KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Dec 31: The Physical Education, Health, Guidance and Counselling Wing of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Kashmir Division, successfully concluded a three-day capacity building programme on career counselling skills from December 29 to December 31. The programme was aimed at strengthening the professional competencies of educators and counsellors to enable them to provide informed, student-centric career guidance in schools.
A total of 30 participants, representing all ten districts of the Kashmir Division, took part in the intensive training programme. The initiative provided a comprehensive platform for participants to engage with contemporary theories, tools, and best practices in career counselling, aligned with both regional and global educational and employment trends.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Ms. Nusrat Gilani, Senior Academic Officer and Head of the Guidance and Counselling Wing, SCERT. In her address, she underscored the growing importance of structured career counselling in schools and highlighted the need for equipping educators with updated knowledge and practical skills to guide students effectively in an increasingly competitive and dynamic world.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Syed Azad Bukhari, Academic Officer, SCERT, who emphasized the evolving role of career counsellors in shaping students’ academic and professional trajectories. He stressed the need for evidence-based counselling practices and continuous professional development of educators.
The first day featured two insightful technical sessions. The inaugural session was conducted by Dr. Misbah Rafiq, Project Scientist at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), who provided an in-depth overview of the core theories and fundamental principles of career counselling. Her session focused on understanding student aptitude, interests, and personality traits as essential components of effective career guidance. The second session was led by Dr. Urfath Nabi, who deliberated on the assessment toolkit used in career counselling, with a special focus on administering and interpreting psychometric assessments and interest-based interventions.
On the second day, the first session was conducted by Dr. Amjad Ahad, Faculty Member at SCERT, who spoke on “Bridging Insights to Opportunity: Mapping Educational Pathways to J&K and Global Careers.” He highlighted diverse educational pathways available to students and linked them to emerging career opportunities at both national and international levels. The second session was delivered by Dr. Naaz, who elaborated on “The Counselling Conversation,” focusing on mastering rapport-building techniques, active listening skills, and effective goal setting as core elements of successful counselling interactions.
The third and final day of the programme featured sessions oriented towards practical implementation and future readiness. The first session was conducted by Dr. Fayaz, Senior Academic Officer, District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Srinagar, who spoke on creating future-ready action plans. He emphasized transitioning from individual student portfolios to comprehensive, school-wide career guidance strategies. The concluding technical session was delivered by Ms. Muthara Hanief, Faculty Member at SCERT, who demonstrated the effective use of the ‘My Career Advisor’ app as a digital tool to enhance guidance and counselling services in schools.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Ms. Shaista Maqbool, Academic Officer from the Guidance and Counselling Wing, SCERT. The valedictory session and overall moderation of the programme were conducted by Ms. Nusrat Gilani, who appreciated the active participation of the trainees and resource persons.
Mr. Rauf Ahmad, Senior Academic Officer, SCERT, served as the Programme Coordinator and was acknowledged as the chief architect of the programme for his pivotal role in planning and successful execution of the three-day training initiative.
