AU to introduce six new courses

Uniform cumulative grade point system to be introduced for all courses of the university.

Andhra University will introduce six programmes and revive two courses during the ensuing academic year.

The Academic Senate during its meeting here on Thursday decided to introduce masters programme and Ph.D. in fine arts, MS in mass communication and media studies, five-year integrated courses (B.Tech. plus M.Tech.) in chemical engineering and instrumentation technology and M. Pharmacy in pharmaceutical management and regulatory affairs and revive the five-year integrated course in geology and the two-year M.Ed. It gave its approval to the five-year integrated course in law which already commenced at the campus college. A three-month certificate course in women empowerment and survival skills will be introduced at Durgabai Deshmukh Women’s Studies Centre.

Andhra University became the only university in India to have MFA and research in fine arts, Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju said while giving details of the Academic Senate meeting at a press conference. Some experts would be engaged in addition to strengthening the faculty to run the programmes. MFA would have an intake of 30 students. Rector E.A. Narayana, Registrar K. Rama Mohana Rao and others were present.

The MS programme in journalism, under the self-finance category with an intake of 30 students, would be of international standards and being introduced at the request of journalists. It would meet the requirement for global competition in the areas of communication and media studies, Prof. Raju said.

Student intake

With the introduction of integrated programmes in chemical engineering and instrumentation technology, AU College of Engineering would be having such programmes in all branches of engineering, he said. Each of this self-finance courses would have an intake of 30 students. The five-year MS course was restructured to grant degree at the end of third year.

The syllabus of MA (yoga and consciousness) was restructured at the suggestion of former Vice-Chancellor Koneru Ramakrishna Rao.

Prof. Raju said a uniform cumulative grade point system (CGPS) would be introduced for all courses of the university, to get a better image for the institution.

Former Vice-Chancellor of AU Y.C. Simhadri was congratulated on being appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Patna University.

The Senate paid tributes to film actor and its permanent member Akkineni Nageswara Rao and passed a resolution condoling his death.