AICTE draft on DSc degree to keep faculty active in research work

AICTE draft on DSc degree to keep faculty active in research work

Priyadarshini.Gupta@timesofindia.com 27.10.2025

A task force at AICTE has drafted a new regulatory framework to enhance the quality, rigour, and relevance of doctoral research. For the first time, the task force has proposed formal guidelines for awarding the Doctor of Science (DSc) degree to postdoctoral scholars, and the tenure consists of 1 to 3 years. 

DSc is an advanced academic distinction awarded to research scholars who have made outstanding, original, and sustained contributions to knowledge in respective fields, including Engineering, Applied Sciences, and other allied disciplines. DSc signifies a high level of expertise and is often awarded for a portfolio of high-impact published, peer-reviewed journal papers, patents, research books, book chapters, that demonstrate original and distinguished contributions. Until now, the DSc degree in India has largely been conferred in an unregulated manne
r, with individual universities setting their own criteria for awarding it.

Some institutions have treated it as an honorary recognition, often granted without rigorous evaluation, while others have had internal frameworks such as requiring 20 years of teaching experience, 50 published papers, books authored, and guiding several PhD scholars. The absence of a national standard has raised questions about the credibility of the DSc degree. 

A senior academician, on the condition of anonymity, says, “The lack of uniformity has led to disparities in the valuation of DSc. To address this, the AICTE task force recently proposed a set of formal guidelines. The need for this was felt due to two key reasons: to formally acknowledge the lifelong research achievements of senior faculty members who have continued to make scholarly contributions, and the introduction of the new academic position of ‘senior professor’, which demands substantial academic contributions in the form of patents, publications, and PhD guidance. 

The proposed framework will reward academic performance and create a structured path to keep the faculty engaged in advanced research, mentoring, and innovation.” The guidelines will act as a catalyst to strengthen research work in institutions. The academician says, “Universities aspiring to award DSc degrees will be compelled to invest in research infrastructure, modern laboratories, libraries, digital repositories, and funding support, to meet these benchmarks.

While there may initially be a gap between well-funded and smaller institutions, the introduction of a structured DSc framework is expected to gradually narrow this divide by motivating all institutions to strengthen their research infrastructure.” However, a few academics feel that the success of the reform will depend largely on its consistent and fair implementation. 

Prof PV Navaneethakrishnan, former director of entrance exams and admissions, Anna University, Chennai, says, “Several Indian institutions treat research programmes as anecessity to stay relevant and perform well in rankings such as NIRF. However, this pressure to maintain rankings has sometimes led to unethical practices, which in turn lowers the quality of research. Simply announcing new regulations will not make a difference.” Highlighting existing accountability gaps within the system, he adds that the new norms will need to be enforced properly so that instances of malpractices are curbed.

AICTE proposed PhD framework focusing on responsible AI usage to boost research integrity

AICTE proposed PhD framework focusing on responsible AI usage to boost research integrity 

New guidelines will allow retired professors to supervise scholars, which can help retain valuable expertise 

Priyadarshini.Gupta@timesofindia.com 29.09.2025

To strengthen PhD regulations in technical education, the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) task force has drafted a new regulatory framework that enhances the quality, rigour, and relevance of doctoral research, including the mandatory AI disclaimer from researchers. The proposed guidelines reintroduce mandatory publication requirements, set authorship rules, allow retired professors to guide students, and impose stricter quality standards for dissertations. The taskforce, under the chairmanship of KR Venugopal, former vicechancellor, Bangalore University, has been approved by the AICTE Executive Council and is now with the Ministry of Education for final clearance. 

Authorship Concern 

Since the AICTE had relied on the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s PhD regulations till now, the proposed regulations will boost the research ecosystem. Prof Venugopal says, “There are persisting gaps in the current system that have weakened the quality and credibility of research. One of the major issues was the removal of the mandatory publication requirement in 2022, which had earlier existed in the 2016 regulations. Without this, many research scholars began completing their degrees without publishing any substantial work, making it difficult to evaluate their research. The new framework will reintroduce mandatory publication, not only to ensure that students contribute to peer-reviewed journals but also to provide them with recognition, which is crucial for their career prospects and academic validation. In the absence of these norms, there were instances when supervisors claimed first authorship even when the bulk of the work was done by students. Besides, the guides misused the work of their mentee for their own benefit.”

A prominent challenge in the existing system is overburdened faculty members, especially in private colleges, where professors have to handle administrative responsibilities such as admissions, grading, filling forms, and managing inspections, in addition to teaching multiple subjects. Drawing comparisons with practices in Western countries, Prof Venugopal says that retirement should not restrict professors from guiding new researchers. “The faculty find little time or energy to meaningfully guide research students. To address this, the new framework suggests that retired professors and experienced academics be allowed to continue guiding PhD students, ensuring that valuable expertise is not lost after retirement and that faculty who are less burdened can provide stronger mentorship,” he adds. Beyond publication and supervision, there are often problems with the quality of theses and dissertations. Prof Venugopal says, “Many submissions are poorly written, lacking in proper formatting, citations, and references, which undermines the academic value of the work. The new guidelines set clearer standards and guide students on how dissertations should be structured, including aspects such as font size, referencing styles, bibliography formats, and overall presentation. This is intended to improve the professionalism and readability of doctoral work, while also training students in essential academic writing skills that are often missing.” The new guidelines have also proposed a measure to reward merit and efficiency by allowing high-achieving students to submit their theses after two-and-a-half years instead of waiting for the standard three years, provided they have published quality research papers in recognised journals, including Scopus-indexed Q1 journals. Institutional delays have been a persistent problem, with registration processes of students often taking two to three months. “While many institutions have separate research departments and councils on paper, in practice, they do not function effectively. Research is not being taken seriously. The framework calls for a dedicated research department in institutions, strict timelines, and effective monitoring,” he says. 

