CHALLENGES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

CHALLENGES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

CHALLENGES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Quality improvement in Higher Education is one of the priority areas to be taken care of by all the stake holders.  The draft National Education Policy-2019 suggests measures to improve quality in higher education restructuring the present system by introducing three types of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Type-1 HEIs are the Research Universities with focus on high quality cutting-edge research and quality teaching. Type-2 HEIs include Teaching universities focusing on high quality teaching across disciplines and programmes.  Tier-3 HEIs are colleges focusing on high quality teaching. All such institutions will gradually move towards full autonomy – academic, administrative and financial. The idea behind it speaks on spreading 'research culture' at the undergraduate level.  The policy also talks about National Research Foundation keeping in view the need for expansion of research and innovation in the country.  Further, the draft report highlights the need for developing vocational and technical education.

This volume speaks on various aspects concerning quality improvement in Higher Education in the context of the recommendations made by the Committee on NET-2019 and highlights the challenges faced by the Higher Education Institutions today and suggests measures to face the challenges boldly and arrive at suitable solutions.

Prof. Nimma Venkata Rao (b. 1957) holds M.A. (Philosophy & Education) and Ph.D. in Education. A seasoned teacher and keen researcher having over three decades professional standing, currently Dean, faculty of Education, Andhra University, Visakhapatanam. A distinguished academician and able administrator, he has guided over 40 doctoral and thirteen M.Phil. scholars. A prolific writer, he has authored thirteen outstanding books in education besides a plethora of research papers. Professor Rao is a recipient of State Best Teacher Award in 2014 from the Govt. of A.P., Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Best Academician Award in 2007 from Andhra University, UGC Faculty Award for International Study and Research Grant in 2004 and visited Kansas State University, USA in 2005 and recently visited California State University, Sanmarcos, CA, USA in 2019.  He served as Convener, Ed CET for three consecutive years (2012-14) in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. He is the Member of State Level Committee constituted by A.P. State Council of Higher Education for establishing Teacher Education University in AP. Under his Coordinator ship, Two year B.Ed. curriculum was prepared  under the framework of the NCTE, New Delhi and implemented in the state of A.P.. Prof. Rao is a member in Andhra Pradesh Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (AFRC) constituted by Govt of A.P. He held the position of Director in the Directorate of Admissions, A.U. and served as a member of the committee on NEP-2019 constituted by APSCHE, Amaravathi, A.P.