Mangalore Diocese News

Media Release

Mangaluru, Jan 14 : The Valedictory programme of the three-day international conference on “EMPOWERING MINDS: Collaborative Learning Platform for Teachers, Librarians and Researchers” organised by the Library and Information Centre, St Agnes College (Autonomous), Mangaluru, in collaboration with LIS Academy, Bengaluru, took place on 13 January 2024 at 12 noon. The programme was the culmination of two and a half days of fruitful deliberations, knowledge sharing and research presentations by educators, librarians and researchers from all over India and abroad. 240 delegates had participated in the conference.

The Chief Guest of the function was Professor MS Moodithaya, Vice Chancellor, Nitte (Deemed to be) University, and the President was Sr Dr Venissa A.C., Principal, St Agnes College (Autonomous) Mangaluru. The Guests of Honour were Sr M Carmel Rita A.C., Administrator, St Agnes College, Dr Gopakumar V., Head, Knowledge Centre, Digital University Kerala and Shri Ganesh Pai N., President, AMUCT. The dignitaries, participants of the conference and the audience were welcomed by Dr P.V. Konnur, President, LIS Academy - which was the co-organiser of the conference. He described the conference as a convergence of brilliant minds and a wonderful platform for collaborative learning and growth.

In her presentation as the Rapporteur General of the conference, Dr Supreetha Shetty, Chief Librarian, Nitte (Deemed to be) University, gave an incisive and clear account of the proceedings of the conference. She provided a brief report of the inaugural programme of the conference and provided information on the publications released on the occasion. The edited volume of the research articles included 83 curated articles out of the 123 articles submitted after a thorough and stringent review process. Her comprehensive report encapsulated the essence of the various guest lectures by eminent academicians, the insightful discussions, and the innovative ideas in the paper presentations by those educators, librarians and researchers who had come from various institutions of India and from outside India. She commended the organisers on a very well conducted conference and expressed pleasure at the evening cultural programmes which were a source of entertainment as well as informal networking.

A feedback from the participants of the conference followed and those who expressed their appreciation included Vasanth Raju, Principal and College librarian, GFGC, Talakadu; Mustafa Ismail Adakana, Senior Librarian, Bayer University Karo, Nigeria; Prakash Gowda SU, Librarian, GFGC, Koppala and Dr Jayalakshmi Kithur, GFGC, Bagalkot. They praised the organisation, the hospitality and the quality of the conference among other aspects of the conference.

In his address, Professor MS Moodithaya reminded the audience that we live in a knowledge economy where the acquisition of knowledge gives a competitive advantage. With India’s average age being much below that of other countries, we must make use of the talented youth that we have if we have to meet the goal of global dominance, which is the struggle we face in the present day, he said. He stressed on the need for collaborative learning platforms such as this conference, for the illiterates of the twenty first century will be, like in Toefler’s Future Shock, those who can’t unlearn, relearn ( and up learn) in order to become relevant. Sustainable growth, sustainable development calls for empowering minds and this particular conference would have met the purpose, he noted.
Shri Ganesh Pai congratulated the college and the organising convenor on a very fruitful conference.

Sr Carmel Rita A.C. prayed that the organisers, educators, librarians, researchers would have gained much from this conference and suggested that everyone reflect for a moment to decide on one activity that they would undertake as a follow-up of the conference.

The President of the function, Sr Dr Venissa A.C. spoke about how fortunate it was to have speakers who were excellent in their domains to be a part of this conference. The conference has been successful, she said, in providing a platform where the interaction of diverse viewpoints created a reservoir of knowledge capable of shaping the future of education. She pointed out that a true sense of collaboration was visible during the working and conduct of the conference.

The hosts presented beautifully carved mementoes to all those who had contributed to the making of the conference. The Organising Convenor, Dr Vishala BK whose efforts had received immense appreciation from the attendees of the conference, gave her own vote of thanks at the end of the programme. She made a special mention of the unstinted support offered by Mr Gopakumar, Head of Knowledge Centre, who had donned the role of the director of the conference for all the sessions. She acknowledged the contribution of the management, the honourable guests, the sponsors, the resource persons, the participants, the organising committee, the co-convenor of the conference Dr Prima D’souza and all the committee members towards this international conference.

The Valedictory programme ended with the national anthem. Mrs Malavika Adyanthaya, Assistant Professor, ensured the smooth conduct of the programme through her efficient compering.