PATIALA: The University Grant commission (UGC) has accepted to start academic staff college (ASC) for Punjabi University. Talking to PunjabNewsline.com, on Thursday Dr. Jaspal Singh, Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University said that it will benefit to all our university teachers to have orientation programme here.

He said that all the funds will be provided by UGC itself regarding its infrastructure and recurring expenses.This will also help to the teachers from other universities to attend the orientation programme here. He added that need for improving the status of the teacher and proposed to provide opportunities for professional and career development so that teachers may fulfil their role and responsibility within the system of higher education. The philosophy and objectives of orientation courses are significantly different from the traditional B. Ed. and M. Ed. Programmes, said Dr. Jaspal Singh.

The functions of an ASC will be to plan, organise, implement, monitor and evaluate orientation courses for newly appointed college/university lecturers within the jurisdiction of one or more universities in a state. An ASC will also organise refresher courses for serving teachers, and orientation programmes for senior administrators and heads of department, principals, officers, etc. 

He further said that he recently meet the officials of UGC in New Delhi and got approval of centre for women studies for exploring avenues of women empowerment.

He said that UGC has already given grant in tune of 2.75 crores to our all 5 department of science under Special assistant programme (SAP).

He further said that government of India has allotted a centre for study of disability. He said under it we will exclusively trained disable persons and will trained them for their livelihood.