There are several cases of exploitation by the guide. Prof Venugopal says, “It is found that guides sometimes exploit students, delaying approvals, or demanding undue favours. Furthermore, mandatory progress reviews are often skipped. Beyond procedural issues, institutions lack adequate infrastructure such as wellequipped laboratories for experimental research.” 

Plagiarism Check 

Meanwhile, while AI use is allowed for research work, it should account for less than 20% of the overall thesis and be properly cited, similar to plagiarism disclaimers. HEIs must have a mechanism using well-developed software applications to detect plagiarism/ AI-generated content in research work. V Rajendran, VC, AMET University, Chennai, says, “The framework also opens doors for industry professionals. For instance, BTech graduates with three to five years of work experience and a strong academic record (minimum CGPA of 7.0–7.5) can directly register for a PhD without a postgraduate degree. Students will be allowed to pursue translational research, regardless of their basic degree, thereby encouraging collaboration between fields such as engineering, science, literature, and medicine.” Formalising DSc Degree For the first time, AICTE has also formalised the Doctor of Science (DSc) degree. Until now, no standardised guidelines existed in India. 

The new framework requires candidates to demonstrate substantial post-PhD research output such as publishing at least 50 papers with a combined impact factor of 100 writing books or filing patents. They must also have guided aminimum number of PhD scholars. Unlike the honorary degrees often granted through influence, the DSc aims to genuinely reward senior academicians and industry experts for their contributions. Even professionals from industry without a PhD, but with significant experience, can qualify

SSN college to be merged with Shiv Nadar univ Closure After NOC from State Govt

SSN college to be merged with Shiv Nadar univ Closure After NOC from State Govt

 Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 19.09.2025

Chennai : Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar (SSN) College of Engineering in Chennai, one of the top engineering colleges in the state, has applied for progressive closure from the next academic year (2026-27). The premier college will be merged with Shiv Nadar University Chennai, which is functioning on the adjacent campus, in a phased manner. Shiv Nadar University Chennai will conduct admissions to B Tech and M Tech programmes from the next academic year. 

Students aspiring to join the institution will need to take an entrance exam and clear an interview to gain admission. As of now, SSN College of Engineering is an autonomous college under Anna University and fills 65% of its seats through online counselling, which is based on Class XII marks in mathematics, chemistry, and physics. These students pay ₹55,000 as tuition fees for govt quota seats. 

“During the 2025-26 academic year, the college enrolled around 900 students in the first year. These students will graduate from Anna University after studying for the next four years,” a source from Anna University said. 

SSN College of Engineering was established by Shiv Nadar, founder and chairman emeritus of HCL Technologies in 1996. It rose to prominence with state-ofthe-art facilities on its 230acre campus on the Old Mamallapuram Road in Kalavakkam. It is also known to offer quality engineering education, and placing more than 95% of its students in top companies during campus placements. Officials from Anna University confirmed to TOI that the university received the application for progressive closure from SSN College of Engineering from next academic year. 

“The university will give permission for closure after getting a no-objection certificate from the state govt,” an official said. Shiv Nadar University Chennai, which started four years ago, offers courses in engineering, economics, and other disciplines. “We wanted to merge Shiv Nadar University and SSN College of Engineering to have one worldclass institution offering multidisciplinary programmes,” a spokesperson for SSN Institutions said. “This college will be called SSN School of Engineering under Shiv Nadar University. 

The mode of admissions will change, and the admission process and fee structure will be in line with Shiv Nadar University,” the spokesperson added. The tuition fees for BTech programmes at Shiv Nadar University is ₹3.5 lakh.

Curriculum enhancement and career stability drive renewed interest in core engg streams

Curriculum enhancement and career stability drive renewed interest in core engg streams 

Students are picking Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, cementing it with competencies in AI, Data Science 

Priyadarshini.Gupta@timesofindia.com 21.07.2025

After years of low enrolments and reduced interest among students, core engineering branches such as Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, and Chemical Engineering are witnessing a slow but steady resurgence. These traditional fields, in the past few years, had been overshadowed by the growing demand for Computer Science Engineering (CSE), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Data Science. However, now the renewed interest is being driven by factors such as government development missions, reforms by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and a growing awareness among students about long-term career stability. 

While Computer Science and allied streams remain the sought-after choices, the idea that core branches are fading is changing. AICTE data reveals a steady uptick in enrolments across multiple core streams over the last three academic years. UG enrolment in Electrical Engineering grew by 47.6%, rising from 23,193 in 2020-21 to 34,230 in 2023-24, despite a slight reduction in total intake capacity. Mechanical Engineering, which had declined during the pandemic to 82,717 enrolments, rebounded to 98,702 in 2023-24. 

Even at the diploma level, the discipline saw a consistent rise from 1.17 lakh to nearly 1.3 lakh over the same period. Civil Engineering, often considered the backbone of infrastructure development, enrolled 75,740 UG students in 2023-24, up from 72,460 in 2020-21, with cumulative UG enrolments exceeding 3.93 lakh across five years. The diploma segment in Civil Engineering also recorded over 88,000 enrolments in the latest academic year. Meanwhile, Chemical Engineering saw a 15% increase in UG enrolments and a 22.98% jump at the diploma level — from 5,018 in 2020-21 to 6,173 in 2023-24. Sectors including real estate, energy, manufacturing, transportation, and defence are actively hiring talent from these domains, offering ample opportunities not only in India but globally. 

