Mangaluru: St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC), Mangaluru, in association with the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Mangaluru, Government of Karnataka and the Pilikula Regional Science Centre (PRSC), successfully inaugurated the “Five-day Workshop on AI for Teachers” for Government Primary and High School Head Masters of Dakshina Kannada District on 8 December 2025 at Prerana Hall, Academic Block III, SJEC.
The inauguration began with an Invocation, followed by a Welcome Address delivered by Dr. Hareesh B, Head of the Department of MCA, SJEC, who shared the vision and objectives of the workshop. This was followed by Lighting of the Lamp, symbolising knowledge and enlightenment.
The event featured Dr. Arun Kumar Shetty, Commissioner (In-charge), Pilikula Developmental Authority, who delivered an insightful Chief Guest Address on the importance of Artificial Intelligence in strengthening the education system.The programme was graced by Dr. K. V. Rao, Director, PRSC, Sadananda Poonja A.V., Principal & DDPI, DIET Mangaluru, and Dr. Rio D’Souza, Principal, SJEC, who attended as Guests of Honour, adding value and encouragement to the gathering.
In the absence of Rev. Fr. Wilfred P. D’Souza, Director, SJEC, the programme was presided over by Rev. Fr. Kenneth R. Crasta, Assistant Director, SJEC, who delivered the Presidential Address, emphasizing the need for empowering educators with emerging technologies to lead AI-enabled teaching in schools. The occasion was further enriched by the presence of Dr. Purushothama Chipper, Vice Principal, SJEC, who graced the event and supported the initiative.
The workshop was coordinated by Jayashree M and Sunith Kumar T, Assistant Professors, Department of MCA. The inaugural programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Jayashree M, expressing sincere gratitude to all dignitaries, participants, organising teams, and supporting departments. The workshop is scheduled from 8th to 12th December, with a batch of 130 teachers attending each day. Around 650 school teachers from Mangaluru, Puttur, Bantwal, Belthangady, Moodbidri, and Sullia are participating in the workshop. The event aims to provide teachers with hands-on experience in using various AI tools in education, enabling them to enhance their teaching methods and improve student learning outcomes.
Teachers enthusiastically registered for and actively took part in the workshop. With access to well-equipped computer laboratories, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and skilled in-house resource persons, SJEC successfully organized this impactful program.Dr. Hareesh B, Head of the Department of MCA, Mr. Sunith Kumar T, Assistant Professor, Department of MCA, and Murari BK, Assistant Professor, Department of MCA, served as the resource persons for the workshop.
The SJEC-AICTE IDEA Lab has previously conducted several workshops for school teachers and students of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, focusing on advanced manufacturing processes, the Internet of Things, and emerging technologies.The successful organization of this program reflects SJEC’s commitment to enhancing digital literacy, strengthening teaching competencies, and fostering innovation in school education. By equipping Head Masters with practical AI knowledge and tools, the initiative aims to enable the transformation of classrooms into AI-enabled learning environments across Dakshina Kannada.