There is a battle between central and state universities in terms of securing funds. Responding to a question on releasing funds, Kumar clarified that universities should take a proactive role in getting funds instead of expecting them as “platter service”.
Saif Ali Khan Health Update
Varsities needed to develop their infra and be capable enough to secure funds by fulfilling certain parameters for research and development, he added.
“RUSA is now called the PM RUSA scheme, under which universities need to be accredited by NAAC, and there are other criteria for which they need to be eligible to apply in a competitive manner to secure funding. Most importantly, they need to establish a national research foundation. We need to train our faculty members to write successful projects and manage them successfully, establish some start-up companies to build the image of universities and approach funding agencies highlighting such successful backgrounds to secure. Funding is not given on a platter as we are living in a competitive world.
During his speech, Kumar emphasized that English language was a tool of communication but it was important to come out of the mindset of inferiority complex to study in Indian languages. UGC had taken the initiative to translate textbooks for higher education courses into 22 Indian languages, he said.
St Xavier’s College principal Father Dominic Savio said they were expanding boundaries by building another campus at EM Bypass as part of their ‘Vision 2025’. This campus will serve as a media hub and house multimedia departments.
“During the year, four faculty members received their PhD degrees from different institutes of eminence. Fourteen students completed their PhD degrees from St Xavier’s College, two of whom are our own faculty members,” he said.
Calcutta University’s interim VC Santa Datta (De) advised students to remain dedicated to their work in the professional field and said they should always raise their voice against unlawful activities.
No change in new draft for VC appt: UGC chief
Poulami.Roy
Kolkata: Clarifying that new draft VC appointment regulations didn’t change the already-established norms, UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar urged that state and Center should work together for the betterment of education system in the country. There had been talks that the new UGC draft allegedly excluded state govt from the process of appointing vice-chancellors.
“Since Independence or even before that, the chancellor appointed VCs. So, there is no change in the recent draft. All of us — state govt, central govt, UGC, academicians and heads of institutions — need to work together to transform our education. system. Our democratic responsibility and duty are to work together to provide the best education to students,” Kumar said.
UGC offers 1-yr extension to degree courses
Poulami.Roy
Kolkata: UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said on Thursday that UGC had announced an extended degree program for students who faced learning difficulties in a 4-year degree course. The system will allow students to add one more year to complete their course.
Kumar said, “The main objective is to reduce mental stress for students who are worried about failure.”
Emphasizing on the importance of mental health to prevent cases of suicide in higher education institutes, Kumar said: “It is very unfortunate to lose a young life. There should be a support system in higher education institutes, and we need to have faculty mentors right. from the beginning of the academic session.”
He also highlighted that UGC had specific guidelines for physical and mental health of students. He said that students needed to be encouraged to take up sports or cultural activities with academics.
