Day-1: Five Days Certified Training Program on Advancing Research, Pedagogy & Practice in Legal Academia

Event Date: 2nd February 2026

Event brief description

Day 1 on 2 February 2026, the School of Law at Galgotias University inaugurated Day One of its Faculty Development Programme on advancing research, pedagogy, and practice in legal academia. The event began with a welcome address by Aditya Tomer, Dean of the School of Law, who highlighted the importance of collaborative learning, innovation, and socially responsible scholarship in strengthening legal education. The keynote address by Devender Singh, Vice Chancellor of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, focused on declining student engagement and urged teachers to adopt creative, student-centred pedagogies, integrate research into teaching, and promote peer learning.

The first academic session, delivered online by Debasis Poddar of National Law University and Judicial Academy, explored the journey from curiosity to creativity in research. He introduced “Research on Research,” examined the politics of knowledge production, and used the “apple” metaphor to illustrate changing research paradigms while warning against biases and institutional pressures.

The second session by Mohammad Asad Malik of Jamia Millia Islamia analysed India’s new criminal laws, linking technological reforms with human rights concerns, due process, custodial safeguards, and emerging constitutional questions surrounding state power, victims’ rights, and fair trial guarantees.

Event Detailed Description

On 2 February 2026, the School of Law at Galgotias University inaugurated Day One of its Faculty Development Programme on “Advancing Research, Pedagogy and Practice in Legal Academia,” bringing together scholars and educators to deliberate on innovation and contemporary challenges in legal education. The programme opened with a welcome address by Aditya Tomer, Dean of the School of Law, who underscored the importance of faculty development initiatives in fostering a vibrant research culture and strengthening legal pedagogy. He emphasised collaboration among educators, critical thinking, and socially responsible scholarship, reflecting the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation.

The keynote address was delivered by Devender Singh, Vice Chancellor of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University. He addressed the pressing challenges facing legal education, including declining classroom attendance and reduced student engagement. Noting the post-pandemic shift in student attitudes, he urged teachers to rethink and “de-learn” traditional methods. Prof. Singh advocated a student-centred approach, recommending that teachers begin with case narratives to spark curiosity before introducing legal principles. He also stressed peer learning, sharing of best practices, and integrating research into teaching to make classroom experiences more meaningful and participatory.

The first academic session was conducted online by Debasis Poddar of National Law University and Judicial Academy, on “Curiosity to Creativity: A Cognitive Cartography.” His lecture examined how curiosity transforms into creativity in research. He distinguished genuine research from superficial inquiry, asserting that research must be problem-driven and rooted in real-life contexts. Introducing the idea of “Research on Research,” he encouraged reflection on the purpose and politics of knowledge production. Through the metaphor of the Biblical, Newtonian, and Digital apples, he illustrated shifts in the nature of knowledge across historical contexts. He also mapped research orientations as pro-, extra-, or anti-establishment and warned against roadblocks such as ideology, sponsorship bias, and subjectivity. Drawing parallels between research and judicial decision-making, he emphasised the systemic impact of scholarly work.

The second academic session was delivered by Mohammad Asad Malik of Jamia Millia Islamia, focusing on India’s new criminal laws — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. He described these reforms as a constitutional moment in criminal jurisprudence, highlighting technological advancements such as e-courts, audiovisual recording, and forensic integration, while cautioning about gaps in implementation. Linking criminal law to human rights, he stressed India’s due process framework and the primacy of the accused’s rights, referencing landmark rulings on custodial safeguards. He raised critical research questions regarding expanded police custody, house arrest as “custody,” victims’ rights, state prosecution, and trial in absentia under Section 84 BNSS, questioning their compatibility with constitutional guarantees of liberty and fair trial.

Department Name: School of Law

Event Outcome 

The Faculty Development Programme proved to be highly effective in enhancing the academic and professional competencies of participating law faculty members. By the conclusion of Day 2, participants gained a strengthened understanding of research-driven teaching, contemporary jurisprudential developments in constitutional law, and the growing importance of interdisciplinary legal research.

Faculty members developed improved awareness of advanced legal research methodologies, digital research tools, and ethical publication practices, enabling them to produce higher-quality and impactful scholarly work. The sessions encouraged participants to integrate recent case laws, comparative perspectives, and empirical research into classroom teaching, thereby enriching legal pedagogy and student engagement.

The programme also fostered a research-oriented academic culture by motivating participants to pursue interdisciplinary collaborations, engage in policy-oriented and socio-legal research, and contribute meaningfully to legal reform and societal development. Overall, the event successfully equipped faculty members with practical strategies, intellectual frameworks, and professional motivation to strengthen legal education, research excellence, and institutional academic standards.

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