National missions such as PM Gati Shakti, Smart Cities, Make in India, Bharatmala, and the Green Hydrogen Mission have pushed demand for engineers with strong core knowledge. Additionally, the blending of core engineering disciplines with emerging technologies such as AI and Robotics has created interdisciplinary opportunities for students. Attractive Scholarships The growing traction is also a result of academic reforms by AICTE. Prof TG Sitharam, chairman, AICTE, says, “The council has rolled out a series of initiatives to revitalise interest in core disciplines. These include curriculum reforms aligned with Industry 4.0, the establishment of Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Academies (IDEA Labs) to promote hands-on learning, and enhanced internship access through national platforms. YASHASVI (Young Achievers Scholarship and Holistic Academic Support for Vibrant India) Scholarship Scheme has also proved beneficial, which provides 5,200 annual scholarships to first-year entrants in AICTE-approved core engineering programmes — 2,593 scholarships at Rs 50,000 per annum for UG students, and 2,607 scholarships at Rs 30,000 per annum for diploma students.” 

The job market for core engineering graduates presents a mixed picture. Prof Praveen Kumar, former HoD, Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee, says, “While public sector roles in Central Public Works Department, Railways, ONGC, and BPCL continue to offer stable jobs with salaries touching Rs 1 lakh/month, they are extremely limited. Only about 5% of graduates make it into such positions, while the rest often end up in private sector jobs, mostly under contractors, with long hours and a modest pay.” Traditional branches are seeing rising interest, though there are still some challenges. Prof Anil Singh Parihar, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, DTU, says, “No industry can grow without mechanical or civil engineers; however, the salary gap is massive. 

CSE graduates get offers of Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore, while core engineers often settle for Rs 12-Rs 13 lakh per annum as starting salary. This disparity discourages many students.” Despite this, institutions are reporting full occupancy in core branches, and students are increasingly taking minors in CSE, AI, or Data Science alongside their core degree. “This hybrid approach is opening new interdisciplinary avenues in smart manufacturing, materials science, and supply chain analytics,” he adds.

AU issues notices over deficiencies 141 Engg Colleges Pulled Up

AU issues notices over deficiencies 141 Engg Colleges Pulled Up

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com14.07.2025

 

Chennai : Anna University issued notices to 141 engineering colleges on Saturday over deficiencies in faculty and lab facilities following the physical inspection of 450 engineering colleges. 

Among them, 10 colleges with severe deficiencies were also served show cause notices. These ten colleges could face action, including the disaffiliation of courses, if they do not have the required facilities and faculty members. 

In a circular to the engineering colleges, Anna University asked the colleges to rectify the shortcomings and upload the details on or before July 18. The online general engineering counselling is scheduled to begin on Monday. The university conducted physical inspections of 450 engineering colleges in May for the academic year 2025-26. It found discrepancies in faculty, labs, and classrooms in most of the colleges. It gave time to colleges to file compliance reports after rectifying the discrepancies. 

“The university has clearly specified whether a college has a deficiency in UG programmes or PG programmes. There will be another round of physical inspection of these colleges to ensure that they have fulfilled the required norms,” a source from Anna University said. 

Following the fake faculty row last year, Anna University introduced various measures, including Aadhar-based authentication for faculty members and video recording of the inspection process, and inspected the programmes which got permanent affiliation as well. “Anna University is planning to bring online biometric attendance for all faculty members to verify whether the faculty members continue to work in the colleges. It would completely rule out the fake faculty members,” the source added. Professors said there is a shortage of faculty members in emerging areas such as AI and data science programmes. “AICTE has allowed up to 20% of faculty members from the industry to teach courses in emerging areas. It would help to resolve the faculty shortage in computer-related programmes,” professors said. 

There is also issue of qualification of science and humanity faculty members. The university found that many faculty did not have required NET, SET qualification. "Colleges can also appoint retired faculty members from govt colleges to teach science and humanities subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and English to engineering students,” a senior professor from the university said. The university also made it mandatory for all engineering colleges to upload the disclosure to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on their web portal, to inform students and parents about the facilities available in the college.

M’luru engg student bags ₹72L job at Rolls Royce

M’luru engg student bags ₹72L job at Rolls Royce 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 13.07.2025

Rit huparna KS, who completed her sixth semester at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management in Mangaluru, secured a job at Rolls Royce with an annual package of Rs 72.3 lakh. Hailing from Koduru in Thirthahalli taluk, Rithuparna is undergoing training in the Jet Engine Manufacturing Division of the college. 

What began as a hesitant step into engineering turned into a path-breaking journey of innovation and hard work, culminating in a pre-placement offer (PPO). Rithuparna is the daughter of Saresh KN and Geetha Saresh. “My dream was to become a doctor. However, my NEET results did not fetch a govt seat. I secured a govt seat in the 2022 CET counselling and enrolled at Sahyadri College. Though disheartened initially, from day one of college, I began exploring and ideating,” she said. Her first project was aimed at solving problems faced by arecanut farmers using robotics. 

She and her team presented a harvester and sprayer model at Goa INEX cotest, winning a gold and silver medal. At the same time, with a strong desire to do an internship, she reached out to Rolls Royce. Rithuparna was disappointed, though, when they asked her, “Do you even qualify to be part of our firm,” and told her she would not be able to complete even one assigned task in a month. Rithuparna requested them to give her a task and expressed confidence in completing it.

Though she did not fully understand it at first, she worked tirelessly, and completed the one-month task in a week. What followed was eight months of countless challenges. She even faced several gruelling interview rounds. Just when she began to wonder if it would ever work out, last Dec, she received a direct job offer through a PPO. The firm instructed her to begin work from Jan 2, on a work-from-home basis from midnight to 6am. Once she completes her 7th semester, she will join the firm’s Texas unit in the US. In late April, another surprise awaited her — the firm increased her compensation from Rs 39.6 LPA to Rs 72.3 LPA.

