MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION
[Research . Extension]
Teaching, Research and extension are the three basic academic activities of the Universities which as per the University Grants Commission Policy frame in 1978, are to be given equal status.
The role, function, composition of the Academic Council, Faculty Council and Board of Studies are given in Chapter 10. Here, we would discuss the management of research and extension programmes in the University System.
11.0 RESEARCH The Universities should be nerve centres for fundamental as well as applied research and there is a uniqueness in the combined prowess of teaching and research. Unfettered research can be undertaken in Universities to open unexplored frontiers. In spite of grossly inadequate support to University research over a protracted period in absolute terms as well as relatively to agency based research establishments, the researchers from University System have done well and an analysis of the prestigeous national awards will clearly bear this out.
We are of the view, that survival and growth of the institutions of higher learning depend to a large extent upon the constant generation and spread of new knowledge through researches. Lack of research input is expected to turn an institution into a "Teaching Mill", whose output will be eventually sterile and incapable of guiding the society. We suggest that the following structures be adopted at the University / Faculty / Department to make reserch activities more effective:
1. University Research Board
2. Faculty Resarch Board
3. Departmental Rearch Board
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11.0.1 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH BOARD The University Research Board will function under the Chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor and may include Deans of Faculties, representatives of social groups, National Laboratories, R & D organisations, industry etc., and of the Government. One of the Deans should be the Secretary of the Research Board by rotation for one year. The Functions of the Board will broadly be the following:
[A] To identify the "thrust areas" for research, so as to make effective contributions to the society;
[B] To arrange internal and external funds for research activities;
[C] To allocate adequate funds for individual research projects;
[D] To monitor the progress of research projects;
[E] To disseminate research information for public use; and
[F] To prescribe general guidelines for the Faculties Departments for:
[1] research schemes / projects;
[2] multi-disciplinary research programmes;
[3] award of research fellowshhips;
[4] foreign fellowships;
[5] to promote and foster collaboration between University and research laboratories,industry, R & D organisations etc.,
[6] Co-ordination of research work in the Universities and research laboratories;
[7] number of students to be attached with each category of teacher i.e. Professor, Reader, and Lecturer.
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11.0.2 FACULTY RESEARCH BOARD It will function under the Chairmanship of the Dean of the Faculty and will include Heads of the Departments, Professors [20% of the strength], Readers [10% of the strength], and Lecturers [5% of the strength] by rotation according to seniority for one year. The Functions of the Faculty Research Board would be:
[a] To indentify the "thrust areas' for research at the Faculty level;
[b] To coordinate inter-disciplinary research at the Faculty Level;
[c] To monitor the progress of Faculty research porjects; and
[d] To disseminate relevant information.
11.0.3 DEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE, This Committee will function under the Chairmanship of the Head of the Department and would include all Professors, 33% of the Readers and 10% of the Lecturers by rotation according to seniority for one year. The Functions of the Committee would be:
[a] To take all measures for strengthening and consolidation of research activities in the department;
[b] To identify the "thrust areas" for research at Departmental level;
[c] To select students for registration as doctoral students and allot supervisor for them;
[d] To arrange for presentation of Ph.D research synopses by the candidates before the Departmental Committee.
[e] To arrange for viva-voce examinations for award of doctoral degrees;
[f] To channelise and monitor all departmental research projects;
[g] To arrange funds for research through contract research consultancy etc.,
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The Committee would also like to emphasise the following:
[a] Research activity is essential for the growth of the faculty, as well as students. Research should be made an integral part of a teacher's work in the University set-up.
[b] Inter-disciplinary research should be encouraged and priority should be given to it. While research activities in Universities are primarily associated with basic research, the time has come for undertaking, prosecuting and promoting research of applied nature, which lead to solutions to real problems of the society and parts thereof.
[c] By and large, Universities are presently dependent mostly on governmental funding for promoting research. Attempts should be made to mobilise resources from industry and trade and developemental agencies for undertaking research which would be useful for the funding Organisation.
[d] Research can become productive and useful only if Universities shake off their isolation and actively interact with the larger society, industry, business, social welfare agencies as also developmental organisations.
