Right to Information Act

ADDRESS: National Museum Campus CABLE: MUSEOTUTE
Janpath, New Delhi - 110 011 FAX: 011-23012106

TELEPHONES: 3012106, 23011901, 23792249, 23011899
CHANCELLOR: Union Minister for Culture
VICE-CHANCELLOR: Sh.Vijay S.Madan
REGISTRAR: Shri K.K.Kulshreshtha
DEAN (Academic Affairs): Prof. K.K.Jain

The National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology, set up in 1989 by the Department of Culture, Ministry of HRD, Government of India, is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture and declared 'Deemed to be University' by the University Grants Commission vide Notification No.F.9-1/87-U.3.

It imparts courses at Post Graduate Degree level and Ph.D. programmes in the field of History of Art, Conservation of Works of Art and Museology. Also conducts five months Short Term Courses on "India: Art & Culture", "Art Appreciation" (both in English medium) and Bhartiya Kala Nidhi.

Main Features of the Museum University

1. This is the first Museum University of India (hereafter called the 'Institute').
2. The Institute, being an integral part of the National Museum, utilized the entire infrastructure of the National Museum - its library, workshops, auditorium, modelling section, photo section and of course, iats art collections, both on show and in reserve.
3. The technical/professional personnel of the National Museum are closely affiliated with the Institute in all its functioning - teaching, research, practicals, and demonstrations.
4. The service condition, Bay scales, etc. of the employees of the Institute (except the Faculty Member) are at par with those of the National Museum. The Faculty Members (Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors and the Registrar) are in the U.G.C. scale.
5. The Institute mainly runs three M.A. and three Ph.D. courses - one each in the disciplines of History of Art, Conservation & Restoration of Works of Art and Museology. Other courses are subsidiary.
6. The three-courses are integrated i.e. a student of M.A. (Conservation) shall study one course on Museology and one on History of Art in addition to his/her own course. Similarly, the students of History of Art shall study Conservation and Museology and the student of Museology shall learn History of Art and Conservation along with the subjects of his/her own discipline.
7. Fundamentals of Art and Research Methodology (considered as one full course) are compulsory for all students of M.A. and Ph.D.
8. The theory classes are held from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. every day. Each class is of two hours duration and is invariably illustrated with slides or is accompanied with audio-visual aids.
9. One European language (other than English) or Persian, Arabic or Classical/Regional Indian Language (other than Hindi) is compulsory for M.A. and two such languages are compulsory for a Ph.D. student. Foreign language classes are held from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
10. After the theory class is over, the students are taken around the galleries/reserve collections/workshops for demonstrations/practicals.
11. The students are expected to spend entire free time, whenever available, in the library, laboratory, workshop, galleries or reserve collections. They are also advised to participate in all the cultural and educational activities including films shows, organized in or by the National Museum, almost daily. They can similarly visit any of the workshops (Darning, Modelling, Carpentry, Tailoring, Mountcutting, Photography) and watch its functioning. Whenever some exhibition is installed or is wound up, the students are associated with its every aspect - packing, unpacking, labeling, lighting, display, transportation, conservation and so on.
12. As a part of practical training, visit-cum-demonstration-lecture to one or more museums/monuments/academies/universities is arranged once in a month. The Head (or a very senior official) of that organization gives a lecture after which practical demonstration or visit to the places is arranged. Visits to outside places are also organized.
13. Symposia, seminars, conferences are held. Student Committees are formed to look into their own affairs.
14. Medium of instruction is English. However, the students are allowed to submit their answer sheets, seminars, research papers, etc. either in English or in Hindi.
15. Another noteworthy feature is the Seminar System. A student of Ph.D. is required to opt six seminars while that of an M.A. only four -one is each semester. The seminars of Ph.D. scholars shall be based on their research topic and those of the M.A. on the courses that they have studied. A seminar has three aspects (A) written paper of about 25 pages (5000 words typed or hand-written), properly illustrated with map, sketches, drawings, reproductions (in black and white or colour or zeroxed), (B) delivering a 30 to 60 minutes talks (preferably with slides or other audio-visual aids) on his/her seminar paper in the presence of his/her Course Professor and students. Outside experts may also be invited & (C) Cross-examination or discussion.

Objectives

The following are the prime objectives of the Institute:-

• Providing for various courses of study, training and research in different branches of History of art, Museology, Conservation, etc.;
• Collaborating with other national institutions dealing with cultural property, like the National Museum, Archaeological Survey of India, Anthropological Survey of India, National Gallery of Modern Art, National Archives of India and the like, in order to share the material, curatorial / technical expertise and facilities;
• Iinteracting on a continuing basis at the national level to improve standards of teaching in the above fields;
• Providing academic guidance and leadership; and (v) publishing such works of the Institute as may have contributed substantially to the fields of specialization.

Location

Since its inception, the Institute is located within the premises of the National Museum at Janpath, New Delhi. The Institute has acquired a plot of 3 acres in Noida, U.P and is planning to construct its own buildings in this plot, that include class rooms, administrative block, laboratories, seminar rooms, conference rooms, auditorium, hostel for the students, guest house, etc.

Working Hours

The Institute is open on all working days (Monday - Saturday) from 9.45 A.M. to 5.15 P.M. and remains closed on second Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays as observed by the Government of India.

Semester System

The Institute follows semester system and there are two semesters in a calendar year extending from January to May and July to November. The periods between the semesters can be used for extracurricular activities and examinations.

Attendance

Each student is required to attend not less than 75% of the lectures delivered and practicals held during each of the academic semester of the concerned course of study. In the absence of the required attendance, the student will not be allowed to appear in the examination for the concerned course and the student has to re-register for the course.

Departments

There are three departments in the Institute namely, (i) Department of History of Art (ii) Department of Conservation; and (iii) Department of Museology. Each department is placed under a Head, appointed in accordance with the rules of the Institute.

Special Features

The primary objective of this Institute is to harmoniously combine theory with practical experience. The Institute is uniquely situated to do this because of its close association with the National Museum so that classroom instruction can be combined with practical work in the various departments of the Museum. Not only does the Institute utilize the resources of the National Museum, but the staff of the museum is closely affiliated with the Institute's teaching and research. For this purpose, students are expected to spend appropriate amounts of time in various facilities of the National Museum.

Though there are three departments, namely the History of Art, Conservation, and Museology, these are seen as parts of an integrated whole. Students in each of the departments are thus required to take courses in other departments as well.

In India there are very limited institutions offering studies in non-Indian Art. The Institute in addition to the Indian Art courses is striving to offer courses, to the extent possible, in Global Art also. Presently the Institute is offering courses in the Art of various Asian regions, Renaissance Art, Greek Art, Egyptian Art, etc.

Proficiency in one European language (other than English) or Persian or Arabic or a classical / regional language of India (other than Hindi and mother tongue) is compulsory for Masters students and two such languages are required for Ph.D. students. Presently, the Institute has arrangements for teaching Sanskrit, German and French and it is hoped that additional languages may be taught in the near future. In addition to these language courses, special courses in (i) computers and programmes; and (ii) photography are also being proposed to be prescribed and qualifying in these courses will be necessary for the award of the degree.
Visits to museums, monuments, universities and other educational institutions are a regular part of the Institute's programmes.

Seminars, symposiums, workshops and conferences are organized as the occasion demands.

The medium of instruction is English. Students, however, have the option to use the Hindi language for answering examinations and in specified academic assignments.