Computer Science Engineering emerges as most-preferred stream among TNEA toppers

Computer Science Engineering emerges as most-preferred stream among TNEA toppers

Exploring options: Some of the students are also considering taking up veterinary sciences and artificial intelligence. 

28.06.2025

While most of them prefer to study at Anna University, a few are in a dilemma over which stream or institution to choose. Dharani V. of Cuddalore, Mythili P. of Chennai secured the first and second ranks respectively in the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions merit list for govt. school students SAPTARSHI BHATTACHARYA CHENNAI Computer Science Engineering has emerged as the most-preferred stream of choice for most of the toppers at the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2025.

While most of them preferred to study at Anna University, a few are in a dilemma over which stream or institution to choose.

Mythili P., a student of Government Higher Secondary School in Anakaputhur, Chennai, secured the second rank in the TNEA merit list for government school students (7.5% reservation). She told The Hindu that her choice was Computer Science as she had developed deep interest in software development, coding and programming language. Having lost her father to an accident a decade ago, Mythili was brought up by her mother, who runs a roadside tender coconut stall. She wishes to study well and land a good job after completing her degree.

S. Pachaiyammal’s story is not much different. Her father developed neurological complications soon after her birth and lost his ability to work. He also suffered partial speech impairment. Her mother, a tailor, brought her up along with her siblings. “Earlier, my father was a milk vendor in our village. After he developed the disorder, he could barely move,” Pachaiyammal said.

A student of Government Model School in Thiruvannamalai, she secured fifth rank in the TNEA merit list for government school students. However, she now faces a dilemma after receiving a call from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), offering her full scholarship to study the subject of her choice. She is torn between VIT and Anna University. Like Mythili, Pachaiyammal too wants to pursue Computer Science Engineering, since it offers good placement opportunities. “I will have to work for a few years before I could decide to pursue higher studies,” she says. Pachaiyammal has pursued sports, too, winning medals at zonal and district levels in Kho Kho and having represented her district in State-level competitions.

Dharani V., a student of Government Higher Secondary School in Kandamangalam, Cuddalore, who topped the merit list for government school students, too, excelled in sports. She has won laurels in triple jump, 200 metres sprint, and relay at zonal-level competitions. She, however, is torn between Veterinary Sciences and Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Her father is a mason.

Vetrivel S., a classmate of Pachaiyammal, secured fourth rank in the merit list. His wish to pursue Computer Science Engineering at Anna University has been largely influenced by his mathematics teacher. “Sir said I could either land a good job or write GATE to get into IIT for masters. We will decide later,” he added. His father is a construction worker and his mother grew crops on a farm.

Similarly, Karthika S. of Kongunadu Matric Higher Secondary School in Namakkal, and Amalan Anto M. of Gokilambal Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Ariyalur — who secured second and third ranks in the TNEA general category merit list — said they would like to pursue Computer Science Engineering at Anna University.

Only Sagasra J. of MLM Mamallan Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Kancheepuram, who topped the general merit list, said she would like to pursue Electronics and Communication Engineering at College of Engineering, Guindy.

Bar colleges with fake faculty: NGO

Bar colleges with fake faculty: NGO 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 04.04.2025

Chennai : Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, has urged the Tamil Nadu govt to debar engineering colleges found to be involved in showing fake faculty members from taking part in upcoming engineering counselling. Anna University is to conduct reinspection for 2024-25 and physical inspection of all engineering colleges and courses for granting affiliation for the next academic year (2025-26) from thelast week of March. “Aadhaar-based face authentication will be used and the varsity will videograph the inspection to rule out duplication of faculty members. However, it should also check for salary statements, PF, and ESI details to ensure the faculty was employed in the college,” said Radhakrishnan M from the NGO. 

He also sought removal of sub-standard colleges from participating in counselling. The NGO found that 353 people worked in multiple engineering colleges du-ring the 2023-24 academic year. Following this, the varsity’sinternal probe found 2,000 faculty positions were shown with fake faculty members by engineering colleges for 2024-25. “The higher education department set up a fact-finding committee following the expose. The committee was given one week’s time. Despite the lapse of eight months, there has been no announcement on the progress of the inquiry or action taken against the colleges,” the NGO said in arepresentation to chief minister M K Stalin and higher education minister Govi Chezhiaan. The university found the involvement of around 1,000 faculty members and around 30 engineering colleges involved in the duplication of identity. “The university can take action against the colleges which have shown fake faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year. For other colleges, the action can be taken after the physical inspection,” Radhakrishnan said.

13 UG students suspended in Kovai for attacking PG student

13 UG students suspended in Kovai for attacking PG student

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 24.03.2025

Coimbatore : Thirteen first year undergraduate students of a private college here were suspended for assaulting a post graduate student in the college hostel on Saturday. The 13 students studying BE and B Tech at Nehru institute of technology near Thirumalayampalayam alleged the victim Haathi, a postgraduate student from Chennai studying second year M A Criminology in Nehru college of arts and science had stolen money from their hostel room. 

A video of the assault went viral on social media on Sunday. Preliminary inquiry revealed a group of BE and B Tech students brought Haathi to their hostel room, locked him up there and assaulted him. One of them also recorded the attack on video. The senior student was injured in the assault. According to deputy chief warden of the hostel Maheshwaran, the incident took place on March 20 night. The victim was held in the room throughout the night and was beaten. The harassment continued the following day as well, the internal investigation revealed. After being let out on March 21, he informed his parents, who visited the college hostel on March 22 and took him home. 

As the management got wind of the incident, an in- quiry was conducted and principal M Sivaraja suspended the 13 students. The injured student and the suspended students have been asked to appear before the college administration on Monday for further inquiry. After the internal investigation, the college management reported the incident to the police. The Madukkarai police have also begun a probe. Police said once the victim lodges a formal complaint, a case will be registered.

