MET Institute of Computer Science organised Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on Design Thinking for Educators: A Human-Centered Innovation Approach, held from 14th - 18th July 2025 in Hybrid mode.

This 5-Day immersive journey began with an insightful session by Dr. Swati Lodha, Director, MET IOM. She introduced the core principles of design thinking, with a special emphasis on the \"Empathize\" stage. Through the Pepsico case study, she highlighted how understanding user needs and perspectives is crucial for meaningful innovation. The session set the tone for a deeper exploration of human-centered problem-solving, encouraging educators to adopt empathetic and creative approaches in their teaching practices.

On Day 2, an engaging and thought-provoking session was conducted by Dr. Manmeet Barve, Dean and Associate Professor, MET Institute of Management. Dr. Barve focused on the Design Thinking process from a teacher’s perspective, emphasising its relevance in the evolving educational landscape. He underlined that change is a constant and must be embraced throughout the design thinking journey. His engaging talk provided educators with practical insights into how design thinking can foster innovation, adaptability, and student-centric approaches in teaching and learning.

On Day 3, Dr. Chitra Wadke, Head, Centre of Educational Technology at MET, conducted an interactive session on Creativity and Innovation. During the session, Dr. Wadke encouraged educators to design learning experiences that address the needs of diverse learners - visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing types. Discussions highlighted methods for nurturing creativity among both educators and students, ensuring inclusive classroom engagement. The session empowered attendees with tools to customize lessons for different learning styles, enhancing the effectiveness of education and promoting a culture of creativity and innovation.

On Day 4, Prof. Omprakash Mandge, Course Coordinator and Associate Professor at MET Institute of Computer Science, conducted an engaging and interactive session focused on wireframes and prototypes. Prof. Mandge emphasized the significance of visual representation in the design thinking process and guided participants through the transition from ideation to tangible solutions. Through hands-on activities and collaborative discussions, educators explored how prototypes can bring ideas to life and improve user-centric solutions. The session enabled participants to grasp the practical relevance of prototyping in educational innovation and curriculum design.

On Day 5, Dr. Vaishali Kulkarni, Dean, MET Institute of PGDM conducted an engaging and interactive session on the Business Model Canvas. She explained its key components and demonstrated how it serves as a strategic tool for developing and visualizing innovative business ideas. Using real-world case studies like Uber and Swiggy, she highlighted how companies create, deliver, and capture value. The session encouraged participants to think critically about business viability and customer needs, enhancing their ability to integrate entrepreneurial thinking into academic and educational contexts.

Each session combined theory and practice, empowering educators to drive innovation in their teaching approaches.