Hello Friends, Hello. Yes I do agree with the opinion of Dr.Roth and we do need a body which evaluates the course programmes and also the standerds. More stress must be given to the correspondence cources and they are the real people who are taking things verry light and keep earning as the main motto. With due regards

From: "Pravakar Rath" To: iatlis@yahoogroups.com CC: nmlis@yahoogroups.com, iaslic@vsnl.net, lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in Subject: [iatlis] Future of LIS Education-India Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 10:04:57 +0530

My Dear Colleagues

I would like bring to your notice a very pertinent and timely professional issue which need to be considered for our survival and existence in the changing scenario. As on date there are as many as 90 universities offering LIS Courses at different levels (Certificate, Diploma, BLIS, MLIS, M Phil and Ph.D). Library and Information Science being a professional education definitely requires maintaining standards of excellence to develop professional knowledge and skills in this age of information and to create an appropriate job market to compete in national and global level. There are a number of Councils for other professional and technical educations in the country created to maintain professional standards of that education. Some of them are listed below.

The Council of Architecture (COA) was constituted under the provisions of the Architects Act, 1972, enacted by the Parliament of India. The Act provides for registration of Architects, standards of education, recognized qualifications and standards of practice to be complied with by the practicing architects.

The Central Council of Homoeopathy was established under the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973. The Council prescribes and recognizes all homeopathic medicine qualifications.

The Bar Council of India is empowered to make rules to discharge its functions under the Advocates Act 1961. An important rule-making power is with reference to laying down guidelines for the standards of professional conduct and etiquette to be observed by advocates.

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), also known as Central council, was constituted under section 3 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948. The PCI controls pharmacy education and profession in India up to graduate level. The Council prescribes the minimum standard of education for qualification as pharmacist.

Dentists Council of India, constituted under the Dentists Act, 1948, is a Statutory Body incorporated under an Act of Parliament to regulate the dental education and the profession of Dentistry throughout India

The National Council for Teacher Education is a statutory body set up under the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 to facilitate planned and coordinated development of the teacher education system in the country, and for regulation and proper maintenance of norms and standards in the teacher education system.

ICAR has established various research centers in order to meet the agricultural research and education needs of the country. It is actively pursuing human resource development in the field of agricultural sciences by setting up numerous agricultural universities spanning the entire country.

All India council for Technical Education has been established under the AICTE Act, 1987. The council is authorized to take all steps that are considered appropriate for ensuring coordinated and integrated development of technical education and for maintenance of standards.

Considering the reality of the situation and future of LIS education in the country, Our colleagues are requested to suggest what should be the future course of action to maintain professional standards of LIS in the country. Whether we should move an idea for establishing a similar Council or any other alternative propositions. But it is the high time to think on this issue and let IATLIS be requested to prepare a Blue Print on this which could be a basis for Brain Storming Session in the coming IATLIS conference in shaping the LIS education in India.

My best wishes

Dr Pravakar Rath Professor and Head Chairman, Board of Studies Department of Library and Information Science Mizoram University (A Central University), Aizawl, 796001,India Phone-0389/2345228, 2342058 (M) 9436154563-Aizawl E-mail:prath@fulbrightweb.org

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Dr. Amruth Sherikar, Deputy Librarian. Head Networking & Digital Resource Centre, Gulbarga University Library, Gulbarga - 585106 Karnataka INDIA Phone No. +91-8472-245713 (R) +91-8472- 269994 (D) 245724(0) 249683 (Fax) e_mail: s_amruth@rediffmail.com amruth_sherikar@hotmail.com