MAHENDERGARH, 22.12.25-A Two-Week Online Refresher Course on “Current Trends in English Language and Literature” hosted by the UGC–Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre concluded at the Central University of Haryana.

The course was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Haryana as well as the Chief Guest of the programme, Prof. Tankeshwar Kumar. Prof Sharawan Kumar Sharma, Guest of Honour; Visiting Professor Nalanda University; Prof. Parmod Kumar, Director UGC-MMTTC, Prof. Tanu Gupta, Deputy Director, UGC-MMTTC, and Dr. Shaweta Nanda, Coordinator of the program.

Prof. Tankeshwar Kumar, in his address, highlighted the importance of refresher courses in general and how they ultimately benefit the faculty members and finally benefit the students. He had emphasised that the refresher course on “Current Trends in English Language and Literature” would help map current developments and trends, which are essential for understanding the changing landscape of the English language and literature. He covered the role of the English language in our lives and how we are at a phase where we are learning to use it to preserve our culture.

The programme received an overwhelming response. With 312 registered participants, including 165 women and 147 men, the programme truly represented a pan-Indian cohort. The participants come from about 226 universities and colleges across 27 states and union territories. The group was composed mainly of Assistant Professors, along with Associate Professors and Professors working in Higher Education Institutions offering English studies. The diversity of regions, institutions, genders and career stages enriched every discussion, transforming the sessions into vibrant spaces of dialogue, debate and collaborative learning. The Refresher Course was designed in line with the vision of the UGC Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme and the spirit of NEP 2020, which emphasises continuous professional development, interdisciplinary and learner-centred pedagogy. The Course highlighted new theoretical approaches, pedagogical innovations, and interdisciplinary trends that are redefining English Studies in the 21st century. What began with a thoughtful inaugural vision unfolded into a rigorous, enriching and future-oriented engagement with English Studies, as echoed in the feedback shared by the participants.

An outstanding galaxy of eminent resource persons from premier institutions across the country shared their extensive research, editorial leadership, and cross-cultural academic collaborations over 48 sessions. Their lectures mapped emerging theoretical frameworks, new areas of research such as blue humanities, ecocritical approaches, preservation of folk literature, medical humanities, digital humanities, innovative pedagogical practices, and interdisciplinary approaches that are reshaping the discipline today. From addressing the supposed crisis facing humanities and allied computational creativity to new readings of literature, culture and language in times of technological and social transformation, the participants gathered deep insights into different areas from the respective experts. Their generosity in sharing knowledge, experience and scholarly insight made the refresher course not just an academic exercise, but a genuinely transformative professional experience and opened up new areas of research.

Some of the eminent speakers were Prof. Shrawan Kumar from Gurukul Kangri University, Hardwar who spoke on Language and Literature in Indian Aesthetic Tradition, Prof. Deepti Gupta from Punjab University, who spoke on Research in English Language Studies, Prof. Souvik Mukerjee from Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta, conducted a session on Digital Tools for Humanities Research while Prof. (Dr.) Christel Devadawsn covered Graphic Narratives as an emerging trend, Prof. (Dr.) Swayam Prabha Satpathy from Shiksha O' Anusandhan University, delivered a lecture on The Decline Of Standard English: What It Means for Learners and Teachers. Apart from these the lecture by Prof Anjana Sharma from University of Delhi on New Paradigm in Literary Studies, Posthumanism: The Popular and the Critical by Prof. Pramod K Nayar from University of Hyderabad, English Language Research: Emerging Developments and Directions by Prof Shahila Zafar and Teaching Research Methods to Undergraduate Students of Humanities by Prof Simi Malhotra from Jamia Millia Islamia were some of the popular sessions among the participants. Prof. Alpana Saini, Dean, School of Languages, Literature and Culture, Central University of Punjab was the Guest of Honour during the Valedictory session. Prof. Tanu Gupta, Coordinator and the Head of the Department of English and Foreign Languages introduced the guest of honour while Prof. Parmod Kumar, Director MMTTC, delivered the vote of thanks.