AU VC plans to secure more funds for research

Prof. Raju encouraging faculty members to take up more projects

Prof. Raju says AU is likely to receiveRs. 45 crore under the RUSA.

A university teacher should not confine himself or herself to teaching but take up research, publish books and papers in journals, said Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju.

In this direction, he is encouraging the faculty members to take up more research projects, publish books and papers and in the meantime looking for funds to support research activity and the infrastructure needed for research.

“My aim is to secure at least Rs. 100 crore during this year as research grant”, Prof. Raju told The Hindu on Thursday. Several sources have been tapped and the VC is hopeful of getting the funds and boost up the research activity in the university.AU is likely to receive Rs. 45 crore under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) of the Union Ministry of HRD, Prof. Raju informed.

Under RUSA, the HRD Ministry will be spending Rs. 23,000 crore to strengthen the State universities in the country with 65 per cent grant coming from the Central government and each State government to contribute the rest. Eighteen States have expressed their willingness to come under the scheme.

He is leaving for Hyderabad on Friday to attend a meeting of Vice-Chancellors convened by the AP State Council of Higher Education to submit AU’s development plan required to seek the RUSA funding.

AP is likely to be allotted Rs. 1,200 crore under the scheme.RUSA funding is for development of laboratories, infrastructure and research activities. Under the Centre with Potential for Excellence programme, AU is expected to receive Rs. 50 crore. AU is also seeking a Rs. 10 crore Naval Research Board programme in stealth technology. A part of which is Rs. 1.5 crore radar related project. This year, AU will be getting more grants under the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme.

“We were under the Rs. 6 crore range last year but significant improvement in our research activity, projects taken up, number of papers presented by the faculty and other academic activities, saw us in the Rs. 16 crore range”, Prof. Raju said.