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Meeting market needs
Injudicious release of grants by UGC Campus Notes
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
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Meeting market needs Singapore is becoming an increasingly popular destination for a section of Indian students and nowadays, there are many such students in this city-state that has an area of less than 700 square kilometres.
“Indian students always want to know about placements,” recalls John Greogry Conceicao, Director, Education Services, Singapore Tourism Board. “We were initially not familiar with the issue because in Singapore you get a job when you finish your education.” He should know, he has spent many a day doing roadshows, and taking part in education fairs, talks etc., in India, promoting Singapore as an education destination. During a recent visit, at the invitation of Singapore Education, this writer learnt of how the number of seats allocated for a particular course depends on the projections, made by the labour department, regarding the kind of skills that would be needed in the next few years. Polytechnics are the main vehicle of providing educational training that is useful to the industry and they are far more glamorous and better equipped that their counterparts in India. Add to that the lure of a job on completion of your course and you have something that Indian students are finding increasingly attractive, especially since the annual tuition fee is less than Rs 75,000 per annum. Of course, this does not include living and other expenses. The Singapore Polytechnic is the oldest. It has been providing training to technologists since 1954. Dr Rajnish Gupta is senior lecturer there and not only have his students been doing well in manufacturing and programming robots that have won various championships, his department also acts as a demonstration centre for young school children. They also sell the robots they make, and are particularly proud of a sale they made to an IIT some years ago. The Schools of Business, Chemical and Life Sciences, Design, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the Built Environment, Info-Communications Technology, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, and the Singapore Maritime Academy are especially popular with students. Scholarships are awarded, and as expected only a few very gifted students get them. Rupal Shah at the PSB Academy looks after a fairly large brood of Indian students. Over 30,000 individuals attend courses at the PSB Academy every year. Tourism and hospitality have been identified as growth industries in Singapore. Which would be the best location to house the Tourism Academy? Of course, it would be the resort island of Sentosa. You take an old dilapidated barrack of the British Army that dates back to World War II and refurbish it at the cost of a few million dollars to make state-of-the-art class rooms and facilities. Then you attract students from all over the world, 18 countries in this case, and train them. Sunayna Bhambhani is a good example of an international student. She finished her schooling in Africa, came back to Singapore, where her parents live. She wants to work in India after she has finished her course. Vahid is from Kerala. He would like to go back to India, “because they need me there.” The fees for the two-year Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Business is around Rs 3.5 lakh per annum and you can apply after completing 12 years of education. Education in Singapore is not cheap, but it is not as expensive as other places, like the UK, USA and even Australia. Many students spoke of how they got international exposure even though they were not that far away from home. Some Indian students said that they had been cheated by real estate agents who had taken commissions to get them housing, but failed to provide them with proper accomodation. To be fair, most of the students did not have such experiences and the general refrain was the place was safe. Many of the students that we met were on scholarships, called tuition grants, which are available to foreign students. You can get as much as 65-80 per cent off the full tuition fees and are required to fill a bond which requires you to work there for three years. The Temasek Polytechnic offers 38 diplomas to around 13,000 students. The beautiful campus is obviously attractive to many students, and there around 200 students there. Petite Shilpa Krishnan from Bhanswara in Rajasthan stands out among a group of boys, most students of mechatronics, combination of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and software engineering. The students say that “problem-based learning” and cross-disciplinary teaching are the two highlights of how they are being educated. While we are seeing all these institutions and meeting satisfied students, one thought that came in or mind again and again why was it that we, with our tradition of fine education, did not devote enough attention to polytechnics. When a diploma holder, taught and trained in the skills needed by the industry, is required, then why is it that we insist on having a graduate? Everyone studies so as to get a job, why not tailor the jobs to meet the requirements of the market? Sandeep Chauhan, who is a partner in a Chandigarh-based software company,recently said he had looked at over a thousand resumes of prospective candidates for an entry-level position. They were diploma holders, but were unemployable, because they did not have the required skills, an inevitable result of a mismatch between the needs of the industry and the curriculum. The mindset has to change and education has to become much more proactive if we have to compete in the global marketplace.
