Thus, the NPE recognized the urgent need for creating effective systems to provide opportunities for professional and career development of teachers, necessary for quality education and research so that they are well equipped and motivated to accept new challenges emerging from growth of new knowledge, international competitiveness and changing requirements of learners, especially in the institutions of higher education. Therefore, it was proposed to enhance their motivation skills and knowledge through systematic orientation in specific subjects, techniques and methodologies, and thereby inculcate in them the right kind of values that would in turn encourage them to take initiatives for innovative and creative work.

In order to achieve the above objectives, an initiative was taken by University Grants Commission in the year 1986 and over a period of time, 66 Academic Staff Colleges (ASCs) were established in different universities. During the last two decades or more, the system of ASCs has come to be accepted well and established in the university system with plan to plan financial support of the UGC and cooperation extended by the universities in providing basic infrastructure and other support, required for functioning of the ASCs.

As of now, a total of 66 ASCs are functioning in the institutions of higher education across the country

UGC – Human Resource Development Centre (earlier Academic Staff College), Karnatak University is one of the earliest staff colleges that were set up by the UGC in the year 1987. Since then, it has been actively engaged in conducting training programs to develop our precious human resource. However, its nomenclature changed in the year February 2015 as Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC).

UGC envisioned the HRDC for organizing staff development programs to provide adequate opportunities for the professional development of teachers in the higher education system within the framework of knowledge society to inculcate values, motivation and all the skills required including pedagogy. This encompasses updating of the knowledge in their specialized areas including learning ability, technology and to acquire new methods of curricular transactions.

Keeping in mind these goals, the UGC-HRDC here in Karnatak University, Dharwad has the vision of enhancing the motivational skills and knowledge of teachers through orientating them in specific subjects including teaching techniques and methodologies and thereby, inculcate in them the right kind of values which would in turn, encourage them to take initiative for innovation and creative work. To enable this, the HRDC has been striving to specially design its courses with the emphasis on innovative pedagogy, igniting creative thinking, holistic development of personality and pursuing quality research.

The UGC-Human Resource Development Centre conducts various academic and administrative training programmes such as Refresher Courses, Orientation Programmes, Administrative Training Programmes and Short Term Courses and it is exclusively funded by UGC, New Delhi.

The following are the Vision, Mission and Objectives of UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, Karnatak University, Dharwad;

Vision To inspire and educate academic scholars, young and old, and to imbue in them a thirst for knowledge, a curiosity, and a drive to work in and contribute towards their respective fields while cherishing a lifetime of open-minded learning.

Mission To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, orientation and refresher courses for new academics as well as veterans to help them connect with others in their field, explore new areas and participate with fellow academics, and keep up with the frontiers of research. To help academics to keep up with modern pedagogic methods, and continuously improve their teaching skills. Further, where applicable, to bridge the gap between academia and markets and industries in their corresponding field for mutual benefit.

Objectives • To nurture an atmosphere where academics remain inspired to learn and teach, and become models to other academics and, above all, to society. • To ensure that the university and its academics mould better students, better citizens and become public intellectuals to lead the society. • To ensure that scholars of the university remain connected with their field and motivated to contribute towards it, in the process helping in the growth of humankind