The two-day Faculty Development Program aimed to equip faculty with the mindset, tools and strategies required to embrace AI in higher education. The sessions blended keynote provocations, interactive activities and workshops that addressed the urgency of curriculum innovation, role transformation and ethical considerations in the AI age.
The program was inaugurated by Col. Prof. P. Nagabhushan, Vice-Chancellor, VFSTR, who urged faculty to treat this initiative as a launchpad for becoming an "AI-era university". He emphasized:
1. Embedding AI literacy across disciplines.
2. Reorienting faculty roles from knowledge transmission to mentoring.
3. Humanizing technology by preserving empathy, ethics, and critical thinking.
He was joined by Dr. Venkatesulu Dondeti Dean R&D and Additional Dean, ACSE and Dr. Krishna Kishore Dean, School of Computing, who both stressed the importance of continuous faculty upskilling to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving AI-driven academic ecosystem.
Day 1: Awareness and Diagnosis - August 22, 2025.
Inaugural Session 09:00 - 10:15 AM
The program opened with a welcome by Dr. Jyostna Devi Bodapati. She highlighted the urgency of adopting AI-driven pedagogical strategies to prepare students for future challenges.
Keynote Provocation 10:45 - 11:30 AM
"Smarter vs. Wiser: Rethinking Higher Education in the AI Era" by Dr. Pradeep Kumar set the tone for the day. He discussed how AI challenges conventional notions of intelligence and wisdom, prompting reflection on Sam Altman's provocative statement: "My kids will never be smarter than AI". The session involved 20 future-facing questions around teaching relevance, assessment and faculty roles.
Interactive Q&A and AI Relevance Audit 11:45 AM - 03:15
Led by Dr. Pradeep Kumar and Ms. Punitha, these sessions pushed faculty to audit the relevance of existing pedagogy and curriculum against AI-readiness. Participants identified gaps such as missing AI literacy, limited integration of digital tools, and inadequate focus on ethical reasoning. Faculty teams drafted frameworks to embed AI fluency into core courses.
What-If Futures Workshop 03:30 - 04:30 PM.
This imaginative exercise engaged faculty in role-playing disruptive AI scenarios such as AI-driven grading systems, virtual teaching assistants and fully automated classrooms. Discussions highlighted both opportunities and ethical dilemmas. Teams presented 3-5 AI-enabled futures for VFSTR, envisioning transformations by 2030.
Day 2: Solutions and Commitments - August 23, 2025.
Curriculum Reimagination 09:30 - 11:15 AM
Faculty explored strategies for redesigning curricula to integrate AI literacy across engineering, management and humanities. Recommendations included flipped classrooms, blended learning, micro-credentials and AI case studies in diverse subjects.
Faculty Role Transformation Workshop 11:30 AM 01:00 PM
Led by Ms. Punitha, this session emphasized shifting faculty roles from content delivery to mentorship, coaching and critical thinking facilitation. The discussion also examined AI's role in automating routine tasks grading, scheduling, freeing educators to focus on humancentered teaching.
AI Ethics & Responsibility Charter 01:45 - 03:15 PM
Faculty worked collaboratively to draft a framework for responsible AI adoption. Key themes included bias detection, fairness, transparency, and sustainability. Participants agreed that AI tools should be humanized to preserve empathy and ethics in education.
Action Planning & Closing Session 03:30 - 04:00 PM.
Participants finalized an action plan with commitments to integrate AI modules in their teaching, continuously up-skill and mentor students in human-AI collaboration.
Key Outcomes:
1. Curriculum Relevance: Consensus to embed AI literacy across disciplines and launch interdisciplinary AI modules.
2. Faculty Role Reorientation: Recognition that faculty must evolve into mentors, facilitators and ethical guides.
3. Ethics & Responsibility: Commitment to balancing technological progress with fairness, transparency and empathy.
4. Institutional Shift: Established VFSTR as a forward-looking institution preparing for the AI era.
Feedback & Closing
Participants praised the interactive, hands-on format of the FDP. The sessions provided clarity on practical tools and future challenges, offering a roadmap for institutional transformation.
The valedictory was led by Dr. Jyostna Devi Bodapati. who emphasized the need for continuity through follow-up FDPs. The program concluded with a vote of thanks and felicitation by Dr. Deevi Radha Rani, HoD, ACSE.
