Students worried over V-C-less AU convocation
Last Updated: 06th May 2017 07:42 AM |
Anna University, Chennai.
CHENNAI: Anna University’s decision to go ahead with the
convocation even before choosing a Vice-Chancellor has left faculty
members and students fuming. It is only an indication that these
academic certificates will have little value in the institutions abroad
if they do not carry the signature of the V-C, they point out.
University authorities seeking a date from the Chancellor, Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, to conduct the convocation ceremony has triggered furious opposition from within. In the absence of the Vice-Chancellor, the degree certificates would bear the signature of the higher education secretary, which, experts say, would spell trouble in future, especially in foreign countries.
Agreeing with him, another professor requesting anonymity added: “Even
if they issue the certificates now with higher education secretary’s
signature, they will have to reissue them later. The official should not
sign especially the PhD certificates; otherwise students will be in big
trouble when they head abroad for further studies,” he said.
University authorities seeking a date from the Chancellor, Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, to conduct the convocation ceremony has triggered furious opposition from within. In the absence of the Vice-Chancellor, the degree certificates would bear the signature of the higher education secretary, which, experts say, would spell trouble in future, especially in foreign countries.
“If they are not signed by the
Vice-Chancellor, students might face problem. The universities in India
might accept the certificates, but the foreign universities would refuse
to do so,” said S Chandramohan, professor in the Electrical and
Electronics Engineering department. As per the amendment in 2011, in the
absence of a Vice Chancellor, a senior most professor can officiate in
that capacity, including signing certificates, he said. For the record,
it has been over 10 months since the prestigious institution is without a
head.
The confusion that is persisting over
this has already hit the students. A scholar who has finished his Ph.D
pointed out that the convocation should have been conducted last
November-December. “When we last enquired, officials from administration
said the convocation dates will be known only after the new V-C was
appointed. Without Vice-Chancellor’s signature, I do not know whether
the certificate will be valid. I am not sure if higher education
secretary’s signature will be accepted,” he said.
The reported move to proceed with the convocation has angered the faculty unions, who have warned of consequences. “There will be protests if there is a convocation. It has never happened in the history of the university where convocation is conducted without a Vice-Chancellor,” said I Arul Aram, president of the Anna University Teachers Association (AUTA).
No comments:
Post a Comment