Dont compromise on education quality, VCs told

BHUBANESWAR: Vice-chancellors of the State-run universities were advised to develop their institutions into centres of excellence and of international standards. Presiding over a meeting here on Wednesday, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik asked the VCs to recruit best talents as teachers. There should not be any compromise on quality of education in their campuses, he said assuring all possible assistance from the Government for developing some of the departments to centres of excellence. Utkal University has identified Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Psychology and Anthropology departments while Berhampur University has identified History, Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Botany with Bio-Technology and Zoology departments for this purpose. Vice-Chancellor of Sambalpur University BC Barik told the meeting that Economics, Sociology, English, Physics and Chemistry departments will be developed into centers of excellence. The three universities were advised to have Language Laboratory.  The VCs were also advised to come up with definite action plans with regard to updated utilitarian syllabus, high quality teaching and research within three months.They were also asked to explore the possibilities of tie-up with institutes of national and international repute in the matters of cohesive lecture programmes, study tours and research activities. Issues relating to availability and utilisation of funds provided by the University Grants Commission (UGC) also figured in the meeting. After reviewing the fund utilisation position, Patnaik advised the universities that they should explore possibility of more UGC grants and submit utilisation certificates in time. Government universities and colleges which have failed to utilise UGC grants and have not submitted UCs to UGC in time will be taken to task. The meeting decided that a committee will be formed in Higher Education Department to chalk out proposals to be submitted to UGC for the 12th Plan period. Secretary Higher Education, VCs of the three Universities and officers of Finance Department will be members of the committee. The universities have also been asked to ensure proper maintenance of sanitary and electrical systems in hostels, teaching departments and laboratories. They have been advised to examine the possibility of outsourcing these activities for delivery of better services. For updating academic management, they were asked to adopt computer based end-to-end solution method in fostering academic performance of students. Development Commissioner RN Senapati, Principal Secretary, Finance, JK Mohapatra, Secretary of Higher Education Chandrasekhar Kumar, Works Secretary S Roy, Utkal, Berhampur and Sambalpur universities’ VCs PK Sahu, JK Mohapatra and BC Barik were present.