Introduction
A three-day training program titled “Presentation Skills for Professional Excellence” was held at Vikrant University in Gwalior in partnership with the Extension Education Institute (EEI) located in Anand, Gujarat, which belongs to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. This was the first time that EEI administered this type of training in a private university. During this three-day training, the university campus was alive with activity as thirty-nine people from various district locations such as Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Chhindwara, Jabalpur, Sagar, Datia, participated in activities to enhance their communication and presentation capabilities alongside the University Faculty Members.
Day 1: A Powerful Beginning
The inauguration of the event was grand. The Hon’ble Chancellor welcomed the guest speakers, such as Dr. Subhash Katare, Dr. A.P. Ninama, and Dr. Ravi Kumar Chaudhary, by giving them flower bouquets, as well as with Sashes to commemorate the event. This experience united all participants with a common objective; to excel at developing their Professional Competence.
Dr. Sachin Kumar Singh - Dean of Agricultural Sciences - provided a detailed summary of his University’s Activities. Dr. U.P.S. Bhadoria explained the purpose of EEI’s Training Program and how the various components are organised and delivered.
To begin the learning sessions for the day, Dr. Ravi Kumar Chaudhary delivered a motivating Lecture about the different facets of Communication and how to present one’s Ideas effectively to a large Audience. Following Dr. Chaudhary’s presentation, Dr. A.P. Ninama provided an equally informative presentation regarding Non-Verbal Communication – a powerful form of Communication. Throughout the Day, the Attendees were impressed with both Presentations and now have a better understanding of the significance of Communication in developing their Professional Lives.
Day 2: Learning Through Engaging and Active Learning.
Second day was filled with the exploration of various topics through active learning. This day was led by Dr. Ravi Kumar Chaudhary and Dr. A.P. Ninama, who helped participants learn about the different parts of non-verbal communication. The participants became aware of how gestures, posture, facial expression, and body movement contribute to the clarity and impact of messages sent. Active learning through guided exercises and interactive learning provided participants with a means of engaging in the day with energy and experience rather than through theory alone.
Following the non-verbal sessions, the program shifted to learning to develop PowerPoint presentations. Participants were guided through creating PowerPoint slides that were visually attractive and had a professional look. Several areas of focus in this topic were discussed such as font, slide layout, colour scheme, and using images to enhance your message and your story. As participants came from many different regions of the country, the instructors received feedback and ideas for future programming from agricultural universities, KVKs, and governmental agencies. A significant number of participants stated that the second day was beneficial for developing their practical abilities.
Day 3: Communication, Confidence, and Completion
The last day offered an ideal balance between personal and professional development; again, we clearly showed this through our two sessions presented by Dr. Ravi Kumar Chaudhary and Dr. A.P. Ninama, who both encouraged and supported participants' efforts to develop their public speaking skills and time management skills outside of the classroom. Participants learned to speak clearly and with confidence, as well as to improve their stage presence, voicing modulation, and audience engagement, by working together on several team-building exercises and real-life examples provided by the presenters; these exercises created an exciting atmosphere and helped participants understand how to effectively prioritize their workload and manage their time.
In addition to working as a team and developing confidence, the presenters also provided participants with real-life examples of how the skills learned in these sessions will benefit participants in the workplace. Finally, the program ended with a summary celebration and certificates and mementos given to each participant for their commitment and contribution to the program.
