Jaipur, The desert state of Rajasthan faces an enormous challenge of attracting the teachers and faculty of good quality to the institutions of higher education. The challenge is compounded by the factors such as excessive burden on teachers, limited opportunities, inadequate resources and other lucrative career options, which make it difficult to retain the faculty of high quality.
These are some of the findings of a study undertaken by the Rajasthan State Planning Board’s Working Group on Education recently on the challenges and opportunities before the teachers’ community in the state. Besides, as many as six studies being conducted at present in collaboration with IIM Udaipur, Central University of Rajasthan, Rajasthan Technical University and other reputed institutions will serve as building blocks for the final report.
State Planning Board’s Member (Education), Prof. Ashok Bapna, said here today that these studies include “Corporate Sector Participation in Rajasthan’s Higher Education” in joint collaboration with IIM Udaipur (Coordinator – Prof. Janat Shah, Director, IIMU), “Innovative Applied Research in Technical & Higher Education in Rajasthan” in joint collaboration with Manipal University Jaipur (Coordinator – Prof. Sandeep Sancheti) and “Role of Universities in Empowerment of Socio-Economically Challenged Sections of Rajasthan” (Coordinator – Prof. M.M. Salunkhe, Member, VC, CUR).
Other studies are “Bridging the Employability Gap” in joint collaboration with Rajasthan Technical University, Kota and IILM, Jaipur (Coordinator – Prof. R.P. Yadav, VC, RTU, Kota), “Faculty Engagement in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities (An Empirical Study with special reference to Rajasthan)” in joint collaboration with JKLU, Jaipur (Coordinator – Prof. Upinder Dhar, VC, JKLU), and “Challenges in Implementation of the RTE in Rajasthan: Policy Implications” by Prof. K.B. Kothari, Member, Working Group on Education.
Prof. Bapna said the outcome of these studies would be available at a Round Table Conference. These studies would provide sound base to carry forward the dialogue during a round table conference on “A Roadmap for Higher Education in Rajasthan” being organized at Puskhar on August 31 and September 1, 2013. The two-day event will highlight the challenges in the field of education in the state and evolve strategies for improving the quality and creating skilled workforce through ingenious steps and innovations.
The Rajasthan State Planning Board (SPB) and the Central University of Rajasthan (CUR) are jointly organizing the conference at Ananta Spa & Resorts, Pushkar. The conference will be conducted under the chairmanship of Prof. V.S. Vyas, Deputy Chairman, SPB & Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Eminent scholars from across the country are being invited for taking part in this significant brainstorming dialogue.
Prof. Bapna said a “Jaipur Declaration” to be submitted to the State Government on the challenges and future strategies for higher education will be released on the occasion by leading educationists, senior officers and policy makers under the leadership of Prof. V.S. Vyas, Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board.
Other challenges identified in higher education include the perceived status of teachers in higher education, lack of meaningful policies and low level of satisfaction in the performance of work. Several recommendations have been made for attracting talented persons to the field of higher education in the series of studies.
Prof. Bapna said one of the recommendations is that the State Government should make a policy announcement for rewarding a higher educational institution every year for its quality services as well as an individual for the research of high quality.
The studies will provide sound base to carry forward the dialogue, according to Prof. Bapna. Some of the leading educationists participating in the event will include Prof. Goverdhan Mehta, Padma Vibhushan Prof. M.M. Sharma, Mr. T.V. Mohandas Pai, Dr. S.S. Mantha, Prof. Sukhadeo Thorat, Prof. Yogesh Atal and Dr. Narendra Jadhav.
-Kalyan Singh Kothari, Media Consultant, Mobile: 9414047744