The Hindu : New Delhi News : IP University plans to start ‘topical’ courses

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IP University plans to start ‘topical’ courses

Parul Sharma

Prof. D.K. Bandyopadhyay

NEW DELHI: As the new Vice-Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University here, Prof. D. K. Bandyopadhyay’s focus primarily will be on the quality of education being offered to students.

Speaking to The Hindu after he took over the top post this past week, Prof. Bandyopadhyay said: “As an educationist, I feel a university is known by the quality of knowledge creation and knowledge dissemination. These are two important components for the growth of any institution. IP University is on the growth path and at this time it requires a consolidated growth strategy.”

The new V-C said that the University might start some new “topical” courses in the coming years.

“The University Court has decided to start courses in Urban Studies and Oceanography. But we are yet to concretise the ideas. Also, through our affiliated institutions we would like to promote a course in Child Psychology. At the same time, we want to be cautious in starting new programmes. The courses should be as per the demands of the market and should make students employable.” Prof. Bandyopadhyay said he was keen on having a better coordination with 90-odd institutions affiliated to the University.

“The affiliations to these institutions are reviewed every year. A team of the University goes to check if all the norms are being followed or not and then we point out the shortcomings, if any. I have directed the Examination Cell that the performance of every affiliated college should be evaluated on different parameters of quality,” he said.

“We will check how many students are passing at the end of a semester and finally at the end of the term. An affiliating university is known by the performance of the affiliated colleges and that depends on the quality of teachers. We will take proactive measures in quality enhancement of the faculty members,” he said, adding that a series of pedagogy-related programmes could be held to strengthen the interface with the teachers of affiliated colleges. Prof. Bandyopadhyay, who formerly worked as the Director of the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, and was associated with Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, said the biggest challenge for him in the new job would be managing a large system.

“I come from a system where things are not that large and activity-wise things are visible. A university system is large. My biggest challenge would be in terms of managing such large systems and to be able to take it to the next orbit. The second test,” he added, “would be how to bring the faculty members, who are knowledge workers, to one fold through inspirational leadership.”

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