Fake faculty row: Anna univ to inspect all 440 colleges

Fake faculty row: Anna univ to inspect all 440 colleges 

Before Nod For Affiliation This Academic Year

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 24.02.2025

Chennai : In the wake of last year’s fake faculty row, Anna University has decided to inspect all 440 engineering colleges in the state for granting affiliation for 2025-26. During the check, it will look into the permanently affiliated courses to rule out any malpractices. It will check various parameters including qualifications of the principal, faculty members, library, classrooms, labs, and admissions. Last year, top colleges were exempted from physical inspection. 

In a recent circular, the university asked colleges to submit biometric details of faculty members after authenticating them with Aadhaar through the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency and Unique Identification Authority of India. It also asked them to verify all certificates, including PAN and Aadhaar details, with originals. College chairpersons or secretaries of trusts were directed to submit an affidavit stating that all details submitted are true. It also mandated AICTE Faculty ID for all members. “Faculty qualifications, experience, scale of pay, and cadre ratio should be strictly followed as per AICTE norms to grant affiliation,” the circular from registrar J Prakash said. “Those pro grammes which have not fulfilled the stipulated affiliation requirements will be suspended or withdrawn without any further notice.” For the first time, the university sought details of all permanently affiliated courses to verify them.

“Anna University used to give permanent affiliation to courses if the college is offering the course for 10 years with better admission record and no prior punishment. However, it was found that some colleges misused the permanent affiliation and showed them as faculty members in other departments. So, it was decided to verify these courses also,” a source said. The last date for submission of applications for affiliation with a late fee for 2025-26 is Feb 28. AICTE Approval Process Handbook for 2025-26 allowed institutions to appoint up to 20% of faculty as Professors of Practice (PoP) — industry professionals with varying qualifications, including PhDs or BTech with significant industry experience. The university is yet to act against 2,500 faculty members found faking identities and working in multiple colleges at the same time. Some 30 colleges were involved. “There is a court case regarding POP qualifications. University is yet to action against the faculty members and colleges. Then only the physical inspection for 2025-26 will commence,” a source added.

No affiliation if correct faculty info not provided on time: Anna University

No affiliation if correct faculty info not provided on time: Anna University

The colleges have been directed to submit all details regarding the faculty and infrastructure on the online ‘affiliation monitoring system’, which will be verified through an inspection process.

Binita Jaiswal

23 Jan 2025, 7:47 am

CHENNAI: In light of the ghost faculty scam that rocked the reputation of Anna University (AU) a few months ago, the premier institution has now issued strict guidelines to its affiliated colleges regarding the submission of faculty details. In a circular, the AU registrar has warned all 433 affiliated colleges that if correct details are not provided within the stipulated time, the college’s affiliation will be withdrawn.

The colleges have been directed to submit all details regarding the faculty and infrastructure on the online ‘affiliation monitoring system’, which will be verified through an inspection process. Faculty details authenticated by biometric devices with Aadhaar and respective unique faculty ID, issued by AICTE, must be submitted. The varsity has asked the colleges to submit the details online by January 31, or by February 7 with a late fee of Rs 50,000.

Individual faculty data sheets should contain actual details of the faculty member and their signature. Faculty qualifications and experience details with pay scale and cadre ratio should be strictly followed as per (AICTE/UGC or 6th Central Pay Commission or 7th CPC) norms for grant of affiliation.

“All certificates, AICTE faculty ID, PAN and Aadhaar details should be verified with the originals of faculty members before uploading the details to the university,” said a university official.

Though the affiliated colleges have welcomed the initiative, they have expressed their helplessness in following it in proper letter and spirit. “It is good that AU has taken a slew of measures to check duplication of faculty, but fulfilling all the norms will be a herculean task. There has been no fee hike for the last seven years. So, from where will we fulfull the 6th/7th CPC scale of pay,” said the principal of an affiliated college.

Tata Group to give ₹500cr for new med school @IISC CAMPUS

Tata Group to give ₹500cr for new med school @IISC CAMPUS 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 15.01.2025

Bengaluru : The Tata Group Tuesday announced a partnership with Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to establish the Tata IISc Medical School on IISc’s Bengaluru campus. The group will contribute Rs 500 crore for this initiative. “The medical school will be a centre of excellence that seeks to catalyse a unique model of clinical research and medical education in India by bringing basic science and engineering to bear on clinical science and practice. 

It will focus on a variety of specialities, including oncology, cardiology, neurology, nephrology, diabetes and metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, integrative medicine, and public health,” a statement read. The school will offer integrated MD-PhD and other dual-degree programmes to create a new cadre of physician-scientists and medical technologists, IISc said. These students will be trained simultaneously in the medical school as well as in science and engineering labs at IISc, combining cutting-edge clinical practice with scientific research. N Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Sons, pointed out that healthcare is one of India’s biggest challenges and also one of its gre a test opportunities, given the scale at which technology will be able to transform everything from diagnosis to care and community health. “In time, the institute’s emphasis on cutting-edge re search and global collaboration will create a highly qualified cadre of physician-scientists trained in the latest approaches to modern medicine,” he said. IISc director Prof G Rangarajan said after a century of contributions to science and engineering, IISc now has a unique opportunity to create new frontiers in medicine. “The institute owes its existence to the far-sighted vision of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata. We are committed to carrying forward this legacy and breaking new ground in creating affordable healthcare solutions,” he added

Anna univ to ban over 2K faculty members Move After They Faked Details, Were Found Working In Many Colleges

Anna univ to ban over 2K faculty members Move After They Faked Details, Were Found Working In Many Colleges

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 15.01.2025

Chennai : Anna University is planning to ban more than 2,000 faculty members from engineering colleges for one to ten years for faking their details and working in multiple colleges. The university is likely to withhold affiliation of more than 30 engineering colleges and is planning to act against the principals. 

