Dr. Avnish Jolly,30 May: According to the press release Panjab University, Chandigarh, India is starting a new Post-Graduate (MA) Course in Community Education and Development in the newly established Department of Community Education and Development from the current academic session (2008-09).
This is an interdisciplinary course which would enable the students to understand the issues pertaining to community development at the National and Global level. The basic idea behind this
course is to make the students aware about the different facets of community life, theoretically as well as practically. Community Education and development as an independent discipline evolves from the realms of education and social sciences that caters to the socially marginalized, poor, deprived and disadvantaged sections through experts trained for the purpose. Imparting training and building human resources is the need of the hour for the over- all development of the society by having partnership with state, civil society, national and international organizations etc. in an effort to bring all sections of society(National as well as global) under the umbrella of community education and development.
Within this perspective the department undertakes two year Masters Degree course in Community Education and Development which includes Education, Practice and Community Services for preparing the students to work with individuals, Regional, National and International institutions SAARC, United Nations, World Governments, Multinational Companies, families, groups and communities in a different community settings. This course intends to orient a sense of commitment and dedication among students towards Community Education and Development by addressing its
various problems. The vision of the course lies in the ethos of community learning, concerns and context. It is intended to develop potential among the takers of this course to get employment at the National as well as Global level in educational institutions as counselors, facilitators in
Government and Non-Government Organizations, Public Health Educators, Advocacy, Human Rights and Institutions (National & International) devoted to the upliftment of the community. Students having graduation degree in any stream with 50% marks (45% in case of SC/ST/OBC are eligible to take
admission in this course. Last date for submission of application form is 1st July 2008.
Further details can be obtained on working days during the working hours from the department telephonically for the welfare of interested students on the following telephone numbers +91-172-2779517, 2534154, 2534598 according to Dr. Manjeet Paintal, Director, Regional Resource Centre For Adult & Continuing Education, Panjab University, India