Research Not Mandatory for College Teachers’ Promotions: Javadekar
- HRD Ministry is planning to revise/ change the guidelines for API or Academic Performance Indicators.
- Research criterion is mandatory for the teachers in university departments for promotions at present.
Addressing the gathering at a conference on ‘Higher Education Perspectives in India', HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar pointed that research output is not mandatory for college teachers to seek promotion. The HRD Ministry is planning to revise/ change the guidelines for API or Academic Performance Indicators. At present, research criterion is mandatory for the teachers in university departments for promotions.
Giving details about the new guidelines, Javadekar indicated that mandating research for college teachers has harmed the output for the same leading to a final production of only 13,000 UGC magazines. Many colleges have published quarterly magazines and added them to the UGC magazines list. There are numerous journals which are ultimately affecting the entire research output.
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If HRD Ministry comes up with revised guidelines, it will be a sign of relief to teachers. Usually, the teaching load for college teachers is heavy compared to university faculty. Over the years, college teachers have been in a desperate state as they do not have enough time to present quality research and peer-reviewed journals. The situation has indirectly been affecting their promotions.
Javadekar further clarified that the primary performance indicator for college teachers is the dissemination of knowledge to students so that they are able to learn and put into application what they have studied. The role of a college teacher is imperative in the entire process. The ministry, therefore, has no plans to make research a compulsory criterion for college teachers. If the teachers are interested in going ahead with research, they are most welcome, Javadekar said.
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Javadekar concluded his address by mentioning that college and university teachers are two different categories with varied expectations. They shall carry out research to be eligible for promotion. On the other hand, the revised guidelines will assess the college teachers on a set of different parameters.