“Anna University syndicate discussed awarding punishment to the faculty members and engineering colleges involved in faking the faculty members' details,” a source said. As per AICTE norms, engineering colleges should employ faculty members in a 1:20 ratio. To reduce the cost, many colleges showed fake faculty members. Anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam found that 353 individuals were working in multiple colleges in the 2023-24 academic year. It was discovered that the faculty members and colleges used fake Aadhaar numbers so that they could work in multiple engineering colleges. University’s internal probe found that 2,000 faculty positions were filled with fake faculty members in 2024-25. One faculty member was found working in 32 engineering colleges. The university issued notices to more than 290 engineering colleges and more than 2,000 faculty members. Only 25% of faculty members appeared for the inquiry. 

The university proposed punishment for the faculty members and colleges. However, the syndicate referred the matter to a three-member high-level committee. Arappor Iyakkam convenor Jayaram Venkatesan urged the university to act against colleges and faculty members without delay. “Despite the passing of six months, there is no action so far. Punitive actions will prevent such malpractices. The responsibility must be fixed against the inspection teams of Anna University too. They should ask for proof like pay slip to know if the faculty members are employed by the college,” he said.

VTU revamps MTech curriculum, 3- way career path in final semester

VTU revamps MTech curriculum, 3- way career path in final semester

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesofindia.com .01.2025

 Bengaluru : Visvesvaraya Technological University has revamped the curriculum for MTech programmes, creating a three-way career path for students in the final semester. It has decided to offer the programmes as MTech in the main branch of study with specialisation in parentheses. The specialisations will be offered from the second semester. The new format will be launched from 2024-25, said vice-chancellor S Vidyashankar. This year, 2,301 students opted for MTech through Karnataka Examinations Authority. 

“Usually, MTech programmes come with various specialisations within each stream. For instance, there is MTech in machine design, thermal engineering, etc., within mechanical engineering. However, we noticed that colleges have to keep shifting between these courses depending upon the demand that year. It is a painstaking process to close one branch and open another one. Therefore, we decided to revamp the courses in such a way that we will have a main branch of study with a specialisation indicated in parentheses,” explained dean B Sadashiv Gowda. With this, irrespective of the specialisation, the students will study common subjects in the first semester. › 3 career paths, P 4 Students now have 3 career paths: VTU In the subsequent semesters, the students learn courses related to their specialisation. There are electives provided that allow students to learn the subjects of their interest. “So, it is possible for  an engineering institute to offer all these depending on the industry requirements. They need not close down or open a new course based on the specialisation,” he explained. 

Similarly, the university has also heralded changes in the final semester. Students will have three options in the final semester. Those interested in research will have the option to pursue it and submit a report. The other options are an internship, where students will go to industry and work, which might also result in placement. A third option is for those who do not want to take up research or internship but want to do courses in the institute itself. They can take more courses in the third semester and do project work in the fourth semester.

“So we have created three career paths depending on the student interests, location of the college, and industry-institute collaborations. The colleges can guide students in the right direction, creating a win win situation for all kinds of institutes in tier one, two, or three cities,” he said. The university wrote to the All-India Council of Technical Education about the changes, which duly approved them. It was later approved by the statutory bodies of the university.

Hundreds of engg students hold stir as college withholds exam hall tickets

Hundreds of engg students hold stir as college withholds exam hall tickets 

JNTUH In-charge VC Demands An Explanation From Institute 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 20.12.2024

Hyderabad : Hundreds of final-year students from Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology in Ghatkesar staged a protest on Thursday after the college barred them from writing mid-semester exams due to fee reimbursement issues. The management was forced to postpone the exams, scheduled for Thursday, following the protests. Students expressed concerns not only about missing their exams but also about the potential impact on their future prospects, including the risk of being denied certificates. “Over 700 students have been denied hall tickets due to fee dues. Why should we suffer for govt’s mistake?” questioned one student. They added that they had no choice but to gather in front of the college to pressure the management into postponing the exams. 

The students claimed that while SC/ST students, who receive 100% fee reimbursement from the govt, were not affected, others — including those with merit scholarships —were being asked to pay part of the dues to receive hall tickets. “More than the mid-semester exams, we are worried that the management might use the same excuse during the final semester exams or at the time of graduation,” said another student, adding that the timing of the issue, with placement preparations underway, is troubling. Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad joined the protest and demanded action against the college management.

“Not just this college, but many institutions are forcing students to pay fees or withholding certificates over fee dues. Many students have lost job and higher education opportunities because of the managements’ insensitivity. This needs to be stopped,” said J Dileep from ABVP. Following the protest, principal of the college Siva Reddy announced that the exams scheduled for Dec 19 and 20 would be postponed. JNTUH seeks explanation JNTUH in-charge vice chancellor Balakista Reddy has demanded an explanation from SNIST principal for withholding hall tickets. Reddy, also chairman of the Telangana council of higher education, instructed the principal to present all documents on Friday. He emphasized that colleges cannot deny hall tickets or delay exams for such issues and warned of strict action against non-compliant management.

KEA staffer shared data of students with seat-blocking scamsters: Cops 10 Suspects In 10 Days Of Police Custody

KEA staffer shared data of students with seat-blocking scamsters: Cops 10 Suspects In 10 Days Of Police Custody 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 04.12.2024

Bengaluru : A staff assistant working in Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), which oversees admission to professional courses in the state, shared the details of 150 students eligible to land select engineering seats with three outsiders. They used the data and masterminded the seat-blocking scam during 2024-25 admissions, investigations have revealed. The outsiders and their associates entered options in the students’ names without their knowledge and the seats allotted to them fell vacant as the candidates did not report to the colleges. 

