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Teacher Education

Notes a comprehensive programme for professional development of teachers in Higher Education system
for quality improvement. Subsequently, 45 Academic Staff Colleges have been established in VII
Plan by UGC in universities across the country. The current number is 66.

11.1 Higher Education in India

Higher education in India has grown significantly since the country's independence in 1947. At the
time of independence, the gross enrolment ratio in higher education was mere 0.7% with a network
of 18 universities, 500 colleges and about 700 teachers. The present enrolment in higher education is
about 12.5% with the target of 15% by the end of 11th plan period. The higher education institutional
network has grown enormously; and it is the third largest system in the world only next to USA and
China. The network has 418 Universities, 20,676 colleges and 5.70 lakh teachers besides premium
Technical and management institutions.
The rapid expansion of Higher education system has brought several pertinent issues related to
standards of its quality to the forefront. One of the most important issues is skills and training of
teachers to impart quality education to the students. The quality of education hinges on the skill
and abilities of teachers. In the present day context, teachers play multiple roles including teaching,
research, consultancy, extension work, development of instructional material, and management of
institutions. It is thus necessary to update their efficiency periodically. Many committees in
International and national forum of late have advocated faculty and staff training in higher education
as one of the most important issues which every country must invest in to fulfil the effective
functioning of teaching and learning system for quality out-puts. The World Bank in its report has
commented that “a high quality and well motivated teaching staff and a supportive professional
culture are essential in building Excellence” (World Bank, 1994). Similarly UNESCO has give the
importance of teaching staff and its professional development in higher education by passing a
recommendation on the topic at its General Conference in Paris in November 1997.

11.2 The Academic Staff Colleges Scheme

The UGC–Academic Staff Colleges are nodal institutions established in Universities as autonomous
entities and designated within the University for Staff development purposes and totally funded by
UGC. A high level standing committee consisting of eminent academicians and senior staff college
directors is created by UGC; advices establishment, strengthening and monitoring of academic staff
colleges from time to time. They draw all possible resources available in the parent University as
well as academic resources from other universities and institutions within the State and also from
other states as need be. They have functional freedom within the framework of UGC guidelines.
The UGC has listed functions of ASCs in their guidelines as follows:
The main philosophy behind establishment of Academic Staff Colleges is to provide adequate
opportunities for the professional development of teachers in Higher education system which is
ever expanding. These colleges are seen as inbuilt mechanisms to provide opportunities for teachers
within the framework of knowledge society to inculcate values, motivation and art of teaching.
Secondly, the knowledge explosion worldwide in the recent past has been phenomenal. It is
impossible to cope up with the vast generation of new information, technology and methods,
without resorting to accelerated and organized modes of continuing education. These colleges
provide opportunity for the teachers to update the knowledge in subject, technology and new
methods in various areas of studies. The philosophy and objectives of the courses are visualized
significantly different from the traditional Bachelor of Education and Master of Education
Programmes. In Xth Five Year Plan period one more dimension has been added i.e., training in
Information Technology and E-content development. In XI plan UGC has extended scope of training
to administrative staff of categories A, B and C in Colleges and Universities including UGC staff
(XIth Plan guidelines of UGC).
(a) Formulate a programme of orientation along the broad guidelines given;
(b) Identify resource persons in various fields of specialization for running the orientation

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