After COVID break, Centre approves fourth phase roll-out of GIAN scheme

• The Ministry of Education is set to resume the fourth phase of the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN)
• The program, aimed at bringing distinguished scholars worldwide to teach at Indian universities, faced a temporary halt during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Financial Investment and Notable Scholars

• The Central government has invested a substantial ₹126 crore in supporting foreign faculty's travel and honorarium.

Evaluation and Recommendation for Continuation

• The National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) has recommended the continuation of GIAN after evaluating the scheme's impact.

Distribution of Courses and Concerns

• Approximately 39% of courses took place at IIT campuses, while State Universities had a lower share.
• Efforts are urged to encourage renowned faculty visits to smaller colleges for exposure to high-quality lecturership in State universities.

Embracing Online Learning and Future Plans

• In the upcoming phase, the Ministry of Education insists on video recording and webcasting of courses, aiming to create a repository of GIAN lectures accessible to universities across India.
• This move aligns with the intention to use these lectures as teaching and assessment tools in an online consortium for students and teachers across multiple universities.

Prelims Takeaway

• National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration