Discovering Design Thinking: Faculty Upskilling Workshop for Enhanced Teaching and Learning Strategies
Higher Education Institutions are seen as a hub of research and innovation. The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation has encouraged HEIs to roll out innovations and commercially viable products and support graduate entrepreneurs in considering startups and entrepreneurship as their first career choice. Teachers must teach engineering to prepare students for a world of disruptions caused by technology and help them to adapt to the future.
Design Thinking is a Problem -solving process with a human-centered approach, where teachers focus on preparing students for industries that are technology–driven and are looking for economically viable solutions to existing problems. Universities are encouraged to focus on the people they are creating solutions for, and this process will lead to better programs and services while preparing innovative, self-reliant students ready to take on the entrepreneurship route, induced with self-confidence.
The College of Engineering, National University of Science and Technology, organized two workshops for Engineering, medicine, and Pharmacy on Design- Thinking staff in partnership with Symbiosis Inc, US, on 16th April and 30th April 2023. The workshop was facilitated by Professor David Whiteman, Professor of Industrial Design in the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. The workshop was also supported by a guest Speaker Dr. Raj C, Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of South Alabama.
The objective of the two workshops was to Learn how to use design thinking to encourage transformation and educational advancement. Learn how design thinking can improve course design. Discover how to convert design thinking findings into practical teaching methods. Enable cross-functional cooperation by using a design environment that puts the learner first.
More such workshops are planned to induct staff and students towards Design Thinking Approach.