Higher Education
Colleges in South India
Educational News Today
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009
Many have failed to ensure quality education though they collect huge fees
GREAT HONOUR: Governor Surjit Singh Barnala conferring the Doctor of Science D.Sc. Honoris Causa degree of the University of Madras on Chandraayan-1 project head Mayilsamy Annadurai at the university's 151st annual convocation on Monday. (From left) Orthopaedic surgeon Mayilvahanan Natarajan; Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy; Uttar Pradesh Governor T. V. Rajeswar; and Vice-Chancellor S. Ramachandran are in the picture.
Chennai:The functioning of deemed universities should be placed under intense scrutiny, as many of them have failed to ensure quality education though they collect huge fees, Uttar Pradesh Governor T. V. Rajeswar said on Monday.
In his address at the 151st annual convocation of the University of Madras, he cited the Yashpal Committee report to press for a thorough review of the deemed universities, as "these institutions charge huge fees, but have not been successful in providing quality education to our students."
Citing the case of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Rajeswar said that whereas there were 15 deemed universities in 2004, during 2007 and 2008 alone, 24 universities were sanctioned.
"Difficult phenomenon"
Terming minority institutions another "difficult phenomenon," Mr. Rajeswar said such institutions, which also gained the deemed university status, escaped supervision by either the State or the Centre. He took exception to the indiscriminate awarding of Honoris Causa degrees by some private and deemed universities. Noting that the practice had diluted the value of these degrees, he said there were many other ways of honouring popular artists and sportspersons.
Mr. Rajeswar referred to the recent violence in the Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, the two-tumbler system, the Meenakshipuram conversions in Madurai and the suffusion of celebrity trivia in Tamil weeklies that had taken the place of the only two, but, well-rounded three anna weeklies of the 1940's.
Mr. Rajeswar said he envisioned Tamil Nadu marching ahead and setting high standards in education, literature and social transformation.
Higher Education Minister and Pro-Chancellor K. Ponmudy urged students to aspire high and not to regard Ph.D as mere titles of prestige. The doctorates should be seen as licences to specialise in a niche area of research.
New courses
Vice-Chancellor S. Ramachandran said the university was designing new courses for an integrated programme to attract young talents fresh out of school.
The five-year programme launched by the Anna Centre for Public Affairs was a step in this direction. New postgraduate courses such as M.Sc. in Ocean Science and Technology, M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences and M.Sc. in Herbal Sciences would be introduced in the academic year 2009-10.
Medals given away
Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, who presided over the convocation, conferred the Doctors of Science D.Sc. Honoris Causa degrees on space scientist and project head of Chandraayan-1 Mayilasamy Annadurai and pioneering orthopaedic surgeon Mayilvahanan Natarajan.
He also gave away prizes, medals and certificates to graduands.
T.V. Rajeswar for bringing deemed universities under the scanner
Many have failed to ensure quality education though they collect huge fees
- Institutions that gained deemed university status escape supervision
- Indiscriminate awarding of Honoris Causa diluted value of these degrees
GREAT HONOUR: Governor Surjit Singh Barnala conferring the Doctor of Science D.Sc. Honoris Causa degree of the University of Madras on Chandraayan-1 project head Mayilsamy Annadurai at the university's 151st annual convocation on Monday. (From left) Orthopaedic surgeon Mayilvahanan Natarajan; Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy; Uttar Pradesh Governor T. V. Rajeswar; and Vice-Chancellor S. Ramachandran are in the picture.
Chennai:The functioning of deemed universities should be placed under intense scrutiny, as many of them have failed to ensure quality education though they collect huge fees, Uttar Pradesh Governor T. V. Rajeswar said on Monday.
Citing the case of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Rajeswar said that whereas there were 15 deemed universities in 2004, during 2007 and 2008 alone, 24 universities were sanctioned.
"Difficult phenomenon"
Terming minority institutions another "difficult phenomenon," Mr. Rajeswar said such institutions, which also gained the deemed university status, escaped supervision by either the State or the Centre. He took exception to the indiscriminate awarding of Honoris Causa degrees by some private and deemed universities. Noting that the practice had diluted the value of these degrees, he said there were many other ways of honouring popular artists and sportspersons.
Mr. Rajeswar referred to the recent violence in the Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, the two-tumbler system, the Meenakshipuram conversions in Madurai and the suffusion of celebrity trivia in Tamil weeklies that had taken the place of the only two, but, well-rounded three anna weeklies of the 1940's.
Mr. Rajeswar said he envisioned Tamil Nadu marching ahead and setting high standards in education, literature and social transformation.
Higher Education Minister and Pro-Chancellor K. Ponmudy urged students to aspire high and not to regard Ph.D as mere titles of prestige. The doctorates should be seen as licences to specialise in a niche area of research.
New courses
Vice-Chancellor S. Ramachandran said the university was designing new courses for an integrated programme to attract young talents fresh out of school.
The five-year programme launched by the Anna Centre for Public Affairs was a step in this direction. New postgraduate courses such as M.Sc. in Ocean Science and Technology, M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences and M.Sc. in Herbal Sciences would be introduced in the academic year 2009-10.
Medals given away
Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, who presided over the convocation, conferred the Doctors of Science D.Sc. Honoris Causa degrees on space scientist and project head of Chandraayan-1 Mayilasamy Annadurai and pioneering orthopaedic surgeon Mayilvahanan Natarajan.
He also gave away prizes, medals and certificates to graduands.
Courtesy: The Hindu
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