Faculty members of the College attended an in-house professional development programme on ‘Building Empathetic Relationships’ on 14^th October 2020. The programme was facilitated by the Department of Contemplative Counselling and Psychology and organised by the College Management as part of the usual Professional Development Series (PDS) planned for the semester.

Mr. Karma Gayphel, one of the PD facilitators said, ‘the main aim was to promote students’ overall wellbeing through enhancing empathetic relationships between tutor and students’. He also shared, ‘tutor-student relationships are the basis for all interactions within and outside the classroom. If we want our students to do well academically or professionally and have personally fulfilling learning experiences while in the college, empathetic relationship is one of the aspects out of many to facilitate both academic and personal growth’. Mr. Dorji S, a history faculty who attended the PD expressed that the PD was timely and useful as faculties have to be in constant touch with students. Dorji S further added that this PD has given good direction on maintaining an empathetic relationship with students.

Building empathetic relationships is fundamental not just for developing a very conducive and enabling teaching learning environment for both the lecturers students but can contribute immensely in fostering a healthy, collegial and harmonious working environment amongst the faculty and staff in the College.