Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

UGC-Anna varsity accord to promote basic sciences

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Sept. 30. The University Grants Commission is expected to shortly sign an agreement with the Anna University for starting a National Institute of Science in Chennai, to focus on creating human resource in basic sciences.

Educational administrators have for long been concerned at the slow growth of basic sciences education, compared to technical courses. In fact, B.E and B.Tech, especially in electrical, electronic, communication and information technology areas, have in the past decade grown nearly four times in States such as Tamil Nadu.

This growth has not been reflected in basic sciences. Basic science courses do not seem to be attracting enough talent to enable students to turn professional scientists.

The NIS, to be started with seed money of about Rs. 50 crores from the UGC, is expected to catalyse the growth of basic sciences, academic sources here said.

In the second or third week of October, the UGC will sign a formal agreement with the university, to announce the setting up of the NIS. Three such institutions are to come up in other regions.

The institute will focus on courses in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences and on providing integrated courses to help students enter research areas. The degree would be issued by the Anna University.

A nine-member steering group comprising administrators of higher education and scientific institutions would be formed to work out the modalities of forming the institution, its courses and mandate.

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