Though Madurai Kamaraj University has decided to withdraw the five-year integrated M. Tech (Film Technology and Electronic Media Studies) course from the present academic year, confusion prevails over the future of the course as a section of ongoing batches of students are fiercely opposing the withdrawal.
Importantly, university sources said that the two-year M.Sc film technology course, which the university was planning to introduce instead of the M. Tech course, has also not received all necessary approvals yet. “It looks like the Department of Film Technology and Electronic Media Studies will not be offering any course this year,” said a Professor from the university.
The Centre for Film Technology and Electronic Media Studies (CFEMS), which was offering the M. Tech programme, was merged recently as a department under the School of Media Studies in the university.
The primary concern of the present batches of students appear to be the validity of the M. Tech programme. “There are many recognition-related issues with M. Tech since it is the only such programme offered anywhere in the country. If the university chooses to wind up this course, then we feel that it will not bother to rectify the issues with the recognition,” a fourth year student said.
“When the M. Tech programme was introduced in 2012, it was lauded as a unique course. That being the case, what is the necessity to close it down now? Is the university accepting that the M. Tech course was a mistake?” asked a third year student.
After a section of students sent petitions to the administration, an enquiry committee set up the university had reportedly assured the students to explore options to sort out issues regarding recognition of the M. Tech degree.
Some officials, however, are in denial mode. A senior faculty member from the department said that the fears of the students were unfounded as M. Tech programme had necessary approvals. “The decision to wind up the course is made by the university to bring uniformity in the courses offered. I am confident that admissions to M. Sc programme will commence this year,” he said.
