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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE | Tuesday, October 14, 2003, Chandigarh, India |
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for a relook into accreditation process Sanjeev Singh Bariana A majority of colleges and universities in the country are faced with problems for fulfilling conditions for accreditation with the National Assessment and Accreditation Council as the deadline of December, 2003, approaches nearer. All-out
privatisation can spell doom Media club members’
date with Sondhi ‘Thank You, St
Bede’s’ |
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Need for a relook into accreditation process A majority of colleges and universities in the country are faced with problems for fulfilling conditions for accreditation with the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) as the deadline of December, 2003, approaches nearer. Only 60 out of the existing 300-odd universities in the country are accredited at the moment and only 600 out of the 13,000-odd colleges have completed the process. The deadline for the universities was December 2002. This means the target will not be achieved even by the year-end. The deadline for colleges is December, 2003, and not even half of them will be accredited. More than 4000 colleges are located in the rural belt of the country and another 2000 odd in hilly and tribal areas. Barring a few, a majority of these institutions will be found in the category of “Assess not found qualified for accreditation” for failing to get the minimum 55 per cent for “C” grade. Principal
A.C. Vaid, GGDSD College, Sector 32, gave a detailed talk on “Accreditation: Apprehensions and Concerns from Colleges” at the golden jubilee seminar of the University Grants Commission at Panjab University recently. He dwelled at length on the problems being faced by colleges before going in for accreditation. “Change is the law of nature. Everything in the world demands continuous evolution and improvement and assessment is the first step towards achieving this. The application of assessment and accreditation is a quality-enhancing mechanism that has yielded good results worldwide”, Dr Vaid said. Dr Vaid gave certain suggestions for quicker completion of the process. He said: “ The solution is that respective universities be authorised to assess their performance in first phase. Further, a large number of colleges are facing a financial crunch due to dwindling assistance from respective state governments. They are finding it difficult to pay salary to their staff, not to talk of paying salary on time. These colleges are never exposed to strategic planning, internal quality checks, performance appraisal self-evaluation and accountability. Accreditation and assessment of such institutions will be a sheer wastage of time.” The process of assessment involved huge financial expenses. Colleges which could not afford even the salary of their staff could not be expected to go in for accreditation, he explained. The entire approach to assessment needed a relook at the level of planning, it was felt. The fact is conventional colleges are not aware of curriculum design and have not taken initiatives to redesign courses. There is no practical application of the training and skills imparted to students. The education is, thus, divorced from societal needs, relevance and employability. The format of NAAC is said to be tedious. Many questions and concepts are not clear such as autonomy, mobility, student progression and research projects. This has created apprehension in the minds of colleges that they might be placed in lower grades. A lot needs to be done in the sphere of infrastructure, libraries and other facilities which has become more difficult in the wake of dwindling government grants. There is a definite need for asking the NAAC to relook into the accreditation process keeping in mind the ground realities. |
