BENGALURU: Lecturers working in state government degree colleges will now have to jump a few hoops to participate in international seminars and conferences.
The Department of Collegiate Education has issued a circular directing lecturers to get prior permission from it by submitting complete details of the trip, name of conference, country where they are travelling to and organisers of the conference. Faculty members should also submit an undertaking to the department that they will not submit their resignation while they are on a foreign trip.
A copy of the circular, which is uploaded on the website of the department, also states, “The lecturers who travel abroad for the purpose of seminar or conference also have to give self authenticated letter saying the duration of leave will not be extended.”
According to officials, this move comes after a few faculty members extended their leave duration.
“There are many cases where lecturers who get permission for foreign trips extend their stay even after the duration of the trip.
This is causing inconvenience in completing course material, examination and evaluation work,” said an official. Faculties have also been asked to submit details of assets and liabilities and details of savings bank account if they are travelling on their own expenses.
The circular has not been received well by the teaching fraternity. A senior professor of Government Arts College, Bengaluru, told Express, “We agree with some of the conditions, but there are some points that should be removed from the circular. How can they expect us to submit assets and liabilities and details of our bank account? This shows that the department does not trust its own staff.”
In December 2015, a similar circular was issued by the department where the officials put forth conditions regarding foreign trips.