Goa State Higher Education Council (GSHEC) and the Directorate of Higher Education, Govt. of Goa, in collaboration with Padre Conceicao College of Engineering (PCCE), Verna, and Government College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Quepem; organised the inaugural ceremony of an ISTE-approved one-week Faculty Development Programme(FDP) on “Empowering Educators and Researchers in AR/VR and Gamification.” The ceremony was held on 14th July 2025at Padre Conceicao College of Engineering (PCCE), Verna.
Chief guest Bhushan Savaikar, Executive Director of GSHEC and Director, Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Goa, emphasised the importance of understanding AR/VR in today’s educational landscape. “The integration of AR/VR in education can revolutionise the way we learn and teach,” he said.
The guest of honour and the Keynote Speaker, Rahat Kulshreshtha, Co-founder – Quidich Innovation labs, alongside other dignitaries, including Dr. Niyan Marchon, Program Director, Directorate of Higher education and GSHEC. Government of Goa , Dr. Pravina Kerkar, Principal of Government College Quepem, Dr. Mahesh Parappagoudar, Principal of PCCE, and Fr. Vicky Hilario, Assistant Director, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the significance of AR/VR in modern education.
The Keynote Speaker Rahat Kulshreshtha delivered a focussed and insightful presentation, shedding light on the applications and importance of AR/VR in various fields. The participants were thrilled to learn about the latest trends and advancements in AR/VR technology.
Other expert speakers for workshop: Yash Dhake(Solutions consultant, Dassault Systemes), Tejas Pawar (PhD Researcher/conservation Architect Director – SDA studio), Dr. Kunal Korgaonkar (Asst. Prof, CSIS, BITS- Goa/ Lead of confluence Lab), Akhilesh Bhise(Founder at INNOVENT), Eddie Avil(Founder, Podcaster & Metaverse Strategist), Amit Tiwari (AI Consultant, Enterpreneur, Business Owner) and
Atul Choudhari (Edu Industry Process Expert Manager).
The one-week FDP is being meticulously planned and executed by Lance de Melo, Asst. Prof. PCCE, coordinator along with Ramita Karpe, Asst. Prof. PCCE, Coordinator and Liana DaCosta, Coordinator and Associate Professor, Govt. College Quepem.
The program aims to empower educators and researchers with the knowledge and skills required to integrate AR/VR and gamification into their teaching and research practices.The FDP is expected to benefit faculty members and researchers from various institutions across Goa, providing them with a platform to learn from experts in the field and network with peers. With its comprehensive curriculum and hands-on training sessions, the program is poised to make a significant impact on the educational landscape of Goa.
