MGU budget includes placement prospects

Initiatives to address drinking water problem in flood-hit areas, new study centres also find a place

International academic carnivals to enhance placement prospects, opening of new statutory study departments, and initiatives to address the drinking water problem in areas hit by the recent floods etc figure prominently in the annual budget of the Mahatma Gandhi University for the next fiscal.

The budget, presented by K. Jayachandran, convener of the Syndicate subcommittee on finance, here on Saturday anticipates an expenditure of ₹719.72 crore against an income of ₹657.38 crore. The key academic initiatives that have been proposed include opening of study departments in Nano Science, Nano Technology, Energy Material, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Disaster Management, Economics, Hindi, Geology, Commerce, Mathematics and psychology.

Among other things, ₹3 crore has been allotted to strengthen scientific research and academic programmes, in addition to ₹2.5 crore for purchase of research equipment in science departments. A fund of ₹6 crore has been set aside for the development of the academic complex and ₹2.5 crore has been earmarked for infrastructure development for the School of Tourism.

Among the announcements that were made included introduction of online valuation system for doctoral thesis and awards for students excelling in different areas. To promote creative skills of students, an academic writing workshop will be organised.

As part of strengthening the academic research initiatives, the budget envisages constituting a research mobility fund, conduct of spark programmes, and setting up of a varsity-industry joint committee. A common examination system will be introduced for admission to M.Phil programmes.

Exclusive centres for online examinations will be opened on the varsity campus in Kottayam and Muttom in Thodupuzha. To facilitate appointment of guest lecturers, tenure programme will be organised.

Further, a centre to train the varsity employees in administrative law will be established. To ensure efficiency in service and operation, administrative-financial energy and e-audit programmes will be initiated.

The budget has also earmarked a fund of ₹50 lakh for constructing a hostel for foreign students , besides ₹40 lakh for modernisation of the examination wing and another ₹25 lakh for online valuation. A quarters for teaching and non teaching employees will be constructed using a fund of ₹2crore. A legal clinic named after the late V.R. Krishna Iyer will be opened using a fund of ₹20 lakh.

Vice Chancellor-in-charge Sabu Thomas, Syndicate members R. Prakash and P.K. Hari Kumar were also present.