Campus Jottings
Teachers' recruitment
The much-awaited and much-needed process of filling up the vacancies of teachers posts in Andhra University is in its final stage. Though there are more than 250 vacancies, the State Government has approved filling up of 176 vacancies.
A large chunk of the posts--116--will go to the AU College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Commerce is getting only about 17. Even among these small number of posts, the campus college is getting only a few as more than 10 posts are being allotted to the PG Centers at Srikakulam and Kakinada.
Thus the arts courses continue to be neglected. Most of the departments are understaffed and the number of students joining the arts courses is coming down, except in a few courses like education.
It is gathered that the Department of Sociology which has only one teacher, will have another teacher. There is also a proposal to merge this department, having about 20 students, with the Department of Social Work.
In the case of science college, the recruitment, of about 45 teachers, is for the posts of Associate Professors. The engineering college which is trying hard to get elevated as an IIT, needs more posts, some observers say, as it also runs the undergraduate course of B.Tech. along with many PG programmes. AUCE also has the advantage of funds being received under the TEQUIP.
The students-teacher ratio in a university department which should be 1:5 will not be fulfilled in the arts college and the university which is facing the NAAC Peer Team visit next year and also keen to get a better rating this time, will find it difficult to convince the NAAC team on this issue.
Meanwhile, the list of posts to be filled up has been sent to the State Govenrment for its concurrence. The actual process of filling up the posts is expected to commence in two weeks time.
Reinstatement of teachers
A major development in the campus last week was the reinstatement of two teachers, S. Surappadu and K. John, who were sacked during the regime of previous Vice-Chancellor.
The Executive Council of AU at its meeting decided to reinstate them.
It is believed that pressure exerted by the ruling party leaders of the region was the main reason for the university administration to take back the two along with two trade union leaders.
The case of another teacher, K. Vasudeva, was not considered since he did not make a personal application. Prof. Vasudeva is at present working in a foreign university.
AU is now seeking the State Government's consent to reinstate the sacked teachers and employees.
The Andhra University Teachers Association and the AU United Staff Union thanked the VC and Members of EC for reinstating the teachers and employees.
Side-effects of reinstatement
The university administration, after reinstating Prof. Surappadu and Dr. John, is facing another demand from students and some sections of the campus to promote a senior professor of Commerce and Business Management Department, Balla Appa Rao, as HoD.
In the past, the administration passed an order not to appoint Prof. Appa Rao in an administrative post, following complaints received against him.
Now the supporters of Prof. Appa Rao say why he should be denied the HoD post when the administration has taken back those who have been dismissed on disciplinary grounds. Prof. Appa Rao has been penalised for no fault of his, they contend.
AUCET concludes
Andhra University Common Entrance Test 2006 concluded on Saturday. Nearly 43,000 candidates appeared for the test held at different centers. The answer papers are being valued immediately and the ranks lists are likely to be released by June 1.
Senior prof. retiring
A senior professor of geophysics and writer, Chandu Subba Rao, is retiring on May 31 on attaining the age of superannuation. A two-day seminar is being organised to mark the occasion. An Assistant Professor of biochemistry, N. Sreeramulu Mandadi is also retiring.
Last month, a senior professor of Department of Commerce and Business Management, who has been a Principal and EC member, G. Subrahmanyam, retired. He laid down his office in a quiet manner wanting his colleagues not to organise a meeting or felicitations.
Prof. receives award
A professor of Department of History and Archaeology, Fathima Kutty Kapil, has been awarded the Jewel of India award by the International Institute of Education and Management (New Delhi) in recognition of her contribution to fields of education and research.
Prof. Fathima received the award from former Chief Election Commissioner G.V.G. Krishnamurthy at a function held in New Delhi recently.
Vice-Chancellor L. Venugopal Reddy, Rector L. Joga Rao, Registrar P. Vijaya Prakash, Principal of AUCAC J.V. Prabhakara Rao, and others congratulated Prof. Fathima on receiving the award.
Invited for a lecture
Former Registrar and space physicist P.V.S. Rama Rao has been invited to deliver a talk during a symposium on "characterising the ionosphere" being organised by the Research and Technology Agency of NATO at the University of Alaska from June 12 to 16.
Prof. Rama Rao is the only space scientist representing Asia.
On his way to Alaska, he will also participate in a meeting on iono-satellite based augmentation system to be held in Boston from May 31 to June 2.
Prof. Rama Rao is currently involved in the ISRO-Airports Authority of India project, Gagan, for making ionospheric studies that help in automatic landing of aircraft.
AU hosts a meeting
Andhra University conducted a session on "Indian coasts: planning and management" last week in which experts from the Department of Science and Technology participated. Prof. Venugopal Reddy felicitated the new Director of INCOIS, Shailesh Nayak during the meeting.
Best Citizen of India award
Former HoD of Pharmaceutical Sciences, AU, G. Prabhakar, was awarded the Best Citizen of India award by the Best Citizen Publishing House (New Delhi) for his contribution in the field of pharmaceutical education and research.
G. NARASIMHA RAO
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