of being at the IISER Pune campus. 

The event came to a close with vote of thanks by PMU Head, Mr. Mayur Khaire. The entire event has been conscientiously organised under the supervision of Mr. Mayur Khaire, Mr Nitin Tiwane(Project Manager, Schools, iRISE), Ms. Shanti Pise(PTO, Teachers’ Development Strand, iRISE, the Science Activity Centre, IISER Pune and the entire Teachers’ Development Strand Team. 

“Inspiring India in Research, Innovation and STEM Education Programme (iRISE)” is a flagship programme in collaboration between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Government of India, the British Council, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) UK and Tata Technologies and is being implemented by IISER Pune.  

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