Kerala - Kochi   

Important tasks await new VC

A STRING of important tasks await the new Vice-Chancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).

Some of the University's prestigious programmes and projects have suffered in the absence of a full-time academic head.

P. K. Abdul Aziz, professor in the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, Kerala Univeristy, is likely to be the new Vice-Chancellor CUSAT.

The name of Prof. Aziz was unanimously recommended to the Governor by a three-member panel set up to short-list candidates for the post in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. The panel comprised Chakradhar Sinha, University Grants Commission (UGC) nominee and Director of the Indian Institute of Management and Information Technology, Patna, K. Mohandas, Higher Education Secretary, the Government of Kerala and K. Mohammed Ali, MLA, Aluva and representative of the CUSAT syndicate.

Prof. Aziz is expected assume charge soon after the Governor's nod.

After the former Vice-Chancellor of CUSAT N. Unnikrishnan Nair went on a long leave in March this year, the institution was without a head for nine months.

The solution seemed ever so elusive. When Dr. Unnikrishnan Nair resigned from his post in May, 10 months prior to the end of his tenure, the University had been even without a Pro-Vice-Chancellor for a long time.

Though the day-to-day affairs of the University were taken care of, some of the long-term administrative decisions have been pending.

The temporary and permanent appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff at the University had also been affected during the period.

Several new projects such as the Promotion of Indian Higher Education Abroad (PIHEAD) have been delayed.

CUSAT was selected by the UGC for showcasing its academic courses and programmes abroad. The University had proposed 36 new short-term courses for participating in the educational fairs to be held abroad.

According to sources, the PIHEAD programme is at a standstill because the University has not been able to sign memoranda of understanding with its partner agencies in foreign countries where the programmes were to be showcased.

By K.A. Martin

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Motor strike affects trade
KSEB drive to check power loss
Sree Ramakrishna Sevasramam anniversary begins
Around the City
In Kochi Today
Important tasks await new VC

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu