Patna: Bihar is preparing to give its higher education system an international push, with Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary announcing plans to send around 100 assistant professors to Oxford and other reputed universities abroad for specialised training.
Addressing an orientation programme for newly appointed teachers at 211 degree colleges at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna on Sunday, the Chief Minister said the state government would bear the entire cost of the proposed training. The programme is expected to last around one month.
Bihar to connect teachers with global institutions
CM Samrat Chaudhary said improving higher education would require Bihar to establish stronger links with leading institutions around the world.
He directed the Education Department and officials to identify reputed universities and institutions from which Bihar’s teachers and students could benefit. Around 100 teachers are expected to be selected for training at institutions including Oxford and other prominent universities.
The government also plans to identify around 10 major international institutions and establish direct communication with them, according to the announcement.
The Chief Minister urged teachers who are aware of universities or institutions with strong academic and technological practices to share information with the Education Department.
Focus shifts from expansion to quality
The Chief Minister said Bihar had previously focused heavily on expanding access to education and bringing more students into the system. While this helped increase the scale of education, the next priority should be improving quality.
He stressed that Bihar now needs to focus on both quality and quantity in higher education.
The proposed international training programme is aimed at exposing teachers to modern teaching methods, technologies and academic practices that could subsequently be adapted for Bihar’s colleges.
75% attendance target in colleges
Student attendance was another key issue raised during the programme.
CM Samrat Chaudhary stressed that simply constructing colleges and appointing teachers would not be enough unless students regularly attend classes.
He called for at least 75% attendance among students and said monitoring mechanisms would be strengthened to ensure that students attend college regularly.
The government believes improved attendance will be essential for making its wider higher education reforms effective.
Live classes planned for degree colleges
The Chief Minister also emphasised the need to introduce live classes in degree colleges.
Such classes could allow students to access specialised teaching and experts who may not be available at every college, particularly in rural and remote areas.
The move is expected to make better academic resources accessible to students beyond major urban centres.
Open University recognition for degree colleges
The state government is also planning to explore the possibility of providing Open University recognition to degree colleges, according to the Chief Minister.
The initiative is intended to expand access to higher education while combining traditional college education with modern and flexible learning models.
The proposed international faculty training, live classes, stronger attendance monitoring and greater institutional collaboration form part of the government’s broader plan to modernise Bihar’s higher education system.
The next key steps will include identifying the participating international institutions, finalising the selection process for the 100 teachers and establishing the framework for the proposed one-month training programme.
