Ravenshaw University. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 13: Ravenshaw University’s gold medallists of this year are back to the classes – this time not as students but as teachers.

The prestigious Cuttack university has come up with a novel concept where postgraduate toppers are being given an opportunity to take classes at the undergraduate level in their respective fields for one year. Fourteen toppers have been appointed as “vice-chancellor’s scholars” to be part of their respective departments not only to teach but also to assist in research work, maintain archives and other work. They would be paid a consolidated monthly remuneration of Rs 8,000 from the university funds, said varsity officials.

“The toppers will be involved in departmental functioning and attached to the V-C’s office for executive assistance,” said Chandi Prasad Nanda, head of the history department at Ravenshaw University.

Stating that the programme was the brainchild of vice-chancellor Devdas Chhotray, Nanda said the objective was to guide meritorious students and encourage them to take up teaching as a profession.

“The idea behind this novel initiative is to motivate young scholars to engage themselves in teaching and research work. Here, they would work as interns and can, simultaneously, pursue M.Phil programmes. Through this exposure, they can be sensitised to research trends and pick up teaching skills. It would also prepare them for competitive exams,” said Dipti Ranjan Sahu, head of the sociology department.

The toppers, who have been taking classes since the beginning of this month, seemed happy and excited about being given this opportunity.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime. I can now understand how difficult a teacher’s job is. We take one to two classes a day and look after other activities of the department. Although it is slightly hectic, I am enjoying every bit of being a teacher,” said Kaikashna Begum, a V-C scholar and gold medallist of the political science department.

“It has been a great experience for me. Although there is no dress code for us, I have now started wearing saris to class so that I look like a teacher. All the faculty members of our department have guided me at every step and have shown faith in my abilities,” said Rujangi Mallick, another V-C scholar, who topped the history department.

Now that the students have transformed into their colleagues, has it changed the equation for the teachers in any way?

“There is no problem accepting students as colleagues. Our prime responsibility is to inculcate values of equality and create an ambience where one should feel liberated and at ease. In fact, having young scholars in the department facilitates exchange of ideas, thereby stimulating the intellectual atmosphere of the university,” Nanda said.