Andhra University has signed an MoU with Guizhou Normal University (GNU), China, for student exchange programme and starting a Chinese language course in AU.
The six-month diploma course in Chinese will commence shortly at the Centre for Foreign Languages in Andhra University.
Giving details, Vice-Chancellor G. Nageswara Rao said, “the centre already teaches different foreign languages such as Japanese, Arabic, German, Spanish and French and the Chinese language will be adding up to the existing portfolio.”
This apart, GNU will also allow our students to take any course including engineering under the exchange programme and first year fee that comes to around 14000 Yuans will be waived off, he said.
The MoU was exchanged between Vice-President of GNU Zhao Shouying and AU Registrar V. Umamaheswara Rao, in the presence of the Minister for HRD Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
Addressing the media later, Mr. Ganta Srinivasa Rao said the agreement between the Ohio State of the USA and the AP State will be finalised by the month-end.
“The agreement will enable our students to gain entry into any of the colleges and universities in Ohio under the student exchange programme and a special fee structure will be offered,” he said.
The Minister also informed the media that a task force will be constituted shortly to identify the lacunae in the education system right from school to university.
“The task force will comprise members from APSCHE, State-run universities, schools, private universities and engineering colleges,” he said.
Referring to a question on the much awaited Central University and Tribal University, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said the modalities have been finalised with the Central government and the Central University is set to come up at Anantapur and the Tribal University will be coming up at Vizianagaram. “The land for both the institutions has been identified,” he said.
Panel formed
The Minister also said a committee has been formed to look into the construction of permanent campuses for the 16 Central institutions such as IIM, IIPE and IIT that have been sanctioned and grounded in the State in the last three years, as per the AP Reorganisation Bill.
“This apart, we are planning to start an Ethics Committee to look into ethical issues, a Content Corporation to look into and design innovative and industry specific courses and an Accreditation Board to rate and rank colleges and institutions within the State,” he said.
He also confirmed that about 1100 new faculty members will be recruited soon in the first phase for all state-run universities.
