State V-Cs want varsities to become student-centric
| Date :15-Sep-2019 |
Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chancellor of Universities in Maharashtra along with Vice-Chancellors of all the universities in State.
Principal Correspondent :
State Higher and Technical Education Secretary Saurabh Vijay may convene a meeting of V-Cs soon for the integrated efforts
Responding to a call given by newly-appointed Chancellor of Universities in State, Bhagat Singh Koshyari to make universities a centre of excellence, Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) of State expressed they want to make their institutions more student-centric. Bhagat Singh Koshyari asked Vice-Chancellors of all State universities to strive to make their universities centres of excellence by laying thrust on quality of education.
It was his first interaction with Vice-Chancellors held at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. Noting the fact that there were 73 autonomous colleges and 350 Colleges accredited ‘A’ grade by NAAC, the Governor asked the Vice-Chancellors to hasten the process of accreditation by Colleges. He also asked Vice-Chancellors to lay thrust on recruitment of good teachers. Dr Mrunalini Fadnavis, Vice-Chancellor of Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Solapur University, said, “What Chancellor said is right. There are a few teachers who actually go to classes and teach students.
Taking action against them cannot be the solution. If we provide them some good and quality work they do it scrupulously, this is my experience.” Chancellor talked about new Public Universities Act of Maharashtra, 2016. He wanted to know whether people want some changes or new addition to it. Most of the Vice-Chancellors expressed satisfaction. Dr Pramod Yeole, newly-appointed Vice-Chancellor of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkdar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, pointed out, “Perspective plan was earlier mechanical. Now, it is prepared in a scientific manner. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of that region should be taken into account.
We must give a thought to what education require, extracurricular activities, accreditated college, placements.” Dr Murlidhar Chandekar, Vice-Chancellor of Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University, explained, “The act first came in 1974. It was amended in 1994 when it became state-level. In 2016, it was given the form of common statute. Minister Vinod Tawde himself visited universities and took the opinions of stakeholders. Objections, suggestions were invited. Expert committee studied every aspect and then the act was prepared, because of which it became inclusive.” Dr Yeole spoke on the issue of five years vision of universities. “Industry interaction, renovation and innovation industry should be promoted. We can seek private operators to make some changes in our curriculum that would make students employable,” added Dr Yeole.
Saurabh Vijay, Secretary, Higher and Technical Education; Dr Suhas Pednekar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mumbai; Dr Nitin Karmalkar, Vice-Chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University; Dr S P Kane, Vice-Chancellor, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University; Dr N V Kalyankar, Vice-Chancellor, Gondwana University; Dr Murlidhar G Chandekar, Vice-Chancellor, Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University; Dr Udhav Bhosle, Vice-Chancellor, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded; Dr Pramod Yeole, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad; Dr V M Bhale, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola; Dr Devanand Shinde, Vice-Chancellor, Shivaji University, Kolhapur; Dr Dileep G Mhaisekar, Vice-Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences; Dr Shriniwas Varakhedi, Vice-Chancellor, Kavi Kulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek; Dr Mrunalini Fadnavis, Vice-Chancellor, Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Solapur University; Dr K P Viswanatha, Vice-Chancellor, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri; Dr A M Paturkar, Vice-Chancellor, Maharashtra Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Nagpur; Dr S D Sawant, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, and Dr A S Dhawan, Vice Chancellor, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, were present during the meeting with the Chancellor in Mumbai.
Academic Forum of Vice-Chancellors
To an appeal made by Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chancellor that universities should get integrated within themselves and meet regularly, Dr Murlidhar Chandekar, Vice-Chancellor of Amravati University suggested, “Academic Forum of Vice-Chancellors can be constituted. They can meet regularly and share what new they are doing, among all. This can bring uniformity in universities. It will also help in fast implementation of several projects, schemes. For example, if one university succeeds in establishing incubation centre, it can share its process with others to help them do it in their universities.” Dr Mrunalini Fadnavis, Vice-Chancellor of Solapur University pointed out, “This concept will also help in making value addition to our projects. As the Chancellor said, every university should establish its own identity. The University must be known for what special it is doing. Universities can do programme jointly also.”