Sunday, Apr 13, 2003
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Tamil Nadu
By Our Special Correspondent
The first meeting of the Vice-Chancellors, called by the present Governor-Chancellor, P. S. Ramamohan Rao, will provide a forum for the senior academics to discuss the latest developments in the fast-changing higher education scenario. The discussion is expected to centre round academic matters and issues of networking of libraries to share resources. The Chancellor is expected to suggest some changes in the conduct of convocations, including simplification of procedures, cutting down on speeches, and centrality to recognising student and teacher performance. He is keen that all successful candidates of a particular academic year be admitted to the convocation and that their names be included in the register of graduates, whether they apply or not. Administrative matters and grievance redress mechanisms within university systems will be deliberated in the latter-half of the day, say Education department sources. With the launch of the State Open University, there is need for networking the distance education programmes offered by all universities and relating them to the Open University programmes, say the sources. Another area, debated for long is avoidance of duplication of expenditure. Administrators note that a university could, instead of hiring premises in another area for extension activity, utilise the facilities of another university. As for curriculum reform, the suggestion mooted (in a working paper circulated to the university heads) is allowing each university to concentrate on its core strengths rather than routinely running all types of programmes and departments, leading to loss of quality. For ensuring more transparency in examinations, provision of photocopies of answer-sheets to candidates would be discussed. Senior academics say the forum now provides the best chance for educational administrators to discuss the present system of appointment of Vice-Chancellors. A former administrator of the All-India Council for Technical Education points out that a few years ago, a Secretary of the Ministry of Human Resource Development suggested that the University Grants Commission and the AICTE draw up a national level database of eminent professors. Whenever a post falls vacant, the search committees can draw names from this list. This method is required at a time when all universities are acquiring a national character, and when foreign universities are likely to enter the country. This roster will provide ``an already vetted list of eminent persons who are fit to hold the post of Vice-Chancellors''. Another issue of importance is the term of Vice-Chancellors, university teachers say. Instead of a 3-year term (which sometimes leads to lobbying for extension), they can be given a five-year tenure without any scope for extension. This can help the incumbent provide a tangible output at the end of his or her term.
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