Pune: Cambridge University Press & Assessment has partnered with Vishwakarma University, Pune, to launch a Pre-Service Teacher Training Programme, aimed at equipping aspiring educators with essential teaching skills for modern classrooms. This initiative aligns with Cambridge’s commitment to advancing education and fostering teacher excellence.
The programme was officially inaugurated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 18 February 2025. It represents Cambridge’s first step in expanding its pre-service teacher training initiatives, complementing its existing professional development courses.
With the UNESCO-Teacher Task Force reporting an urgent global requirement for 44 million teachers by 2030, the demand for high-quality teacher training has become increasingly evident. India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 underscores the importance of innovative teaching strategies, technological integration, and competency-based learning—elements that form the foundation of this newly launched course.
The short-term certification programme (three to four months) is specifically tailored for B.Ed graduates and aspiring teachers, focusing on pedagogical skills, classroom management, assessment strategies, and technology integration in education. Internship opportunities will also be provided to give participants practical exposure to teaching methodologies.
Arun Rajamani, Managing Director of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, South Asia, emphasized the programme’s role in shaping competent educators. “At Cambridge, we believe that investing in teachers is critical for achieving better learning outcomes. Our Pre-Service Teacher Training Programme is designed to equip educators with the ability to foster enquiry-based learning, critical thinking, socio-emotional development, and the application of emerging technologies, including AI, to support personalized learning.”
Bharat Agarwal, President of Vishwakarma University, highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating: “This collaboration with Cambridge provides aspiring teachers with access to global best practices in education. Such initiatives play a crucial role in professional teacher development and in raising the overall quality of primary and secondary education.”
Key Areas of Focus
The training programme aligns with research-backed pedagogical best practices and will cover:
Pedagogical skills and child development
Lesson planning and assessment strategies
Classroom management and student engagement
Integration of technology and AI in education
Socio-emotional learning and parent-community engagement