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Injudicious release of grants by UGC A
question mark has been put on the soundness of the proposals based on which funds were released by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to 24 universities in the country. The UGC released advance grant amounting to Rs 5.48 crore to 24 universities in March 2004 in violation of the provisions of the schemes as well as general financial rules resulting in blocking of funds for a period ranging between 8 and 24 months and consequent loss of interest of Rs 59.02 lakh for the period from April 2004 to March 2006. The UGC formulated two new schemes for the Tenth Plan period (2002-2007)—special development grant for young universities (SDGYU) and special development grant for universities in backward areas (SDGUBA). The main objectives of these schemes were to create basic and bare minimum infrastructure and to improve expand the existing infrastructure of young universities and in the case of universities in backward areas, to improve infrastructure to achieve optimum teaching equity and access at least to the threshold level. The UGC prescribed norms for the eligibility of the universities for getting financial assistance under these schemes, according to which eligible and desirous universities were required to submit their proposals in the prescribed format to the UGC. Thereafter, selected universities were to be invited to give presentation before an expert committee based on whose recommendations admissible grants were to be approached. An expert committee of officials of the UGC, observed the audit in October 2005, met in March 2004 to assess the proposals received from different universities under these schemes and recommended 13 universities under the SDGYU and 11 under the SDGUBA for release of advance grant at the rate of Rs 21 lakh and Rs 25 lakh, respectively, subject to condition that the grant may be used only after receiving item-wise final approval of the UGC. The expert committee also recommended that the eligible universities be called for presentation of their projects. Accordingly, UGC the released in March 2004 Rs 5.48 crore as advance grant to these 24 universities with the above-mentioned conditions. However, it was noticed that the UGC conveyed its approval for incurring the expenditure on the said schemes to 20 universities after a lapse of time ranging between 8 and 23 months and approvals to three universities under SDGYU and one university under SDGUBA schemes were yet to be conveyed as of March 2006. Thus pre-mature release of grant by UGC pending presentations from the universities and subsequent delay in conveying the final approvals to 20 universities and the non-approval of four universities resulted in blocking of funds amounting to Rs 5.48 crore for a period ranging between 8 and 24 months and consequent loss of interest of Rs 59.02 lakh for the period from April 2004 to March 2006 computed at Union Government’s borrowing rate of 8.4 per cent per annum. The release of grant by UGC was to avoid lapse of funds which was against the provisions of the General Financial Rules according to which rush of expenditure particularly in the closing months of the financial year would be regarded as a breach of financial property. In response to audit observation, the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development endorsed in August 2006 the views of UGC that since the universities took very long time in sending their presentations, it was decided by the latter to release an ‘on account’ grant to these universities. It added that interest accrued out of the grant would be treated as an additional grant. The reply was not accepted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India as the UGC failed to ensure that funds are not released on half-baked proposals. The fact that universities themselves took long time in sending their presentations and delay in approval in 20 cases and non-approval in case of remaining four universities put a question mark on the soundness of the initial proposals based on which funds were released.
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Campus Notes Even the logic behind shifting the directorate is not clear. Though the reason cited for the move is need of space for the engineering college, there was no immediate requirement as no new batch of students has been admitted. Due to the pressing space constraint, the officials working in the directorate do not know how to discharge their duties. The students and other persons visiting the directorate also have to face much inconvenience in getting their work done. Many official files and documents have either been misplaced or are hard to locate following the shifting. Several almirahs, filing cabinets and other items of office furniture lying in the verandah and corridors of the old building seem to be crying for the attention of the authorities concerned. But the question is: Are they listening?
Administrative heads get more power
The recently-appointed MDU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ram Phal Hooda, has directed the administrative heads of different wings of the university to take the decisions on their own instead of consulting the Vice-Chancellor in all routine matters. While the modalities in this regard are being worked out, the move is expected to do away with unnecessary delays in day-to-day functioning of the university and will go a long way in streamlining the system. Another decision taken by the new V-C of reducing the mercy chance examination fee has also been received well by the students. Students as well as teachers feel that the slashing of the exam fee will enable more students, especially those belonging to the lower-middle class background, to take the exams and improve their qualification.
