Visvesvaraya Technological University rolls out internship programme for aspiring lecturers

Bengaluru: In a bid to better equip its teachers to impart technical education, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has rolled out an internship programme for aspiring teachers.

Those in the final semester of MTech or ME programmes and keen on pursuing a career in teaching can avail of this opportunity offered by VTU. Set to be offered from the current academic year, a circular containing all the guidelines for the programme will be issued to all the colleges soon.

VTU was reportedly prompted to roll out the internship programme in the wake of its affiliate colleges grappling with a dearth of teachers, particularly for Computer Science and, Electronics and Communication programmes. “While interviewing candidates for the posts of temporary lecturers, we realised the need to offer hands-on experience to aspiring teachers,” said VTU Vice-Chancellor Vidyashankar S.

Aspiring teachers who opt for the internship will be tasked with taking classes for undergraduate students, besides being assigned other academic tasks that lecturers have to handle. Vidyashankar said that the programme was very much like an apprenticeship in an industry.

In fact, students can intern at the colleges where they are pursuing their postgraduation, or opt to do so at other colleges. Students completing the internship will be provided a certificate by the varsity, which they can furnish while applying for teaching jobs. Students can intern for a period of six months to one year.

The VTU VC said that several students pursuing postgraduate programmes were doing so with the express aim of becoming lecturers. As of now, there is no scope for aspiring lecturers to get any experience before taking up jobs at colleges.