LU inks pact with US university

Hindustan Times 1/15/07

Lucknow University (LU) has signed an MoU with California State University Long Beach (CSULB) on teachers training and education, college and university teacher development, academic leadership training and academic services. The LU would adopt a four years integrated teachers training course, a popular programme of CSULB. In return, this US University would follow the module of Academic Staff College (ASC) to upgrade knowledge of teachers engaged in higher education.

Along with LU, four other universities of the country have also entered into a similar agreement with CSULB to train teachers. National Knowledge Commission that has played a lead role in facilitating this agreement. University Grants Commission (UGC) and Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) would fund the project, said LU V-C RP Singh on Monday.

He announced this in presence of a 17-member CSULB delegation led by Jean Houck, dean of education, CSULB.

V-C said: “CSULB is known for its four years integrated teachers training programme. Education department of LU in assistance with NCTE would start this special teachers' training programme. Candidates after finishing 10+2 will be eligible for this programme. So along with B Ed and M Ed, Education Department would also be running this course that will start from July. Candidates eager to pursue teaching as their career would be benefited from this course.”

After signing the MoU, Jean Houck said: “Faculty members of LU are quite eager to learn new things which is an encouraging sign. Among the specific topic about which CSULB could provide expertise are curriculum and academic programme development, assessment and measurement of learning outcome, faculty development, etc.”

LU dean students' welfare, Nishi Pandey said while with the help of CSULB primary and secondary school teachers would be trained on the other hand ASC would extend its expertise for training teachers of higher education. “There is no such concept of upgrading knowledge of teachers in higher education and it is in area we've an upper hand over CSULB,” Pandey said.

In a bid to give international exposure to students and teachers, LU officials informed that in near future there would be frequent exchange programme between the two universities as well.