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All-out privatisation can spell doom IN the present era of globalisation, there is a growing trend towards privatisation of higher education. Everyone is harping on privatisation, withdrawal of government grants to universities and colleges, the ‘Birla-Ambani report’ and so on. But privatisation is not a panacea for all ills in higher education. India is a country inhabited by the poor. It can ill-afford to blindly follow privatisation like developed and rich countries. Privatisation of higher education will offshoot many new problems such as high fee structure, fleecing of poor parents, low salaries to teachers, exploitation of teachers and lack of security of service. Recently when college fee were hiked in Punjab and Maharashtra, there were strong protests from the public and the governments had to bow before public pressure and roll back the hiked fee. In India, the government cannot absolve itself of the social responsibility of providing higher education to its people, a majority of who are either in the low income group or middle income group. However, there is a proposal from the Union Government that in the next five years, the quantum of grants to colleges and universities should be reduced to zero per cent. This is, indeed, alarming. There had been another tendency in non-government colleges that relates to starting of self-finance courses. By opening self-finance courses, these colleges are, in a way, accepting privatisation. Now the government pleads that if non-government colleges can run self-finance courses, they can also run other courses. So there is no need for grants to private colleges, no need for sanctioning teaching posts and so on. Well-qualified lecturers (many with Ph.D degree) teaching these self-finance courses are getting a paltry salary between Rs 2500 and Rs 3500 a month whereas the starting salary of a regular sanctioned lecturer is Rs 13,000 per month. But the truth of the matter is that regular classroom teaching is primary whereas correspondence or distance education is secondary. Correspondence courses are now becoming a substitute for regular college teaching. It is dangerous development. Correspondence courses have become lucrative, money earning machines for universities. In order to earn more the universities are allowing a large number of diploma and degree courses through correspondence courses at the cost of regular college teaching. Too much emphasis on correspondence courses is fraught with many dangers such as: a) fall in education standards. b) Fall in admissions in colleges (less admission means less income to the already poor colleges) and c) increased burden of examination work of thousands of correspondence students on the limited staff of colleges. Due to the pressure of globalisation, the Indian Government may allow foreign universities to open their branches in India. If this happens, the students will prefer to join India-based foreign universities. Indian universities and colleges will have to compete with these highly advanced foreign universities. Desi institution of higher education may lose relevance. Universities and colleges are being opened for political considerations alone: to please voters. Recently, a large number of engineering and technical colleges have come up in Haryana and Punjab. Perhaps, policy makers have no time to think about their possible ill-effects such as glut of unemployed engineers, fall in standards of technical colleges, rise in tuition fee and earning of huge profits by private engineering colleges and fall in admissions in traditional arts, science and commerce colleges. To conclude, all-out privatisation can spell doom for higher education. Colleges should desist from starting self-finance courses. Instead, they should insist that new courses will be started only if government gives them grant. The syllabi should be updated and teaching aids and information technology utilised. New colleges and universities should be opened with great care, keeping in view the needs of the people and resources of the state. Above all, everyone involved in higher education should work towards restoring autonomy of institutions of higher learning. * The author is teaching at GMN College, Ambala Cantonment |
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Media club
members’ date with Sondhi
