Ravenshaw University to start teaching cum research programme

CUTTACK: To deal with the problem of acute shortage of faculty, Ravenshaw University has decided to start teaching cum research programme from this academic session.
At least 60 scholars will be selected for the programme in first phase. The scholars along with carrying out their research work will also teach to the students. The programme will benefit the varsity as well as the selected scholars.
"The scholars selected for the programme will get a golden opportunity to teach students and the enriching experience will help them in their career.While the initiative will also help varsity to deal with faculty shortage problem," said vice chancellor of the varsity, Ishan Patro.
"Such programmes are rolled out by renowned universities across the world. This earn while you learn programme will help our research students to get exposure," said Patro.
Presently, Ravenshaw has 101 faculties while the sanctioned strength is 270. Due to litigations, the varsity authorities were not able to recruit faculty members and had to deal with the shortfall by appointing guest faculties. Ravenshaw hires over 100 guest faculties for different subjects and have to pay them Rs 20,000 a month.
The teaching cum research programme will help varsity authorities to save money as the scholars will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs 14,000. The scholars will have to teach at least one theory period each day while those selected for Science streams will have to take two practical classes a day. The scholars will get ample time to carry out their research work.
"We face problem in dealing with guest faculties as some of them do not come regularly to the varsity. But if research scholars will teach then things will get more streamlined," said a senior faculty of the varsity.
The varsity has chalked out a detailed plan for selection of the teaching cum research scholar programmes. The students who will qualify the entrance test of Ph.D courses of Ravenshaw university will be eligible to apply for the teaching cum research programme. The duration of the programme will be of two years.
"Usually, the Ph.D scholars attend eight to nine months of classes during the course and it hardly creates any impact in their career. But this novel teaching cum research programme will immensely benefit them," said a faculty member.