Sunday, May 11, 2003
Sunday, May 11, 2003 |
| Southern States | ||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Southern States
-
Tamil Nadu
By K. Ramachandran
The students are unclear whether a deemed university degree will be accepted by other Indian or foreign universities, and the corporates. However, the number of admission enquiries, which the deemed universities are receiving, remains high as ever. The managements say the number of enquiries reflects their standing, specifically for their track record. They assert that today only the deemed universities can significantly improve academic and infrastructure quality. Till last year, the State had five deemed universities. This year the Amrita Institute of Technology and Science, Ettimadai, near Coimbatore; the Bharath Institute of Science and Technology, Selaiyur; Dr. MGR Engineering College, Maduravoyal, and the SRM Engineering College, Kattankulathur, all near Chennai, obtained the "deemed university status". So, these colleges will not be part of this year's single-window system of admissions. Is it merely to break away from the stifling affiliating system that these institutions have sought the deemed university status? Yes. But there is more to it, say the managements. T.R. Pachamuthu, Chancellor, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, says deemed universities can frame their own syllabi on a par with what obtains in international institutions. They can avoid delay in getting permission from the Government or the affiliating university for starting new courses. "We are confident of allaying the initial apprehension in the minds of the people. Especially in the post-WTO (World Trade Organisation) scenario, the deemed universities will be more relevant with their twinning programmes and collaboration with universities and research institutions in India and abroad." Mr. Pachamuthu says "It is a myth to say that deemed university students will face difficulty in getting admissions to postgraduate courses in foreign universities. The SRM group alumni association is functioning in the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan to showcase our strengths". He argues that the existing universities took many years to establish themselves, "which standing we too can achieve in due course by offering interdisciplinary study and research and better interaction with industry." Active placement, emphasis on research and development and setting up centres of excellence "will be our priority", says Srinivasa Gopalan, special officer, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute. The group now has two institutions — Dr. MGR Engineering College and Thai Moogambigai Dental College and Hospital. Postgraduate programmes will be strengthened, as also industry-institute interaction, says the group chairman, A.C. Shanmugam. On the public criticism that admissions to the deemed universities are not transparent, the institution managements claim to have their own system of admissions, fee and reservation for the poorer classes as they have a "national perspective". Another major criticism is in the way they appoint Vice-Chancellors and directors. The charge is that there are no uniform eligibility criteria or qualifications for making the appointments. Though the UGC is evolving rules and procedures for VC appointments, the deemed universities today are averse to such "fetters".
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | Home |
Copyright © 2003, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
