Most industries that the Anna University, Chennai signed Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) during 2005-10 did not facilitate any industry-related academic programmes but merely served the purpose of mobilising funds for the university, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
The MoUs signed with the university entitled the consortium partner or the industry to avail admission for one student in the relevant branch of study. In 2005-06 the University signed MoUs with 18 industries while 21 candidates in the consortium quota had been admitted. Similarly, in 2007-08 the University signed MoUs with 53 industries while 2 additional sponsored candidates had been admitted. In the five years, the university earned Rs 22.75 crore and admitted 178 sponsored candidates.
The MoU only served the purpose of allowing admission to sponsored candidates on payment of Rs. 12 to 15 lakh per course (which is the amount prescribed for joining as a consortium member), said CAG's performance audit of the university.
Sources reveal that the industries that had been considered unsuited for signing an MoU with by one team of faculty members sent by the university, had later been approved by another team sent again.
MoUs envisages the involvement of industries in setting curriculum and in organising seminars, conferences, research, industry visits; staff exchange programme between university and industry; besides the admission of one sponsored candidate.
Audit scrutiny of records disclosed that in most cases, the consortium industries were not involved in any of the activities contemplated in the MoU. The CAG findings have revealed that the industry - academia even in the State's premier technical university is not free of flaws.
