Many mid-career professionals and experienced individuals often turn to faculty development or management development programs—typically week-long, short-term initiatives—to enhance their skills and knowledge. Various institutions offer these programs, which are primarily targeted at adult learners, yet the delivery methods are often more suited to traditional students. However, the effectiveness of these programs often hinges on how well they are designed and delivered to meet the unique needs of adult audiences.
In this brief note, we share seven key insights from our recent experience of conducting such programs at the School of Management, IIT Mandi. Drawing from the successes of our recent programs, we outline practices that significantly enhanced participant engagement and learning outcomes. These insights offer valuable guidance for designing and delivering more effective faculty development programs tailored to adult learners.
