Lucknow: Moving beyond textbook-based learning, Lucknow University is set to establish a centre for case studies where teachers and researchers will develop original case studies based on real-life problems and developments from Uttar Pradesh and beyond.The proposed centre will not be restricted to management or commerce. Case studies will be developed across all disciplines, including science, arts and humanities, social sciences, law, education, engineering, journalism, fine arts, health and environment.The university administration has prepared a proposal for the centre as part of its efforts to promote experiential, practical and problem-solving-based education in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.Talking to TOI, LU vice-chancellor Prof JP Saini said, “Before teachers begin developing cases, they will undergo specialised training in case writing, field research, data collection and case-based teaching. The university plans to organise practical workshops and orientation programmes with national-level experts for teachers from LU and its affiliated colleges.”He said after the training, teachers and researchers will be encouraged to develop cases around ground-level challenges, local industries, social changes, legal disputes, technological successes and failures, and issues related to public administration. “A key feature of the proposed centre will be its royalty-based payment model. Teachers and researchers who develop quality case studies will receive royalty or payment based on the use, publication and distribution of their cases. The move is aimed at encouraging original academic writing, field-based research and quality case development,” said VC.He added that the proposed centre would provide an academic platform for teachers across disciplines and would also help build an indigenous repository of case studies.The university plans to create a digital case bank that could eventually be shared with other state and national institutions. In classrooms, students would analyse these cases instead of relying only on conventional lectures, helping develop their critical thinking, analytical skills and decision-making abilities.The university administration is expected to finalise and notify the detailed guidelines, training calendar and rules governing royalty payments for the centre.
