Karnatak varsity gets into tranformation mode

Karnatak University, the second oldest in the state, has taken a step towards transforming itself in 2007.

The university needed a facelift to suit the changing global scenario and the process began with Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardee scientist Srinivas Saidapur taking over as the vice chancellor.

The delay in appointment of a regular vice-chancellor had hampered decision-making at the university. New V-C Saidapur had his task cut out. The shortage of teachers had hit academic activity in the university and the constituent Karnatak Arts and Science Colleges in particular.

The varsity needed to be prepared for reassessment and re-accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Committee (NAAC). There was a need to streamline the style of functioning in the examination and finance departments.

The university has fairly succeeded in putting the right step forward in accomplishing the mission. The process of filling up the backlog vacancies of teachers has been completed and notification for recruitment of over 200 teachers has been issued. The V-C is confident of completing the recruitment by March 2008 before the commencement of academic year 2008-2009.

The students' home in the University saw some improvement during the year with the installation of Internet facility. There are 40 PCs enabling the students to access websites and exchange information via email.

The university took little time to appoint guest lecturers but it ensured that their services were available to the college and students for the entire year on full time basis. The university has raised the remuneration of the lecturers and asked them to be in the campus during the working hours.

The varsity saw introduction of new course - Master of Tourism Administration (MTA)- at Karnataka Arts College. The two-year post-graduate course is expected to attract a good number of students as it promises good job opportunities in the growing tourism industry.

Every year two students were being given the Dr D C Pavate Fellowship to work at Cambridge. The university has extended the fellowship to two more persons to work in mathematics/physics and business management. To streamline accounts, the varsity has introduced Fund-Based Accounting System (FBAS) which is showing results.

The V-C said this had helped the varsity save a few crores while it has been time and energy saving. To spare fresh graduates and post-graduates from travelling long distances to the university to obtain degree certificates, the varsity has introduced a system of distributing the certificates to the candidates through their respective colleges.

"The colleges will send a demand draft with details of the candidates in one go and the certificates would be sent in a bundle to the colleges. This will save postage, bank's commission and other miscellaneous expenses which could be in lakhs," Saidapur asserted.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Committee (NAAC) peer team headed by former vice-chancellor of Madras University Professor Thyagarajan visited the University in the last week of December for re-accreditation. The varsity had been accredited with five-star status and it had sought re-accreditation. As part of the preparation for NAAC's visit all the buildings including the main building were given a much needed face-lift.

The vice chancellor himself continues to work on research projects and has succeeded in getting Rs 12 lakh for the project. Other researchers have also fetched Rs 3.5 crore for 14 different projects. A new book stall has been added to the University where students and teachers can buy variety of latest books on relevant subjects.

While the image of the varsity saw an upward trend in 2007, lethargy, irresponsibility and disorder continued to plague the examination wing of the varsity.

Failure to adhere to the schedule, mix up in question papers, erratic evaluation of answer scripts, strike by the evaluators and the resultant delay in announcement of results has hit the reputation of the institution. Vice-Chancellor S K Saidapur admits that there has been failure on the examination front.

"The section is headed by a registrar (evaluation) who is a Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officer appointed by the state government. Frequent transfer of these officers hampers administration," he said.