Doctoral Defense: Strengthening Teacher Leadership and Mentorship via Professional Development Training

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, Fr. Augustine Thekkepookombil SDB (Augusty TA) successfully defended his doctoral thesis titled “Impact of Teacher Professional Development Programme on Leadership and Mentorship among In‑service Teachers.” The study was carried out under the supervision of Dr. Greta D’Souza, Professor, School of Education. The public defense was graced by the presence of Fr. Geo, Councillor for Education, Fr. Felix, Rector and Manager, Don Bosco Chitradurga, and more than fifteen Salesians, along with professors, university representatives, doctoral scholars, well‑wishers, and family members.

His doctoral study makes a significant contribution to the field of teacher professional development, with particular emphasis on leadership and mentorship among in‑service teachers. Importantly, the research is anchored in the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and its implementation frameworks, including the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) and the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM). By aligning with these national priorities, the study advances academic discourse while providing a practical model for empowering teachers to meet policy expectations of continuous professional development, leadership readiness, and structured mentorship.

Dr. Fr. Augusty TA has further extended the application of his research through publications and training initiatives, adopting the same module within the Salesian Mentoring Framework to train faculties in Salesian colleges. This applied contribution strengthens the mentoring culture and leadership capacity across schools and higher education institutions, reinforcing the Salesian mission of holistic teacher formation while responding to the national call of NEP 2020.