The restoration of Anna University’s status as an affiliating university and merging of the regional Anna Universities of Technology (AUTs) with it are expected to bring back the name and quality associated with the premier institution. But the move has given rise to some apprehensions, too.
“There is no doubt that colleges and students will benefit . The University has a premier reputation and will definitely increase the value of the student’s degree,” says the principal of a self-financing college. The merger means that as many as 535 engineering colleges will come under the Anna University’s fold.
The government has argued that bringing all technical institutions under one umbrella would raise standards and provide for a common syllabus, and that the world famous university would regain its glory.
However, a key concern among the academic and student community is if would be possible for one institution to standardise the procedures in and quality of all colleges, and what would be the implications of the move for the conduct of examinations, evaluation, awarding of degrees and administration.
Some academics welcomed the move but said it would be difficult for one university to monitor so many institutions. “Maintaining quality and administration is a big challenge,” says a senior professor at AUT, Chennai.
“There is scope for shortfalls in administration,” says the principal of a self-financing college. He cites an example. “AUT, Coimbatore, uses Electronic Question Papers which are released to colleges on their websites half an hour before the exam, with a lock that can be opened . On the contrary, Anna University, Chennai, still sends a representative with sealed papers to the exam venue.”
There are other questions– “What if one exam gets postponed in one region because of heavy rains? Will the fact that some students’ mark sheets will be in the name of AUT and the degree certificates in the name of Anna University affect those wishing to pursue further studies overseas?” However, many principals of self-financing colleges maintain that it is too early to comment.
A senior professor who was involved with the decentralisation of the process described the move to merge universities as ‘disastrous’ because it would only create “carbon copies of students with no distinct capabilities or distinct perspectives.”
“Nowhere in the world will you find one university in charge of 500 colleges. The ideal solution would have been to divide the colleges and allot them to a university in a specific region. That could have provided us with graduates who have unique and varying capabilities.”
Keywords: Anna University, AIADMK government, policy decision
The idea seems to be to merge the donation colleges under one banner to gain an equal status. The reason why private colleges have been encouraged is not with the intention of meeting the requirements. such high requirements of engineers has never been there. The main reason seems to be to get engineers at a much lower salaries in the industry.
Whether merger or demerger are they delivering the goods? The quality of output, standard that matters. Students coming out should be fit enough and competent either for employment or pursue higher education The student should not face administrative inconveniences
in the process and lack of quality of education.All other apprehensions can be resolved
This message of making one university logically which is intact.The powers matters.It should be autonomised regionally and time should be given, as scope for improvement.
The existing practical problems to be analysed, corrected and prevented.
The centralising means the situation will definitely lead to disturbing the administration. The end result will be landing up in further trouble to students community and public.
The problem of to be eliminated/eradicated and not to be stitched with functional where there is absolutely nil situation.
Common people are having the following doubt: When Anna University was decentralized into regional Anna Universities of Technology (AUTs) and later centralized by bringing all technical institutions under one umbrella is being done only by politicians or with involvement of education experts and also eminent professors in the Universities concerned?
The students mentality is whether it is Anna university decentalised
or centralised, the certifictes to be issued early. The law passed
last year in the assembly, the final year exams postponed three times,
result also delayed and now after the results since one month passed
still the mark sheets, provisional certificates not issued. Now that
the order passed by CM with effect from 1st August 2012, when these
will be issued to its final year passed out students? With the deemed
universities already issued these, and the UK, US etc. consulates
already conducting interviews for student visa, Anna university
students are not able to appear for the visa interviews, with the
students worrying about losing one year for want of these
certificates.
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