The Department of Teacher Training & Non-Formal Education (IASE), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), commenced with a three-day Jamia International Conference on Education, popularly known as JICE-2025, on the theme ‘‘NEP 2020 and Transformative Teacher Education Trajectories’’ on 22nd April 2025. The key objective of the international conference is to examine the interplay of research, policy, and practice to strengthen teacher education and to foster meaningful discussions and collaborations among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers so as to pave the way for creating a globally competitive and inclusive education system in alignment with NEP-2020.
ALSO READ
32 coached at Jamia RCA clear UPSC’s Civil Services Exam 2024
The inaugural session started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Mr. Matloob Ahmad, a B. Ed. 2nd Semester student from IASE, and Jamia Tarana by a team of students led by Mr. Zeeshan Zamir Ahmad from the Department of Teacher Training and Non-Formal Education (IASE). After this, dignitaries and distinguished invitees were felicitated, which was followed by the release of four edited books that comprise the compilation of the research papers of the participants.
Prof. Jessy Abraham, Head of the Department of Teacher Training & Non-Formal Education, IASE, JMI, and Convener of JICE-2025, delivered the welcome address. She expressed gratitude to all and highlighted the main objectives of the conference briefly. Prof. Jasim Ahmad, Convenor of JICE-2025, provided the overview of the conference, covering its major themes, objectives, and expected outcomes. In his background paper, he shed light on how the conference was incepted in 2022 and has been among the most successful events of the university ever since.
Prof. Sara Begum, Dean, Faculty of Education, JMI and Co-patron of JICE-2025, addressed the gathering by sharing her insights about the relevance of NEP 2020 and focused on her Faculty’s commitment to research, innovation, and policy engagement in education. The inaugural session was anchored by Dr. Aerum Khan, Associate Professor and one of the organizing secretaries of JICE-2025.
The first keynote speaker, Prof. Saroj Sharma, Former Chairperson, NIOS, emphasized the vital role of teachers as nation builders, highlighting the key points of NEP-2020 that aim at bringing reforms in teacher education, especially through ITEP. She presented examples of progressive implementation in global and national contexts. Following her, Dr. Gimol Thomas George, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA, the second keynote speaker, presented her viewpoints in virtual mode. She reflected on the role of teachers as architects who shape students. She emphasized the challenges of teacher education that call for an action to invest more in education, focusing on gaining constructive feedback on teaching. She focused on the idea that every teacher should aim at becoming the next leader of the education system. The third keynote speaker, Prof. Kathryn Coleman, University of Melbourne, Australia, in her recorded speech, explained briefly about the evolving role of teachers in uncertain times, focusing on the challenges of teacher education.
The Guest of Honor, Lt. Cdr. Vinod Singh Yadav, Deputy Secretary (Institute of Eminence) UGC, addressed the gathering by focusing on the alarming state of teachers in India. He highlighted the importance of asking accurate and relevant questions to encourage critical thinking among students. The Chief Guest of the event, Prof. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, former Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar, deliberated on the importance of teachers and the challenges they face in today’s modern times, focusing on the need to update their skills and competencies in AI and other emerging technologies.
Prof. Mazhar Asif, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, in his presidential speech elaborated on the implementation of NEP-2020 in Jamia Millia Islamia. He highlighted the importance of cultural values, morality, and corresponding behavior. He also focused on women’s empowerment and the role teachers play in achieving it.
The inauguration session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Ansar Ahmad, one of the organising secretaries of JICE-2025, followed by the national anthem led by Dr. Pettala Ramakrishna and Zeeshan Zameer Ahmad from IASE, JMI.