The unfilled seats were later transferred to respective colleges to be filled up under the management quota, multiple sources privy to the developments said. Police have arrested the KEA staffer, Avinash BS, 36, of KN Extension, Yeshwantpur; the three outsiders who ran the racket — Sriharsha TM, 42, of JP Nagar III Phase; Prakash SR, 4 and Puneet SL, 27, from Kadur, Chikkamagaluru — and the trio’s associates, Shashikumar SK, 34 and Purushottam R, 24, from Kadur and Ravishankar SC, 56, from Satanur in Kanakapura; Tilak RG, 60, from Seshadripuram and BTM Layout residents Noushad Abbas, 42 and Dilshad Alam, 33. 

The 10 accused were produced before a local court in the city Monday and were taken into 10 days of police custody. City police commissioner B Dayananda said KEA officials lodged a complaint, accusing miscreants of blocking seats and illegally handing them over to the managements of BMS Engineering College, Akash Institute of Engineering and Technology and New Horizon College of Engineering. “We began the investigation with the IP address used by the miscreants to steal the login names and passwords of 52 candidates,” he said. DCP (north) Saidulu Adavath told TOI that they have to question the management of three colleges. 

“Prima facie, it is proven that over 150 engineering seats have been blocked by the suspects. What happened after the seats were handed over to the college, we have to investigate,” he said. Rs 2 lakh per seat On how the racket operated, a senior police officer said that Sriharsha runs a job consultancy in Dollars Colony, Sanjaynagar. With Avinash’s help, he stole data of candidates who did not appear even after the third round of counselling. “Data was shared with Prakash, who illegally using login IDs and passwords, would enter their preferred colleges and block the govt quota seats in their name. In this way, the accused blocked 30 seats in BMS College, seven in Akash and 15 in New Horizon,” a senior police officer explained. 

Police further said, “Avinash claims that he was promised Rs 2 lakh per seat and Sriharsha claims a few persons from private colleges promised them around Rs 3 lakh per seat. They landed in custody just a day ago. We need to check their bank accounts.” Another senior cop said they will start questioning the college management officials, once they get detailed statements from the 10 suspects. According to sources, the accused set four mobile phones and two laptops they had used in the crime on fire. Police seized some burnt remnants of the devices. 

WHAT IS SEAT BLOCKING? 

During counselling, students can enter their preferred college choices. Once the allotment results are announced, students can accept the allotted seat, leave it, or wait for an upgrade in the next round. When students keep the seat until the final round and yet don’t report to college, the seat goes to management, which can offer it to anyone of their choice at a much higher fee. If the student surrenders the seat, it goes back into the pool and a deserving student can pick it up. In this case, a KEA official and his associates stole the credentials of students to keep the seats blocked until the last round.

HOW THE SCAM CAME TO LIGHT Seven repeater students approached KEA, claiming that they were unable to participate in the counselling this year. KEA pointed out that it’s because they selected seats last year but failed to report to colleges. The students denied it. They vowed that they didn’t participate in counselling last year. This raised suspicion. KEA checked the status of seats opted by them and found out that someone else had used their

AU clarifies stance on outsourcing recruitment

AU clarifies stance on outsourcing recruitment 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 23.11.2024 

Chennai : After facing backlash over a circular directing deans and department heads at Anna University to recruit temporary faculty members and non-teaching staff through outsourcing, the university has issued a revised circular saying only non-teaching staff would be recruited through outsourcing. A statement from the university on Friday claimed that the earlier circular was issued by mistake.

 “According to the resolution passed by the syndicate and finance committee, it was approved to recruit nonteaching faculty members through outsourcing. However, Anna University never took a decision to appoint faculty members through out sourcing,” Anna University registrar J Prakash said in a release. He said the mistake happened due to oversight while issuing the circular to the departments and university campuses. In a Nov 20 circular, Anna University had announced that new engagement of temporary teaching and non-teaching staff members on daily wages or consolidated pay should be done through a manpower agency only. 

The circular also said the authorities should be inforned about the surplus of temporary staff so that they may be allotted to other departments where there is a need for manpower. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss welcomed the announcement of Anna Uni versity. He said the revised circular was a victory for the PMK, which had condemned the move to recruit temporary faculty through outsourcing. However, he said the university administration is trying to cover up the issue by stating the announcement of recruiting faculty members through outsourcing was just an error

Fake faculty members row: AU makes Aadhaar-based authentication must 52K In Affiliated Engg Colleges To Resubmit Details For 2024-25 Before Nov 29

Fake faculty members row: AU makes Aadhaar-based authentication must 52K In Affiliated Engg Colleges To Resubmit Details For 2024-25 Before Nov 29

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 17.11.2024 

Chennai : In the wake of the fake faculty members row, Anna University has made Aadhaar based authentication mandatory for all 52,000 faculty members in its affiliated colleges. It also asked colleges to resubmit faculty members' details for 2024-25 before Nov 29 on its portal which will accept the Aadhaar number only after fingerprint verification. “The Aadhaar numbers and biometrics are linked. So, they cannot give duplicate Aadhaar numbers. The process for existing faculty members is ongoing,” a source in the university said.

The university has asked for details including AICTE faculty ID and PAN. It also asked the colleges to procure fingerprint scanners from UIDAI. “All existing faculty members will get the ID. If they are shifting to another college, the colleges can use the ID. For registering new faculty members, they may have to physically come to the university to register their fingerprints.”

