Training the Teachers in Professional Education - Need of the Hour

In India there are about 1300 professional colleges and institutes in disciplines like engineering, medicine, pharmacy, architecture, management etc.The AICTE since 1988 is vested with statutory authority for planning formulation and maintenance of norms and standards and for ensuring coordinated and integrated development of technical and professional education.It has made its presence felt over the past two decades.At the moment the intake capacity and number of colleges have increased considerably and continue to increase in view of economic growth prospects.The percentage of employability has not increased proportionately, resulting into frustration on the part of the students entering professional courses for being unable to find jobs.The technical professional educators are special breed.They practice two professions simultaneously, those of technologist and a teacher. As a technologist they participate in business system but as a teacher -educator they need to provide space for professional growth like improving pedagogy, advancing and updating disciplines, leading teaching learning systems etc.This calls for a network of training institutes for professional teachers education