Kerala - Kochi   

Faculty divided over upgrading Cusat

KOCHI: Growing differences among faculty members over the issue of converting the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) into an Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) have put the Government in a tight spot.

A demand for retaining the present character of Cusat while allowing its engineering stream to be upgraded into an IIEST is building up.

The first salvo was fired on Saturday when the Syndicate adopted a resolution requesting the government not to fully convert the university. But the Higher Education Department is yet to respond to the call for converting the engineering campuses at Pulinkunnu and Thrikkakara into an IIEST.

It is reliably learnt that the Chief Minister was also briefed about the need to protect the actual objective of Cusat, which was set up in 1971 to promote research and studies in the field of science and technology.

Pointing out that the focus of IIESTs would be to promote only engineering programmes, faculty members belonging to the science stream said that Cusat is the only premier higher education centre in the State offering courses in higher education and research in the field of science and technology. Even now, the university retains its status as a one with potential for improvement only because of its extraordinary contributions in postgraduate programmes and research, they said.

But the engineering faculty members reject such viewpoints, saying that the prospects of teachers and employees will receive a boost with the conversion of Cusat into an IIEST. They also hope that the salary package and other benefits will be on a par with the pattern existing in Central universities once the university is upgraded into a national institute.

Caught in a deadlock over the issue, the Higher Education Department is in a fix especially after the authorities gave their nod for converting the university conditionally.

Department sources said that a decision on whether to moot a fresh proposal has to be taken at the higher-level. The Cabinet may also discuss the issue in view of the latest developments, they said.

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