Cept University council is drawing a roadmap for improving the quality of teaching and making teaching accountable

Updated on: Monday, June 03, 2013

Cept University's board of management recently concluded after lengthy deliberations that the number of teaching hours for every permanent member of faculty should be fixed every month. Further, students' feedback after every session of classroom teaching would be made important for improving the quality of teaching and making teaching accountable, the board said. For this, Cept University council is drawing a roadmap.

The board of management has said in a policy document that faculty members would be required to spend at least 160 hours a month on teaching, research and academic administration on the campus. Of the total percentage of time spent on the campus, a faculty member would be required to spend 24 per cent in the classroom, 36 per cent on teaching, research and deepening knowledge and 15 per cent tending to various administrative responsibilities, the board has stated.

Currently, Cept University deans hold posts for many years. To give every able faculty member this opportunity, the board has decided that deans will be chosen by a special five-member selection committee and the tenure of deanship will be three years. However, an extension of two years can be sought.

The board has further suggested that a faculty member may engage in just 52 days a year in consultation, to support his or her teaching and research activities. This would ensure that the academic activities of the teacher do not take a back seat.

The university also proposes to put a cap on the ancillary earnings of a faculty member. The extra earnings will be used to create a special fund which will be used to provide students fee waivers, improving facilities at the university and in meeting operational expenses.

"The board is yet to decide on the cap on consultation as in-depth discussion on the issue is needed. But the overriding purpose of a cap is to lessen the university's dependence on government funding. Also, the funds would be useful in providing fee waivers to needy students, and improving library, lab and ICT facilities on the campus," said a senior faculty member at Cept University.

"Another major change that is likely is Cept University following an academic calendar. This was not the case earlier. When students come to a university, they need a bit of certainty about the curriculum. For this, some of the world's best institutions follow an academic calendar. Cept will follow their example," said the faculty member.

TEACHING TO TAKE PRIORITY

To bring focus back on academic activities and teaching programmes some changes have been suggested.

1. Teachers are required to spend at least 160 hours a month on teaching, research and academic administration on campus

2. Teachers are required to spend 24 % time in class, 36% in preparation, 25 % in research and 15% on institutional responsibilities

3. A faculty member can engage in consultation up to 52 days a year to support their teaching and research activities

4. A cap on ancillary earning of faculty members is proposed. The surplus would go into meeting operational expenses of the university and student fee waivers for needy candidates.

STUDENT FEEDBACK

Student feedback will provide key inputs for courses in individual faculty

Student feedback will be collated by individual faculty administrative offices and later be part of the appraisals process of teachers

Faculties and programs will systematically seek international accreditation

Alumni inputs will be actively sought

Selection of Deans

1. To be selected by a five member search/selection committee

2. Tenure for each dean is fixed for three year and extendable by two years

3. A maximum of two discontinuous three year tenures will be allowed for deans

Grants, consultation fee surpluses to meet Cept expenses

1. Donations, grants and surpluses from consulting will meet operational expenses

2. Cap to be imposed on consultation fee earnings

3. These will augment faculty salaries and contribute to upgrading facilities.

Cept University council is drawing a roadmap for improving the quality of teaching and making teaching accountable

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