So I today I got my certificate that says I am refreshed.
The last couple of lectures were embarrassing, to say the least. As these lectures were given by profs whom I know personally, a decision had to be taken whether to attend or not. In the end I attended them. As I slinked into the classroom today, the lecturer stopped his talk, said a big, cheerful hello, made a fatuous comment about sometimes giving lectures and sometimes attending them, and then continued with his interrupted talk. Of course, every one in the class turned around to see who had walked into the class.
Couple of days back it was even more embarrassing as the faculty giving the lecture loves to talk and crack jokes. All the jokes were of course cracked at our expense, there were 4 of us from the department doing the course and sitting in the back bench. He finally ended up addressing the talk exclusively to us.
Anyway the trauma is over till next year when I have to do one more refresher course to get the promotion to Associate Professor.
Meantime, UGC has said that we have to serve a 12 year sentence as assistant professor before we can be promoted to associate professor. At this point, we assistant professors are fuming because at this rate most of us would be approaching retirement before we can become professors.
The NBT moves at the speed of the snail. A book that I had written has been languishing with them for 4 years now. Today I was told that it is being illustrated. I guess I should celebrate because maybe in another year or two I might actually see it printed.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Refreshing myself
The UGC believes one size fits all. To become an associate professor from an assistant professor two refresher courses are mandated. As many of the college teachers are not involved in active research, it makes sort of sense for by doing these courses they can upgrade their skills and learn something new. However, many of us in the Universities are required to do research work. We have research labs, we guide PhD students, we have to constantly think of experiments and keep ourselves updated On top of it, the University expects us to do refresher courses. Oh, please note that Delhi University teachers are not mandated to do this nonsense if they are involved in active research and are publishing papers.
There are 4 of us doing the refresher course. The resource persons/teachers/faculty for the course are from our department. And even if they are not, we know them. This leads to ridiculous and often embarrassing situations both for us and for the faculty. There are few who outright tells us not to attend the class because we will make them nervous. There are few who offer to learn our signatures and sign for us in the attendance sheet so that we do not have to trek to the Academic staff college to attend the lecture. There are few who refused to teach because we are attending the course. And then are few who enter the classroom and announce that they are feeling nervous because we are attending the class. One of them lost the plot and ended up giving a miserable lecture inspite of the fact that he is supposed to be a good teacher. The coordinator of the course, who is also from the department, is also angry and frustrated. We are supposed to attend the lectures and we are bunking them. The people who are attending the course are also angry and frustrated with us. After all who has given us the right to bunk the lectures? So one of the attendees tries to see every 15 minutes whether we are there or not.
For the first two weeks I was regular. It was not fair but hey, I signed up and I better do some justice. Last Thursday I gave up. I do not care who is angry and frustrated. You know what? I am angry and frustrated at having to waste 5 hours every day listening to bilge, stuff that I know all about. There were 4-5 lectures worth attending. I attended them. That is about it. I cannot do anymore.
But the good news is that the course is coming to an end. We have to give a 20 minute presentation, collect our certificates, and march out.
The bad news is that I have to do one more refresher course to complete the requirement for promotion.
There are 4 of us doing the refresher course. The resource persons/teachers/faculty for the course are from our department. And even if they are not, we know them. This leads to ridiculous and often embarrassing situations both for us and for the faculty. There are few who outright tells us not to attend the class because we will make them nervous. There are few who offer to learn our signatures and sign for us in the attendance sheet so that we do not have to trek to the Academic staff college to attend the lecture. There are few who refused to teach because we are attending the course. And then are few who enter the classroom and announce that they are feeling nervous because we are attending the class. One of them lost the plot and ended up giving a miserable lecture inspite of the fact that he is supposed to be a good teacher. The coordinator of the course, who is also from the department, is also angry and frustrated. We are supposed to attend the lectures and we are bunking them. The people who are attending the course are also angry and frustrated with us. After all who has given us the right to bunk the lectures? So one of the attendees tries to see every 15 minutes whether we are there or not.
For the first two weeks I was regular. It was not fair but hey, I signed up and I better do some justice. Last Thursday I gave up. I do not care who is angry and frustrated. You know what? I am angry and frustrated at having to waste 5 hours every day listening to bilge, stuff that I know all about. There were 4-5 lectures worth attending. I attended them. That is about it. I cannot do anymore.
But the good news is that the course is coming to an end. We have to give a 20 minute presentation, collect our certificates, and march out.
The bad news is that I have to do one more refresher course to complete the requirement for promotion.
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