Review of 5 year-old directive of UGC on PhD stressed

Kochi: Art historians, critics and artists called for a review of a five-year-old directive by University Grants Commission (UGC) that makes PhD mandatory for appointment of associate professors in art institutes.

This eligibility criterion has brought in discrimination in the case of art education, said speakers at 'State of Art Schools: Reality & Prospects' conference, being organised by Kochi Biennale Foundation in association with Foundation for Indian Art & Education (FIAE).

Reading out artist Sasidharan Nair's paper at the conference, artist Indrapramit Roy alleged, "There are lot of PhDs which are on sale in the country, especially in the some states in Northern part of the country."

"Due to this new directive, many people who have done years of rigorous art practice have been discriminated. Sometimes, colleges end up choosing a less suitable candidate for the post just because he/she has a PhD attached to their name," said his paper 'Disparities and confusions regarding the qualification for the appointment of Visual Art teachers in universities/colleges'.

In this context, the paper suggested a studio-based or practice-based PhD, saying it would be more realistic and practical when it comes to selecting art tutors.

Renowned architect Ravi Kashi, whose paper was presented by Indrapramit Roy, sought a regulatory mechanism and a set of new teaching practices that can be introduced to make art education more relevant in India.

An institution on the lines of Council of Architecture in the national level might help to streamline the art education sector, he said. Issuing certification to art institutions by a government body may help to maintain the quality of education, the paper noted.

Raja Mohanty, Professor at Industrial Design Centre (IIT Bombay), CP Krishnapriya, artist, and Saradha Natarajan, faculty member at SN School of Arts & Communication, Hyderabad also presented their papers on the second day of the conference.