In a circular to all affiliated colleges, Anna University registrar J Prakash warned that institutions which do not submit the details by the deadline will not be considered for a grant of affiliation for the 2025-26 academic year. Following the row over fake faculty members, the university’s syndicate decided to debar the fraudulent faculty members from teaching in Tamil Nadu. It sent notices to around 1,000 faculty members from 2023-24 and 2024-25 who were shown working in multiple colleges. “Only 10% to 20% of faculty members turned up for the inquiry. In some cases, colleges which collected the Aadhar details for job interviews submitted those details for affiliation,” a source said. When the university enquired, those colleges claim that the faculty members joined and left their colleges, source added. 

The university also sent notices to 295 engineering colleges on this issue Volunteers of Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, found that 353 individuals had been working in multiple engineering colleges for the 2023-24 academic year. Following this, an internal probe ordered by Anna University found that 2,000 faculty positions were shown with fake faculty members by engineering colleges for 2024-25.

Geoinformatics students struggle due to lack of well-defined job roles

Geoinformatics students struggle due to lack of well-defined job roles 

The emerging subject is relevant across sectors, but job opportunities have not been identified to support students who prefer to look westward 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK EDUCATION TIMES 21.10.2024

Geoinformatics, a branch of engineering that combines disciplines such as Earth Sciences, Geospatial Sciences, and Information Technology, is an emerging subject in India. Several technical institutes offer MTech and PhD programmes in Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing. Pursuing a course in the subject equips students with skills and knowledge that include geoinformation science and earth observation technology to generate, integrate, analyse, visualise, and disseminate spatial data for various applications such as the development of online maps, disaster mitigation plans, urban planning, and forest planning, among others. Restricted opportunities 

However, the lack of regulations, structured syllabus, and well-defined job roles after completion of the course, especially after PhDs, pose a challenge for students in securing employment. Kailash Chandra Tiwari, professor, Multidisciplinary Centre for Geoinformatics, Delhi Technological Uni versity (DTU), says, “Students in India choose their majors in higher studies based on the job opportunities after the completion of the course. However, with Geoinformatics, there is a need for government initiatives to establish cadres in government roles and introduce Geoinformatics in the NET exam to encourage students to pursue the course. 

There are no welldefined job roles like other disciplines – such as lecturer, associate professor, or assistant professor – making it difficult for students to secure employment in colleges after pursuing research.” “National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) promotes multidisciplinary education but it does not have any guidelines to protect the interests of the students who study a multidisciplinary subject such as Geoinformatics. For example, many students with BTech in Computer Science/In formation Technology (IT)/Electronics and Communication Engineering opted to do PhD in Geoinformatics but when they applied for a job in the department of their parent degree, they were not even shortlisted. 

Those who were in service and opted for this subject have been denied promotion,” says Tiwari. In 2022, Geomatics (which focuses on obtaining geospatial data) was introduced in GATE as a separate subject, which allowed students from Geoinformatics (an IT-oriented subject to analyse geospatial data) backgrounds to appear for the test. Highlighting its importance, Tiwari says, “The move helped aspirants to stick to a specific syllabus provided by GATE for admission in courses related to Geoinformatics. It also helped them to be more confident about their choice.” Not enough lucrative options in India Due to the lack of job opportunities in the geoinformatics sector, many students who complete the course often choose sectors such as Information Technology, Finance, and Data Analytics for bet ter career opportunities. “Indian corporates have recently started investing in geoinformatics technology. But, there is still a lack of lucrative job opportunities, and the salary structures do not meet global standards. This is the reason that many of geoinformatics graduates choose sectors such as information technology, finance, or data analytics due to more lucrative opportunities,” says Bharat Lohani, professor, Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur. 

Students who opt for nongeoinformatics industries are not able to use their specific skill set. IIT Kanpur offers courses such as MTech, DualDegree Programme, and PhD in Geoinformatics. Promising future India has geared up to embrace geoinformatics technology, which will enhance job opportunities and streamline regulations in the coming years. It is a part of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), and has introduced laws and policies in the field. 

Polytechnic faculty to be trained in emerging trends, technologies

Polytechnic faculty to be trained in emerging trends, technologies

 Preetika.p@timesofindia.com  01.10.2024 

Chennai : Faculty members of polytechnic colleges are to be trained in the latest technological trends such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, animation and coding to enhance their teaching skills. The National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) has introduced a two-year Master of Technology (MTech) programme, offering certification upon completion. 

“There is growing demand for courses on new technologies. We aim to ensure lifelong learning for educators by collaborating with industry experts,” said NITTTR director Usha Natesan. As of now 137 have enrolled for the programme, which will begin in Oct 2024. During audits and interviews with faculty members, the NITTTR observed that heavy workload of teaching, administrative tasks and extracurricular responsibilities left little time for professional development. 

“Not all teachers are comfortable with technology. There is a digital divide between those unfamiliar with basic audio-visual tools and younger, tech-savvy faculty. These courses are designed to bridge that gap,” said G Janardhanan, head of the Centre of Academic Studies and Research. While there are online modules, there are four mandatory in-person laboratory classes focusing on civil engineering, GIS, product management, and quality construction.

Upon completing a course, teachers must register for an examination to receive certification, Janardhanan added. To encourage participation and boost exam registrations, NITTTR had reduced the exam fee from ₹1,000 to ₹750. “Another challenge was the language barrier, but now all courses are available in regional languages, which we expect will increase enrolment,” he said. Sekar K, head of the AI department at Rajalakshmi College of Engineering, said the last online course he took was more than a decade ago. 

“Our students often know more about technology than we do. We need to keep adding value to their learning, and that means continuing our own education,” he said.Several institutions are incentivising faculty for completing these courses, awarding credit scores that are considered during appraisals. “This motivates us to keep learning,” he added.