UGC pushes for Modi’s ‘PhD in yoga’ dream
By: Mihika Basu
Circular asks varsities for details of interested foreign students
The Centre and the human resource ministry has decided to give a fillip to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s yoga agenda for educational institutions. A circular from the University Grants Commission (UGC) has instructed all universities to give details of foreign students who want to pursue a PhD in yoga.
The circular from UGC secretary Jaspal S Sandhu said that “the Prime Minister desired that an attempt may be made to promote PhD course in yoga for foreign students”.
The Ministry of Ayush is willing to award fellowships to students selected or recommended by the universities for a PhD programme in the field, Sandhu said in the communique. “Universities are requested to provide the details of such foreign students… directly to the Ministry of Ayush for it to consider award of fellowship to such students,” letter said.
Bangalore University confirmed that it had received the circular and said that it would inform its students about it. The varsity currently has a Centre for Yoga Studies, which was started in January 1995.
According to its website, this centre started a certificate course and an MSc in Yoga Studies in 2006-07 and 2007-08, respectively.
This is not the first time that the Centre, through bodies such as the UGC, has pushed for yoga in higher academics. A consultative meeting chaired by human resource minister Smriti Irani with the vice-chancellors of universities was held in Bengaluru on January 2 this year. It was decided that a Department of Yogic Art and Science will be set up at universities across the country.
Subsequently, a committee was formed to identify courses and programmes to be offered under Yogic Art and Science, and also to decide the levels at which they will be offered.
It has prepared a syllabus and guidelines to help universities start various programmes at the certificate, diploma, master’s and PhD levels.
This year, the Union government is also looking at a 100 per cent participation from institutes under UGC, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and IITs, among others.
Circular asks varsities for details of interested foreign students
The Centre and the human resource ministry has decided to give a fillip to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s yoga agenda for educational institutions. A circular from the University Grants Commission (UGC) has instructed all universities to give details of foreign students who want to pursue a PhD in yoga.
The circular from UGC secretary Jaspal S Sandhu said that “the Prime Minister desired that an attempt may be made to promote PhD course in yoga for foreign students”.
The Ministry of Ayush is willing to award fellowships to students selected or recommended by the universities for a PhD programme in the field, Sandhu said in the communique. “Universities are requested to provide the details of such foreign students… directly to the Ministry of Ayush for it to consider award of fellowship to such students,” letter said.
Bangalore University confirmed that it had received the circular and said that it would inform its students about it. The varsity currently has a Centre for Yoga Studies, which was started in January 1995.
According to its website, this centre started a certificate course and an MSc in Yoga Studies in 2006-07 and 2007-08, respectively.
This is not the first time that the Centre, through bodies such as the UGC, has pushed for yoga in higher academics. A consultative meeting chaired by human resource minister Smriti Irani with the vice-chancellors of universities was held in Bengaluru on January 2 this year. It was decided that a Department of Yogic Art and Science will be set up at universities across the country.
Subsequently, a committee was formed to identify courses and programmes to be offered under Yogic Art and Science, and also to decide the levels at which they will be offered.
It has prepared a syllabus and guidelines to help universities start various programmes at the certificate, diploma, master’s and PhD levels.
This year, the Union government is also looking at a 100 per cent participation from institutes under UGC, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and IITs, among others.
