IIT Madras launches national faculty program to boost STEM education

IIT Madras is set to host a nationwide residential training program for college faculty teaching physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biotechnology, aiming to strengthen STEM education in the country.

The free initiative will be organized by the institute’s Teaching Learning Centre (TLC) under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme (MMTTP) in collaboration with BodhBridge Education.

The program is open to faculty from both undergraduate and postgraduate science courses in public and private institutions.

Each batch will accommodate 50 participants, with shortlisted applicants notified by email.

Sessions will be conducted at the TLC Hall and the Central Library on the IIT Madras campus, combining lectures, laboratory work, innovative pedagogy, and discussions on current research.

Professor Edamana Prasad, Chairman of the TLC, said the course is designed to enhance teaching effectiveness and improve student engagement.

“The aim is to ensure better student performance, boost enrollment in STEM, and promote diversity and inclusion in higher education,” he explained.

He also noted that the initiative supports the Union Education Ministry’s goal of continuous improvement in India’s education system.

The curriculum will blend core and advanced topics with practical exposure, encouraging faculty to adopt modern, inquiry-driven teaching methods.

Assessment and certification will follow the MMTTP framework. Reflecting the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the training will focus on interdisciplinarity, skill development, research and innovation, experiential learning, and global academic readiness.

The training schedule is as follows:

• Biotechnology: Aug 22-30, 2025
• Chemistry: Oct 7-17, 2025
• Physics Batch 1: Nov 11-19, 2025
• Physics Batch 2: Nov 20-28, 2025
• Mathematics: Dec 15-24, 2025

By creating a platform for faculty across India to engage in research-oriented, hands-on learning, IIT Madras hopes to build long-term teaching capacity that will better prepare students for emerging scientific and technological challenges.