The HRDC's main philosophy is to keep in mind that the teacher is central to the system. While it is universally accepted that the teacher is the pivot of the educational system, our system does not provide adequate opportunities for their professional development. It is, therefore, necessary to develop inbuilt mechanisms to provide opportunities for teachers within the framework of knowledge society. It is also accepted that a teacher must not be confined only to transmitting information, she/he must also orient students to meet the challenges of life, to not merely become a trained professional, but also a better citizen.

It was believed in the past that a college/university teacher learnt the 'art' of teaching on the job by emulating outstanding models such as his/her own teachers or senior colleagues. The stock-in-trade of the college/university teacher has always motivated the students. Today, it is no longer possible to expect a newly appointed teacher to acquire the 'art' of teaching by emulating his/her peers.