Workshop on "Developing Interpersonal Skills"

A workshop on “Developing Interpersonal Skills” was organized at Khaja Bandanawaz University (KBNU), Kalaburagi, on September 5, 2026, to enhance students’ communication abilities, confidence, interpersonal relationships and positive social interaction.

The workshop was organized by the Department of Psychology, Central University of Karnataka (CUK), in collaboration with the Department of Psychology and Student Welfare Counsellor, Khaja Bandanawaz University. The programme was held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Faculty of Sciences, SCI Block, with the participation of around 160 undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Faculty of Sciences, Faculty of Languages, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Faculty of Law.

Prof. Romate John served as the main resource person and programme supervisor. The workshop was facilitated by students and research scholars from the Central University of Karnataka. Ms. Rabia, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology; Ms. Ardra Reghu, Guest Faculty, Department of Psychology; and Ms. Aswathy N, Student Welfare Counsellor, coordinated the programme.

The workshop adopted an interactive and experiential approach rather than relying solely on conventional classroom-based discussions. The session began with participant introductions, grounding activities and ice-breakers, which helped students become comfortable with one another and created a positive environment for participation.

This was followed by check-in activities and the establishment of group ground rules, encouraging participants to maintain mutual respect, attentive listening and active participation throughout the programme. Conceptual discussions were then integrated with practical activities to help students understand the importance of interpersonal skills in their academic, personal and social lives.

The participants took part in energizers and experiential group activities, providing them with opportunities to communicate, cooperate and interact with peers from different academic backgrounds. The activities encouraged students to explore communication, confidence, teamwork and interpersonal relationships through direct experience.

An important component of the workshop was sharing and group interaction, through which students were encouraged to express their experiences and perspectives while listening to those of others. The facilitators also conducted strategy-building exercises, enabling participants to identify practical ways of improving their communication and interpersonal effectiveness in everyday situations.

The programme concluded with reflection and check-out activities, giving students an opportunity to review their experiences and identify key lessons from the workshop. Participant feedback was also incorporated to understand their experience of the programme. A concluding refreshing activity brought the workshop to a lively and positive close.

The workshop provided students with an opportunity to understand that interpersonal skills are not merely theoretical concepts but abilities that can be strengthened through practice, self-awareness, communication, cooperation and meaningful interaction. The experiential nature of the programme enabled participants to connect psychological concepts with real-life interpersonal situations.

The organizers stated that such programmes can contribute significantly to students’ personal development, confidence, effective communication and healthy interpersonal relationships, while also fostering a more supportive and collaborative campus environment. The programme concluded on a positive note, with students actively engaging in the activities and interactions throughout the session.

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