To attain a good ranking in research, Davangere University should set up a University Research Felicitation Centre (URFC), with one or two assistant professors managing the cell under a group consisting of multi-disciplinary research oriented professors who have implemented at least one research project, S.R. Rao, adviser, Union Ministry of Bio-technology, has said.
Delivering the third annual convocation address at Davangere University’s Shivagangotri campus here on Saturday, he stated that the centre can arrange visiting lectures, workshops and seminars that serve as repository of national and international funding agencies, their priorities of funding along with latest calls for submission of proposals.
An annual research day could also be organised wherein all PG students and undergraduates can also submit research themes that could be screened for the best three or five by a team of experts and rewarded by inviting famous scientists or senior funding agency officials.
The annual event could be along with the convocation day, these small initiatives can pave the way for making short the long journey to have better publications and productivity per faculty – the main criteria for ranking universities, he added. “Today we need to teachers to be mentors but none of our teachers are trained to be mentors. Therefore it is essential as teacher to organise oneself to plan and structure the lesson and have a clear understanding of objectives and scope of every teaching session,” he added.
The essentials of teaching are setting the scene, making sure that students are comfortable and ready to start learning, being student centric, checking what the students know already, asking questions, among others, he said.
Setting homework – vital to promote life long learning, but checking learning objectives and whether learning strategy are reasonable is important and finally asking the students to present their work. At the end of the session, it is important to summarise and not essential to give new information so as to induce curiosity for next class, he added.
Governor Vajubhai Vala, Vice-Chancellor B.B. Kaliwal, deans of various faculties, and staff members were present.
