Is Tamil Nadu Establishing a Dedicated Training Centre for Government College Faculty?

Chennai, Sep 3 (NationPress) To bolster higher education and elevate teaching quality, the Tamil Nadu government is set to create a specialized State Training Centre aimed at training faculty members from government-operated arts, science, engineering, polytechnic, and vocational colleges.

Currently, the state boasts 11 government engineering institutions, 54 polytechnic colleges, 165 arts and science colleges, and seven teacher training colleges.

The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE) has been assigned the responsibility of developing a detailed plan for this training center, which will act as a central hub for the professional development of government faculty.

A senior official from the Higher Education Department indicated that the center's objective is to facilitate substantial advancements in teaching quality, research output, and institutional development within a relatively short timeframe.

To realize this goal, the center will be outfitted with state-of-the-art classrooms featuring interactive smart boards, modern computer systems, extensive libraries, well-equipped laboratories, and a spacious conference hall.

Experts in various fields will be available to train faculty on contemporary trends and effective methodologies.

The official noted that approximately 5,000 professors and lecturers from these institutions will receive training each year. They will participate in orientation sessions, refresher courses, workshops focused on specific subjects, and training modules covering modern teaching methods, management strategies, and e-learning tools.

The state government plans to allocate around Rs 1,200 per faculty member, totaling close to Rs 60 lakh annually for this training initiative. The official emphasized that enhancing teachers' skills is a primary concern for the government.

To connect academic theory to real-world application, the training modules will also involve collaboration with industry partners.

This partnership is anticipated to refine curriculum design and incorporate practical insights into classroom instruction.

To ensure the center meets international benchmarks, an expert committee will be established to finalize the training modules, infrastructure needs, and operational guidelines. This committee will also propose methods to integrate ongoing professional development as part of faculty service.

The comprehensive plan will be presented to the Higher Education Department for final endorsement, paving the way for the State Training Centre to become a pioneering initiative in Tamil Nadu’s higher education landscape.