Belgian students conducted effective education centred projects at Parul University

Found the Indian teaching methods more traditional design e module for the university

Three Belgian Students from Ghent University conducted effective education centred projects as part of their Internship exchange program at Parul University.

In the last two and half months these students observed the Indian teaching methods in university and schools of the city as part of their curriculum. They found the teaching is much traditional and lacks active and interactive learning.

As a way of contributing to the scope of education in India, these Belgian students have taken up various projects of academic significance, designed to enhance the current teaching methodologies in both primary and higher education.

The students over a period of their two and half months stayed observing the teaching methods by interacting with teachers of the university as well as the schools in Vadodara during their internship. The visit is part of the bilateral agreement between the two partners on internship exchange programs.

Commencing from 3rd of September to 11th November, this internship program was successful in providing clarity regarding the prevailing teaching methodologies. Upon discovering these problem areas the students were able to arrive at concrete solutions to be implemented towards developing the primary and higher educational fields.

Two of the Belgian students, namely Indra Vanoverbeke and Hannelore Van Der Kloot, were working on a project focusing on the professional development of teachers in the higher educational sector. As part of this project, they jointly organised workshop to formulate strategies and techniques centred on instilling profession ethics and mannerisms within some of the teachers, as well as the development of soft skills and interpersonal skills, to ensure a more cordial academic relationship between the students and their teachers.

“We are very pleased to see the progress we have made all
throughout our project, for any obstacle we may have come across, I am grateful
because the guidance we had from Parul University’s professors allowed us to
effectively navigate through these obstacles and actually arrive at concrete
solutions. Not to forget the incredible cultural experience we gained all
throughout our stay” said Indra and Hannelore. 

While the third one of the Belgian students, Eveline took up a project focusing on the subject of Teacher training on effective communication and parental handling in inclusive education. As an additional part of the teacher training project, Eveline’s project went on to focus on formulating effective and active strategies in inclusive education.

As a way of gaining the practical understanding of the teaching methods within the school systems, she also conducted workshops with the help of Ladharam School and Urmi School, two of Vadodara’s primary schools as models for the project.

As the concluding part of this project, she also went on to devise a parental strategy for special children, which will allow the parents to effectively handle their children, by giving them the necessary extra care and attention which they require.

In addition to the project work, the students also got the
opportunity to experience the vibrancy of Gujarat through visits to some of the
State’s most heritage sites which include

Champanger, Gandhi Ashram, Muni Seva Ashram, Poicha Temple,
Laxmi Vilas Palace, along with a refreshing tour of the Himalayas in the North,
during their Diwali vacation. 

“The two months i have spent in India have been truly an eye opening experience for me, this is my second time in the country and I am glad to just share that every single time I spent here gave me something to new discover. The project was effectively conducted and I look forward to seeing the effective implementation of some of the solutions we came up with” said Eveline during the program’s concluding ceremony.

The students also design a e-module for the teachers and management of the Parul University as part of their internship program.

“This is the first time students from Ghent university came at Parul university for their internship programme. They met and took interviews of nearly 70 teachers and professors as part of their internship programme. They focus on leadership and professional qualities and tried to find out the gap areas in classroom management and communication skills. Later they chose three schools in the city specially those providing inclusive education and found the teaching methods are more traditional and lack active and interactive learning. Now they finally completed their internship they will be submitting their reports at the university which is a part of their curriculum. Two more students from the same university are visiting next year at Parul,” said Dr. Preeti Nair Head International Relations Cell Parul University.