By Colman Dsouza  

The Don Bosco Technical Institute, Chinchwad recently conducted an orientation session for all teaching staff, focusing on aligning the institute’s mission, values, and performance framework with its long-standing educational vision.

 The session, delivered by Mr Gaurav Patole, Senior Director of Software Engineering at Cendyn, centered on the vital connection between Don Bosco’s founding vision of empowering underprivileged youth through technical education and the modern need to establish a structured, accountable, and transparent performance culture within the institute.

 The session began with an inspiring address by Fr Anton D’Souza, Director of Don Bosco Technical Institute, who emphasized the importance of value-based leadership and the shared responsibility of every staff member in shaping the lives of students. Fr D'Souza highlighted how Don Bosco’s legacy — rooted in compassion, skill development, and social transformation — continues to guide the institute’s mission today. His message set the tone for a session that connected purpose with performance.

 The orientation aimed to help staff members understand why a clear performance management framework is essential: not only to evaluate outcomes but to foster accountability, collaboration, and personal growth.

 During his presentation, Mr Gaurav Patole explained how aligning personal performance with the institute’s mission helps create meaningful impact. He emphasized that performance should never be viewed merely as a metric — but as a reflection of commitment, ownership, and contribution toward fulfilling Don Bosco’s vision.

 - Defining Capabilities and Outcomes: The need to identify the skills, behaviours, and values expected from each staff role — ensuring that individual goals connect directly to institutional outcomes.

- 360° Feedback System: Introducing a more holistic feedback approach involving students, peers, and supervisors to promote learning and continuous improvement.

- Role Clarity and Accountability: Understanding how every department — teaching, finance, outreach, and placement — plays a vital role in achieving Don Bosco’s mission of transforming young lives through dignified employment.

- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Encouraging teamwork, follow-up, and shared ownership to create a culture of excellence across all functions of the institute.

 The session witnessed enthusiastic participation from all departments. Teachers shared classroom innovations and challenges in student engagement, mobilizers discussed strategies for youth outreach, and placement officers reflected on strengthening employer relationships.

 Open discussions, group reflections, and questions led to vibrant exchanges of ideas. The energy and willingness to contribute demonstrated the staff’s deep commitment to Don Bosco’s mission of service and empowerment.

 The session concluded with renewed enthusiasm among staff members to translate the insights into daily action — ensuring that every class taught, every youth mobilized, and every placement achieved contributes to fulfilling Don Bosco’s timeless vision of transforming society through skill and opportunity.

 The orientation at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Chinchwad, marked an important step toward integrating values-based performance culture into the organization’s fabric. Under the leadership of Fr Anton D’Souza, and through the insights shared by Mr Gaurav Patole, the session successfully bridged the institute’s founding ideals with modern operational excellence.

 In the post-lunch session, Fr D'Souza conducted a session on the POCSO Act and the POSH Act. At the end of the day, the Director and the Principal conducted a zero-hour session for the staff.

 The outcome was clear: when vision and performance move in the same direction, transformation is not just possible — it becomes inevitable.