SIXTY-odd schoolchildren from different schools of Solan gathered at M.S. Panwar Institute of Communication and Management a fortnight ago for a date with Bittoo Sondhi, national bike racer and cancer survivor. “If you have the will to conquer, nothing can stop you and even God will be on your side”, Sondhi, who has participated in many bike rallies including the Dara Desert Rally and the Great Desert Himalayan Rally, said. “Nothing is impossible for a determined mind. If you have a dream and make the realisation of the dream your goal, sooner or later you will hit the target”, he told the children gathered under the banner of ‘School Media Clubs’ set up by the institute. “Study hard and nurture a dream. I am sure God will help you in achieving your dreams as he has helped me”, Sondhi told a thrilled gathering of schoolchildren. |
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‘Thank
You, St Bede’s’ ON July 7, 2003, I completed 17 long years of teaching at St Bede’s College, Shimla. It seems just like the other day when I had come for my interview. Life was in the doldrums, both personally and professionally. When I was selected here, I knew from that moment, life was going to undergo a major change. A postgraduate in Nutrition, I was trained well for the job, but it was here that my skills were polished. I made my first bouquet here and was on cloud nine when it was given to the chief guest at a function. I can never forget the day when I was called to the Principal’s office and congratulated for good academic results. The pat on the back did wonders for my self-esteem. I started to feel good about myself. Appreciation for small things helped me chisel my capabilities to the maximum. The seminars and workshops I have attended have made me understand the intricacies of the art of teaching. They helped me work on my weaknesses and strengths and acted as a stimulant in improving my rapport with students and colleagues. The value education classes, which are conducted every Saturday, did wonders for my own value system. I was able to do self-analysis; practice before preaching helped me check myself when I was in the wrong. Responsibility used to scare me. Now I enjoy shouldering it. Without hesitation, I can today say: “Thank you, St Bede’s.” My salutations to you on completing 100 years! |
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ADMISSION DEADLINE Armed Forces Nov 10 Diving School, INS Venduruthy, Naval Base, Kochi 682004 (Ker) Commercial Diving Course (10 wks, conducted by Indian Navy) Elig: Indian males, Cl X (50%) or Cl XII. Fluent in Hin/ Eng. Good swimming skills. Age: 18-28 yrs. Selectn: Vetting of appln, Aptitude Test & Screening. Appln F: Send appln in prescribed format with Rs 4800/- (admin & screening charges) by crossed DD favouring "Officer-in-charge, Diving School, Kochi" with reqd docs to the Officer-in-Charge at above add. Course Fee: Rs. 85,400/- + Board & Lodge extra. Art & Design Nov 30 National Institute of Design, Paldi, Ahmedabad 380007 www.nid.edu 1) Graduate Dip Prog in Design (GDPD) 4-yr (Indl, Exhbtn, Comm, Textile & Apparel Des) 2) PG Dip in Design (PGDPD); 2`BD-yr (Comm Des; Indl Des; Tex & Apparel Des) Elig: For 1): 10+2 Age: Up to 22 yrs, For 2): Bachelor’s degree Age: Up to 27 yrs. Selectn: Admission Test (GDPD: Jan 11, PGDPD: Jan 10), Wkshop & Interview. Appln F: Send Rs. 750/- by DD favouring "NID" payable at Ahm ‘bad with self-add, stamped (Rs. 15/-) env (25 x 12 cms) to above add, superscribed "Admissions 2004" or download from web. Also at desig Bank of India Br: Rs. 780/- (cash) till Nov 25. Engineering Oct 31 Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Integrated Rural Energy Planning & Development, Bakoli, Alipur Delhi-110036 www.mgiirepd.org PG Dip in Integrated Rural Energy Tech (1-yr) Elig: BE/ BTech (Mech/ Civil/ Chem/ Elec/ Agri)/ MSc (Phy). Appln F: Send Rs 200/- by DD favouring "Director, MGIIREPD", payable at Delhi with stamped (Rs 35/-), self-add env (27 cm x 12 cm) to the Director at above add by Oct 18. Details: Employment News (Sep 27- Oct 3). Nov 10 IIT - Kanpur, Kanpur 208016 www.iitk.ac.in/doaa/admissions.html 1) MTech Materials & Metallurg Engg, Materials Sc, Nuclear Engg & Tech 2) PhD (Engg): Aerospace, Biol Sc & Bioengg, Civil, Comp Sc & Engg, Elect, Indl & Mgt, Mech, Material & Metallurg, Materials Sc 3) PhD (Sc): Chem, Math, Phy, Stats 4) PhD (Humanities & Soc Sc): Eco, Eng (Litt & Ling), Philo, Sociol Elig: For 1): BE/ BTech/ BSc (Engg)/ MSc in resp/ allied area with valid GATE/ UGC/ CSIR score. (BTech from IITs with overall CGPA of 6.5 and CGPA of 8.0 in last 2 semesters of BTech may also apply without GATE score). For 2): MTech, ME, MSc (Engg) in resp/ allied area. (BE/BTech OR MSc in allied area with exceptional acad record with valid GATE score may also apply). For 3): MSc/ MA degree in resp/ allied areas with valid GATE/ UGC/ CSIR score. Appln F: Send request to the Asstt Registrar (Academic) with stamped (Rs 25/-), self-add, cloth-lined env (23 x 17 cm) specifying prog by Oct 31 to above add or download from website. Dec 19 National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Vihar Lake, PO NITIE, Mumbai 400087 www.nitie.edu 1) PG Dip in Indl Mgt (PGDIM; 2 yr) 2) PG Dip in Indl Safety & Environ Mgt (PGDISEM; 2 yr) Elig: BE/ BTech (1st Div) Selectn: Written Test, GD & Interview. Appln F: Send Rs 1000/- by DD favouring "NITIE, Mumbai" payable at SBI, Vihar Lake Br, with 4 self-add stickers to ‘Asstt Registrar (Academic)’ at above add or apply online. Details: Website. Finance Oct 31 Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai) www.iib-online.org Dip in Banking & Fin. Elig: Bachelor’s deg/ Wkg Professionals Details: Website. Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical & Technological Sciences, Distance Education Wing, 5th Mile, Tadong, Gangtok 737102, (Sikkim) www.miteindia.com BCom (IS)/ MCom (IS) Elig: For BCom: 10+2, For MCom: BCom Appln F: At study centres. (www.miteindia.com/courses/center.asp) Information Technology Oct 4 VLSI Design & Research Centre, (D/o Electron & Telecomm), Govt. College of Engg, Shivajinagar, Pune 411005 (Affltd to Univ of Pune) www.nrtindia.com Adv Dip: 1) Embedded Sys Des, 2) VLSI Des. Elig: BE/ ME (Elect &Telecom/ Comp/ Instru/ IT/ Elect) / MSc (Electron/ Comp/ Instru). Selectn: Entrance Test, (Oct 5) (GATE score holders exempted), Interview. Details: Employment News (Sep 27 - Oct 3)/ website. Law Oct 15 Nalsar Univ of Law, 3-4-761, Barkatpura, Hyderabad 500027 (AP) www.nalsarpro.org PG Dip (Patents Law, Cyber Laws, Media Laws, Intnl Humanitarian Law; 1-yr, web-based) Elig: Bachelor’s degree. Appln F: Send Rs 300/- by DD favouring "Registrar, Nalsar University of Law," payable at H’bad to the Co-ordinator, Nalsar Proximate Educn, at above add. Medicine Oct 27 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029 www.aiims.ac.in/ www.aiims.edu All India Entrance Exam for admission to 25% open merit seats in MD/ MS/ PG Dip & MDS Courses in Med & Dental Colleges Elig: Indian nationals, MBBS/ BDS (except from med colleges in AP and J & K) Selectn: Entrance Test AIPGMEE-2004 (Jan 11 ‘04). Appln F: Send Rs. 550/- by DD favouring "Director, AIIMS, New Delhi", payable at SBI (Br Code 7687) to Assistant Controller of Examinations, at above add, superscribe on env "Request for Prospectus-cum-Application form for AIPGMEE-2004" by Oct 20. Details: Website. Scholarships Nov 7 Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Human Resource Development Group (Extra Mural Research Divn), CSIR Complex, Library Avenue, Pusa, New Delhi 110012 Sr Research Fellowships (SRF)/ SRF Extended, Research Associateships (RA). Elig: For SRF: MSc/ BE/ BTech/ with 2-yr post MSc/ BE/ BTech/ research exp or ME/ MTech equiv degree in Engg/ Tech or MBBS/ BDS + 1-yr internship or BPharm/ BVSc/ BSc (Agri) with 3-yrs res exp or MPharm/ MVSc/ MSc (Agri). (60% agg in UG & PG). Employed candidates need not apply. For SRF Ext:: Candidates who have submitted their PhD/ MS/ MD/ MDS For RA: PhD (in a sc or engg subj)/ MD/ MS/ MDS (in medical sc subj) or ME/ MTech/ MPharm/ MVSc with 3-yr R & D exp. Employed candidates need not apply. 5-yr relax for women/ SC/ ST/ PH. Selectn: Interview. Details Employment News (Sep 27-Oct 3) Biology Oct 30 Institute of Life Sciences, (D/o Biotech, GoI), Nalco Square, Bhubhaneshwar 751023 (Or) www.ilsc.org PhD (Utkal or Sambalpur Univ) Cell & Molec Biol, Infection & Immunity, Bioprosp, Inventorization & Conservn, Appld Microbiol & Env Biotech. Elig: Master’s degree (60%) in any br of life Sc incldg Biotech, Env Tech, Microbiol, Biochem & Chem; NET-JRF (CSIR/ UGC). Details: Employment News (Sep 27-Oct 3)/ website. Social Sciences Nov 20 Thakur Hari Prasad Institute of Research & Rehabilitation for the Mentally Handicapped, Dilshukhnagar, Hyderabad 500060 (AP) www.thakurhariprasad.org Cert in Speech Therapy (2-mth) Elig: 10+2. Prosp: Send request with a stamped self-add envelope to above add. Details: Web.
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