SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, Nov 9: Faculty members of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University on Wednesday pointed out issues and kept forward their demands regarding their respective departments during a discussion on the betterment of education in the university.
The discussion took place during the visit from the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) convener Sudhanshu Bhushan here on behalf of the Union Ministry of Education to look over and review the changes that have taken place after Ranchi College was deemed a university under RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan).
Addressing the audience, Bhushan explained his role as a visitor to the university. Talking of his motive to visit the university he said, “I am here to review the transformation of Ranchi College into a university.”
He further said that his organisation acts as an advisor to the government as a think tank on educational matters and provides funding from the central government directly to the deemed universities.
“Along with this, the NIEPA has the responsibility of five components of education. These include RUSA as well, under which Ranchi College has been made a university. Other components include making cluster universities and colleges with potential for excellence into universities,” he added.
VC Shandilya further talked of his plans to open a girls’ hostel in the university for the betterment of the female students who face issues regarding transportation often.
While explaining the requirements in the university, Deans of Science, Student Welfare and Humanities said that the university is facing a serious issue of low numbers of teachers as a result of which, several students that want to do research work under the university are unable to do so without guides.
They further requested that all vacancies of teachers be filled as the maximum number of teachers in the university is contractual, while only a few are permanent. Along with this, teachers of different departments collaborate for better research.
The HODs of Science pointed out that several labs need up-gradation and materials are required for proper research. They said that facilities in several of these labs have facilities for UG and PG levels but not the PhD level. Along with this, they also pointed out that not only do vacancies need to be filled, but new posts in departments also need to be created as the college has now turned into a university. They further asked for funding from the Central government so that the necessary posts may be sanctioned.
The HODs in Humanities have also demanded the possibility of promotions and incentives to encourage teachers to better performance. Along with this, the teachers have asked for autonomy in the department in minor financial issues. The HODs also asked for an HRDC (Human Resource Development Centre) on the university premises to provide better opportunities to students.
Furthermore, the HODs demanded department and central libraries from the university to provide better research help to the students. Along with this, they suggested that in case of building a library takes time; the teachers asked for access to digital libraries.
They also asked for seed money for research along with allowing gold medalists to become professors. Also, the teachers asked for Central Instrumentation facilities through which all instruments will be available for all departments. The teachers have also asked that alumni associations be made to provide better resources to the university through its former students.
