Coimbatore: Bharathiar University will promote effective teaching in its affiliated colleges in order to satisfy the current requirements of students, Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam said here on Monday.

Inaugurating an orientation programme for faculty at Karpagam Arts and Science College, he said that learner-centred education depended on effective teaching.

Only teachers could provide students with the work-related qualities required by recruiters.

Modern education needed innovative curricula that would prepare students for the workplace.

Students would benefit from effective teaching, adequate training, extension programmes and adoption of best academic practices from various institutions.

"We are thinking of admitting foreign students and they will come to the university only on the basis of the faculty strength. Even the introduction of new courses depends on the teaching methods followed and the effectiveness of teachers," he said.

In keeping with the latest trends, the university would encourage "micro-level teaching" and "information technology-enabled teaching". Students should interact with industry and business.

Education ought not to be limited to classroom lectures. There should be debates, panel discussions, practical demonstrations and book reviews.

Only then would colleges and universities be able to satisfy the requirements of students who expected adequate personal attention in order to reach their academic goals.

"Education should not be attendance-oriented. It should be activity-oriented," he observed.

In some subjects, scholars with an M.Phil qualification would be playing a major role in the teaching process, so the university was keen that there should be a strong component of pedagogy for those studying M.Phil.

The Vice-Chancellor said that a component of pedagogy was also likely to be introduced in refresher courses offered by the Academic Staff College of the university, so that teachers would be able to update their skills.

He said that the university would encourage its affiliated colleges to conduct faculty development programmes at least twice a year.

University faculty would go on deputation to colleges that needed assistance regarding such programmes.

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