John Dewey, American philosopher and educational reformer, remarked, ‘Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.’

Education cannot be defined as one fixed period of life, it is an ongoing continuum. And formal education is one of the most enriching periods in one’s life. It defines one’s values, forms perspectives and determines one’s attitude to life. With such an important mantle, it is imperative that the educational experience is holistic, challenging and offers avenues for individuals to grow and evolve. This is where great teachers play an important part in inspiring their students, kindling their interest and motivating them to excel in their studies and professional careers. It is sincerely hoped that this book will serve as a comprehensive touchstone for teachers and faculty, especially those at the entry level, to prepare for this important role.

Dr. M. Adithan obtained his Ph.D from IIT Madras; served at IIT Madras; TTTI, Chandigarh and VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu. He has established Academic Staff College at VIT University, Vellore and organized several Faculty Development Programmes. He was a UNESCO Fellow at Ohio State University, U.S.A, Visiting Professor at Brigham Young University, U.S.A. and at University Technology, Malaysia. He is recipient of the Best Teacher Award instituted by VIT University; presently he is Professor Emeritus at VIT University.

Dr. R. Murugavel, obtained his Ph.D. from Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore; served at Madras Christian College, and at Kirloskar Institute for Advanced Management Studies. He is recipient of the Star Award from Coimbatore Institute of Management and Technology. He has organized a number of training programmes for faculty at Academic Staff College, VIT University, Vellore. Presently he is Professor in VIT Business School.