Chennai: SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) on Monday held the second convocation for faculty members who completed a three-day Faculty Development Programme in Design Thinking, conducted by the School of Design Thinking (SoDT).

The programme, initiated in 2019 through a tie-up with SoDT, aims to instill creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills among faculty members across SRMIST campuses. So far, 14 batches have been trained, covering Kattankulathur, Trichy, Vadapalani and NCR campuses. With 110 more faculty graduating this year, the total number of trained faculty has reached 275, collectively clocking over 450 hours of active learning.

The event also saw the renewal of SRMIST's Memorandum of Understanding with SoDT and Intellect Design Arena for another five years.

Speaking on the occasion, SRMIST Vice-Chancellor Prof. C. Muthamizhchelvan said, “Design Thinking as a human-centric approach is vital to addressing societal challenges. This initiative enhances faculty capabilities and impacts students positively.”

Chief Guest Ramanan SV, CEO-India & South Asia, Intellect Design Arena, said the programme demonstrates “the powerful impact of focusing on mind space” and urged institutions to foster flexibility and openness to new ideas.

SoDT Director and Co-founder Manju Jain highlighted the role of Design Thinking in transforming pedagogy to create engaging learning experiences.

The initiative aims to equip faculty to mentor students in applying design thinking across disciplines, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in line with global standards, university officials said.