Rejecting reports that the Jamia Millia Islamia University is considering reorganisation of research centres and closing two of its prominent faculties, Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmed has said that no such proposal was under consideration.
"There is no proposal under consideration regarding merger or closure of any research centre," Ahmed told PTI.
A section of faculty members and Jamia's Teachers' Association (JTA) were protesting, claiming that the varsity is mulling closure of Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies and Dr K R Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies, and merging them under the Department of Development Studies, besides restructuring 33 other departments and centres under seven different faculties.
"The only idea being mooted by us is that the researchers have to teach at various faculties so that students can benefit from the research being carried out. We are not just a research institute, we are university where teaching and research go hand-in-hand," he said.
"The claims that we have considered any such proposal are false. There is no idea of any merger, I just want that the faculties, while continuing to work as independent bodies, come together under a common umbrella for offering any particular course," the VC said.
