Continuous Professional Development of Teachers in Higher Education

Abstract

Teachers have a significant impact on the lives of our children and somewhere they are best known for their role in shaping the nascent minds in the classrooms and thus contributing to the process of nation-building. India is one of the largest populations in the world approximately 4.14 crore enrollments have been reported by AISHE 2020-2021. Therefore, there is a need for more professionally qualified teachers to fulfill the demands of the students and to adapt to the changing educational environment which is based on newer skills and abilities. The need for teachers' professional development has been banging on the door for a long time; now is the moment to open the door and welcome it. The term continuous and comprehensive, which was formerly applied to evaluation, should now be extended to regular training. Continuous and comprehensive up-skilling and re-skilling are now necessary to stay relevant.

Higher Education (HE) is currently one of the pillars of success for any sovereign nation. Consequently, it is crucial to comprehend the possibilities of teachers' professional development in the H.E. The article provides the proper understanding of continuous professional development (CPD) by giving some historical background of higher education as well as teacher’s professional development in India from the time of independence to the most recent education policy NEP 2020, and give an overview of existing UGC human resource development centers (HRDC). It also includes the concept of CPD, the need and importance of CPD, its objectives, as well as some suggestions.