Challenging road ahead for new Vice-Chancellor
MADURAI, JANUARY 04, 2019 00:00 IST
Has quite a task to launch university back on growth track
After issues-ridden tenures of the last two Vice-Chancellors of Madurai Kamaraj University, which resulted in academic activities taking a hit, M. Krishnan has taken charge as the 17th VC of the university coinciding with the commencement of a new year.
While expectations are high, interactions with a cross-section of staff members from the university highlighted that the new VC will have an uphill task in launching the university back on a growth trajectory.
Of the number of issues that will require special focus of the VC, some of the key areas will be the dwindling number of students enrolling for many courses and the flailing research output. Addressing the media after assuming office, the VC himself acknowledged the issue. “There was a time when it was easy to get funds from government agencies if you just said you were from MKU. That has changed now,” he said.
The university was rated relatively low by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a score of 3.08, which is less than the mandatory 3.25 required for offering distance education courses.
A senior faculty member stressed the need for reviewing the functioning of the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE). “The centres outside the State were closed as per regulations. There are roughly 260 centres functioning in Tamil Nadu, which are run on a revenue-sharing model. This number can be rationalised and revenue model changed so that MKU gets more income instead of private players while at the same time improving transparency,” he said. The university recently received a grant of Rs. 50 crore under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), but concerns have been raised over transparency and effectiveness in its utilisation. For instance, faculty members pointed out that while a senior faculty member was usually appointed as RUSA coordinator, a junior person was appointed by the last VC.
Irregularities
The VC will also have to act on a number of complaints of irregularities, which include appointments made during the tenure of last VC, issues in the functioning of evening colleges and constituent colleges, and allegations of corruption at different levels.
A humongous task of rectifying the audit objections kept pending for several years that run into a few hundred crores also awaits the new VC.
MADURAI, JANUARY 04, 2019 00:00 IST
Has quite a task to launch university back on growth track
After issues-ridden tenures of the last two Vice-Chancellors of Madurai Kamaraj University, which resulted in academic activities taking a hit, M. Krishnan has taken charge as the 17th VC of the university coinciding with the commencement of a new year.
While expectations are high, interactions with a cross-section of staff members from the university highlighted that the new VC will have an uphill task in launching the university back on a growth trajectory.
Of the number of issues that will require special focus of the VC, some of the key areas will be the dwindling number of students enrolling for many courses and the flailing research output. Addressing the media after assuming office, the VC himself acknowledged the issue. “There was a time when it was easy to get funds from government agencies if you just said you were from MKU. That has changed now,” he said.
The university was rated relatively low by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a score of 3.08, which is less than the mandatory 3.25 required for offering distance education courses.
A senior faculty member stressed the need for reviewing the functioning of the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE). “The centres outside the State were closed as per regulations. There are roughly 260 centres functioning in Tamil Nadu, which are run on a revenue-sharing model. This number can be rationalised and revenue model changed so that MKU gets more income instead of private players while at the same time improving transparency,” he said. The university recently received a grant of Rs. 50 crore under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), but concerns have been raised over transparency and effectiveness in its utilisation. For instance, faculty members pointed out that while a senior faculty member was usually appointed as RUSA coordinator, a junior person was appointed by the last VC.
Irregularities
The VC will also have to act on a number of complaints of irregularities, which include appointments made during the tenure of last VC, issues in the functioning of evening colleges and constituent colleges, and allegations of corruption at different levels.
A humongous task of rectifying the audit objections kept pending for several years that run into a few hundred crores also awaits the new VC.
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