[e] Research themes should emanate from the needs of the society. Problems for improving the weaker sections of the society and problems of the country must be selected for research.
[f] Representatives from industry, R & D organisations, National Laboratories should also be associcated with the above mentioned University bodies.
[g] The University Research Board will submit its Annual Report to the Academic Council for inclusion in the University's Annual Report.
11.1 EXTENSION The UGC's Policy Statement of treating Extension as a third dimension of higher education, equal in importance to teaching and research has become most important and relevant now. This policy statement would need the following institutional changes for its effective and sustained implementation:
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[1] Statutory provision for extension in clear terms in all the Acts of the Universities. This is not so, at present in most of the prevalent Acts. In most cases, reference to extension is only indirect and implied.
[2] Every major subject of study should provide for extension work by its students as an integral part of the curriculum. Extension work be designed by each department of studies according to their needs. 20 to 30% time may be allotted by each Board of Studies in its curricula to Extension so that extension becomes an important part of higher education at all levels. It should form part of the assessment / evaluation of students as well as teachers.
11.1.1 CENTRE FOR ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION AND
EXTENSION WORK [3] To facilitate the task of extension work for each Department and to sustain a close and meaningful interactive relation with the Community and Society, EVERY UNIERSITY SHOULD HAVE A CENTRE FOR ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXTENSION WORK.
[a] This Centre should have the same status and privileges as a teaching or research department and it should be provided as such in the Statutes / Ordinances / Regulations of every University.
[b] The Programme staff of the Centre for Adult and Continuing Education and Extension work should have the same pay-scales and privileges like academic staff of other departments subject to their possessing similar qualifications.
[c] The Staff of the Centre for Adult and Continuing Education and Extension Work should be nonvacation academic staff, as they will need to organise large number of community service and community education programmes during vacations.
[4] The Centre for Adult and Continuing Education and Extension Work should prepare comprehensive Annual Plan of Extension Work for all academic departments in consultation with them and should also prepare plans of Community Education and Extension service to be conducted directly by it. The national goals like eradication of illiteracy, reduction of population growth, health for all, environmental protection, promotion of scientific temper, spread of appropriate technology etc., should receive priority consideration in formulating the community service and extension service programmes.
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[5] The University should adopt one contiguous area-based community where it can conduct all its community service experiments with a long-term comprehensive plan of fulfilling diverse learning needs of all sections and particularly poorer section of the people of the area-based community.
11.1.2 BOARD FOR EXTENSION Keeping the above tasks in view, the management structure for Extension work (including that of the Centre for Adult Education, Continuing Education and Extension) should be as follows:
[a] There should be a Board for Extension under the Chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor consisting of all Deans of Faculties, representatives of important service organisations of the area-based community, the Director of the Centre for Adult and Continuing Education and other specialists related to types of extension programmes in relevant areas of Social. Economic and Scientific development, Chief functionaries of development agencies operating in the area etc.,
[b] This Board should have a small Executive Committee of 7 to 9 persons which should meet at least once every quarter under the Chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, to review and plan the specific programmes;
[c] The Board may appoint such expert-committees as may be found necessary for a relevant activity, e.g. Adult literacy, population education, environmental education etc.,
[d] All the Extension, Adult and Continuing Education programmes may be conducted under the direction of one umbrella-organisation viz, the Centre for Adult and Continuing Education and Extension Work. A separate allocation of financial resources for this programme should be made in the annual budget of the University. The Adult and Continuing Education Centre should further allocate appropriate resources for each department according to their needs.
[e] The Board for Extension should act as a monitoring agency for coordinating extension work of all the departments of the University.
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11.1.3 FACULTY FOR NON-FORMAL EDUCATION [a] Wherever this Centre has large programmes it may be elevated to the status of a Faculty of Non-formal Education. The Non-formal system cannot function in the kind of structures adopted for the formal system. For example, the Faculty of Non-formal Education catering to extension work, continuing education, NSS, distance education, open learning, etc, cannot operate through the Boards of Studies structure as the thrust is more on action rather than on discipline alone.
[b] Acts of Universities should make explicit provision for connecting open learning programmes with mainstream where this is the intention.
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