Research Scholar, Department of Adult Continuing & Extension Education, Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal
Online published on 15 February, 2014.
It can be said that Continuing Education is the process of growing and harvesting the crops that have been planted and cultivated by the formal schooling system. The Continuing education is the running thread through a variety of forms which education takes such as correspondence courses, part time study, own time study, updating, refresher courses, etc.
Traditionally, universities had been involved in formal education programmes. But with the growth of leisure time of citizens, need for providing activities for older citizens and growing need for updating one's knowledge for a new job or for an old job, universities took certain types of adult education programmes.
University, being the highest educational institution, should take the maximum responsibility for enhancing the knowledge of professionalism. It should be place of interaction between the entrepreneurs and the academicians. Vocational courses should be taken up at the university level in order impart knowledge and entrepreneurial skills to the community.
The University Grants Commission also (UGC) has played a key role in shaping the character of University Adult Education in India since the launching of the National Education Programme in 1978. During the last two decades, the UGC has not only formulated a number of guidelines on adult continuing education programmes, but has also provided one hundred per cent funding support to universities to implement the programmes.
In this paper, it has been attempted to discuss the general trend of continuing education programmes in Indian Universities, the role of UGC in implementing these programmes, initiatives of Manipur University in providing continuing education and providing suggestive measures.
Continuing Education, Continuing and Extension Education Programme, Indian Universities, Professionalism, Communities
