Painting The Future of Higher Ed: UGC Encourages Participation of Indian Artists and Artisans

Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel laureate, was a trailblazer in discovering the correlation between Education and The Arts.

He discovered that utilizing art (kala) as a medium for teaching and learning was highly effective in fostering creativity and critical thinking in students.

A century later, this very thought is being actioned into a plan, a set of guidelines under the National Education Policy, to connect artists with higher education institutions.

A draft regulation by the University Grants Commission (UGC) has proposed that local artists and artisans be appointed in colleges and universities as ‘Kala Gurus’ in order to make education more holistic, well-rounded, and aligned to the country’s intangible wealth – art and culture.

Fostering Connections between Higher Education and The Arts

An analysis of the current education system brought to light a dire need for change.

The study showed that higher education is being imparted in a standardized and routine way, with little or no attention being given to creative expression.

Curriculums are mostly driven by cognitive attributes (thinking, recalling, and reflecting), rather than striking a healthy balance between affective (social and emotional) and psychomotor (movement, coordination, grace) skills as well.

Even those within the fields of Visual and Performing Arts are not getting enough exposure or opportunities to truly engage with art forms and practices.?

Hence, there is a need to connect Kala Gurus to the mainstream of higher education so that they may bridge the gap between academics and art.

Setting High Standards in Collaborative Learning

According to the guidelines of the draft, the artists will go through a strict screening process before being impaneled by the concerned academic departments of an institute.

The institutions will be accepting applications and forming a selection committee, headed by the institution's head or their chosen representative, to oversee the selection process.

Those who meet the eligibility criteria will then be asked to join as a Kala Guru in order to share their wisdom on art forms like music, dance, literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, photography, theatre, weaving, calligraphy, yoga, and more.

A sound selection process will ensure that students have access to the best in their fields.?

Introducing a Trio of Kala Gurus

The UGC has mandated that artists and artisans be impaneled under three categories— Parameshti Guru, Param Guru, and Guru.

To be appointed in the first category, the artist should have been the recipient of a prestigious honor of a national or international scale, such as a Padma Shri Awardee, and have experience of a minimum of 20 years.?

Likewise, candidates for the Param category must have received at least one national and state-level award recognized by the government or an equivalent honor, as well as have a minimum of ten years of experience.

The Guru category will include artists who are not part of the above categories, but have gained fame as masters of a particular art form and have at least five years of experience.?

Enabling the Right Environment for Art and Culture to Thrive

The Kala Gurus will be given the freedom to create lesson plans that bring out the essence of a particular art form.

Whether this means giving a lecture, setting up a workshop, holding a demonstration, running a practical, or providing training.

The objective is to empower students with the best possible avenue to learn, engage, apply, connect, and grow.

And this can only be accomplished if the artists, themselves, have the requisite support and guidance.

The draft further details that Kala Gurus be given a suitable and well-equipped workplace, with the appropriate facilities, to carry out their tasks and activities.

Furthermore, institutes are instructed to provide any other assistance to the Kala Gurus – be it travel expenses or other learning allowances.

Nurturing students through self-expression

UGC’s foray into multidisciplinary and collaborative education, by delving into art and culture, is a step in the right direction.

Higher education institutes should look to becoming platforms for nurturing students’ inner talents and skills that go beyond the cognitive side of the brain.

By giving importance to diverse art forms, providing a space for creativity and imagination to bloom, and encouraging thoughts and emotions to be felt, HEIs can mold better students and even better human beings.

Follow this space to learn of more interesting and inspiring developments in the field of education, as Camu attempts to break it down for you.