Panel to study UGC’s IKS faculty training guidelines

Subject : Government Schemes

The Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) has constituted a committee to formulate an expert opinion on the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s draft guidelines for faculty training on Indian Knowledge System (IKS).

About the news

University and college faculty will now have to attend mandatory training on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), according to the University Grants Commission (UGC) draft guidelines.
The UGC guideline for faculty training on IKS has been issued to facilitate a seamless integration of traditional knowledge with modern subjects.
The faculty training will include topics on Dharmashastras, Shukraniti, Mahabharata, and Arthashastra and Chemistry in practice as gleaned from the medical schools of ancient India.
The IKS guidelines will be a part of the training modules under “Malviya Mission” and will be considered under Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) scheme as per the UGC regulations.

About Malviya Mission

The Union Minister of Education launched “Malviya Mission” to develop an environment for teacher education/faculty development across the country.
It addresses the need to adopt a multidisciplinary approach in teacher education with a special focus on Indian values, languages, knowledge, ethos, and traditions.
It focuses on teacher education to achieve the targets mentioned in the ‘National Education Policy 2020’.

Indian Knowledge System (IKS)

Indian Knowledge System (IKS) is an innovative cell under Ministry of Education (MoE) at AICTE, New Delhi.
It is established to promote interdisciplinary research on all aspects of IKS, preserve and disseminate IKS for further research and societal applications.
It will actively engage for spreading the rich heritage of our country and traditional knowledge in the field of Arts and literature, Agriculture, Basic Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Architecture, Management, Economics, etc.

Functions of IKS division:

Facilitate and coordinate IKS based/related inter and transdisciplinary work done by various institutions in India and abroad including universities, institutions of national importance, R&D laboratories and different ministries and inspire private sector organizations to engage with it.
Establish, guide and monitor subject-wise interdisciplinary research groups comprising of researchers from institutes, centers and individuals.
Create and promote popularization schemes.
Facilitate funding of various projects and develop mechanisms to undertake research.
Make Policy recommendations wherever required for the promotion of IKS.