Budget 2013: FICCI demands grants to universities for faculty development

NEW DELHI: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( FICCI) has demanded allocation of grants/funds to universities/organisations/industry associations focusing on faculty development programmes in the Budget 2013.

FICCI noticed that shortage of adequately trained faculty is the biggest challenge to the growth of higher education and about 25% of faculty positions in universities remain vacant while 24% of faculty in universities and 57% in colleges are without PhD degrees.

"There is a need to promote specific scheme for skill development of university teachers and for the day to day academic and research activity," FICCI said.

FICCI also demanded tax relief to the tune of 50% to universities /HEIs which spend on the capacity development and training of their staff.