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New building planned for UGC-Academic Staff College

PUDUCHERRY: The Pondicherry University has proposed to construct an exclusive building with modern hostel facility for the University Grants Commission-Academic Staff College (ASC) of the University at Rs. 1.75 crore, Vice Chancellor of Pondicherry University J.A.K. Tareen said on Monday.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the Summer School on Basic Science, organised by the ASC from August 5 to 25, he said the University Grants Commission had provided Rs. 75 lakh for the construction purpose and the University would allocate Rs. one crore. “The plan is ready and we hope that the building will come up in the next one-and-a-half years,” he said.

“The main concern of the country which is also discussed at various forums is why basic science education and research are at crossroads today. Why students opt less for science education as compared to technology education,” Mr. Tareen said.

In fact, the production of science output, research and publications were not as much as desired in the modern scenario, he pointed out. Drawing comparison between India and China, he said while China produced 25,000 Ph.Ds, India had only 5,000 Ph.Ds. “The Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education in India is nine to 10 per cent. This is 35 per cent in China and the world average is 23 per cent,” he said.

The south zone vice-chancellors conference to be inaugurated on September 11 here was on the topic of basic science, research and education and constraints, challenges of the Universities, he added.

He said creativity of students was lost in the process of education as the teaching was more focussed on examination. He pointed out that it were the products of Universities who served the country and those from IITs and IIMs sought greener pastures in foreign countries.

Vice-Chancellor of Patna University Shyam Lal said research institutions and universities should have a Memorandum of Understanding to exchange views on research and teaching. “Books and periodicals are too expensive to purchase and so libraries should provide the facilities to research scholars,” he said.

Addressing the gathering, Director-News, Doordharshan Kendra, Chennai E. Mariappan said teachers played a vital role in creating human resource in various disciplines and this would automatically boost the growth of the country. To help teachers equip themselves, a massive teachers education programme through tele-education could be planned, he suggested.

Director of UGC-ASC S. Hariharan and Reader of UGC-ASC Panch Ramalingam spoke on the occasion.

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