V-C reaches out
One of the very first steps taken by Prof Ram Phal Hooda after taking over the reins of MDU was removing his security staff. In fact, he asked the Registrar to withdraw the security personnel provided to him. “I honestly feel that I do not require a security cordon around me,” quipped Hooda in an informal chat soon after his joining the office. The VC maintains that he would always try to remain approachable to the university students as well as staff. From the recent visits he paid to different teaching departments and offices, it seems that he really means that.
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Guru Nanak Dev University will conduct a one-day workshop for the Principals of its affiliated colleges regarding development grants available for infrastructure with the Ministry of Science and Technology/UGC under the aegis of its College Development Council on December 28 at Guru Nanak Bhavan. Dr M. S. Dhillon, Dean, College Development Council, said Prof S. Chandrashekhran, Division of Chemical Sciences of Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, would address the Principals and would apprise them of the grants available under various development schemes to provide infrastructure for various colleges.
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Armed Forces Indian Coast Guard, Coast Guard Headquarters, National Stadium Complex, New Delhi 1100 01 www.indiancoastguard.nic.in Recruitment of Assistant Commandants for Batch 02/2008: Eligibility: Indian nationals+ For 1: Bachelors Degree (Maths & Physics in 10+2). / Certificate of Competency as 1st Class Engineer of Motorship / Final exam Certificate from College of Marine Engineering under D/o Surface Transport, GoI. / Passed Sections A & B of IE DoB:
For 1: 01 July ‘83 - 30 June ‘87 Selection: Tests; Interview Application Form: Send in prescribed format to the above address / download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 15 January 2008 Indian Coast Guard, Coast Guard Headquarters, National Stadium Complex, New Delhi 1100 01 www.indiancoastguard.nic.in 1) Yantrik Eligibility:
Indian males with specified physical standards For 3: Matric DoB: For 1 & 2: 01 July ’86 - 01 July ’90. Application Form: Download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 11 February 2008 Engineering CBSE, PS-1-2, Institutional Area, IP Extension, Patparganj, New Delhi 110092 All India Engineering / Architecture Entrance Examination (AIEEE) -2008 Eligibility: For BE / BTech: 10+2 (Compulsory subjects: Physics & Maths with any one of the following Optionals: Chemistry / Biotechnology / Computer Science / Biology For BArch / BPlan: 10+2 with Maths and any one of the following Optionals: Chemistry / Biotechnology / Computer Sc. / Biology / Engineering Drawing. Test: 27 April 2008 Application Form: Send Rs 350/- by DD favouring “Secretary, CBSE,” with an unstamped, self-addressed envelope (12” x 10”) to Joint Secretary (AIEEE) by 15 December 2007 at the above address / download from website. Also available at the designated branches of Syndicate Bank / other Banks / NITs / Deemed Univs / Institutions and Regional CBSE Offices. Details: Website Application Deadline: 10 January 2008 IT Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Gulmohar Cross Road No 9, Juhu, Mumbai 400049 (Mah) (D/o IT, M/o Communication & IT, GoI) Competence in Software Technology Exam (CST) - 2008 Eligibility: Bachelors degree (any) / Engg Diploma / Software Competence: (E level: No training to G level: Degree in Computer Science / Computer Engg / IT / Electronics / Telecomm / Electrical / Instrumentation). Test: 27 January 2008 Application Form: Send Rs 150/- by DD favouring “C-DAC, Mumbai” payable at Mumbai to above address / download from website. Application Deadline: 10 January 2008 Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC), 2nd Floor, Delta Chambers, Ameerpet, Hyderabad 500016 (AP) www.cdac.in Diploma in Embedded System Design Selection: Common Entrance Test: 06 January 2008 Application Form: Download from website Details: Website Application Deadline: 29 December 2007 University of Delhi, Room No 113, D/ o Computer Science, New Academic Block, Delhi 110007 www.du.ac.in / http://cs.du.ac.in 1) MCA 2) MSc Computer Science 3) PGDCA Eligibility: For 1: Bachelor Degree (50%,10+2+3) / Masters Degree (60% with one paper in Maths and another in Comp Sc / Statistics / Operational Research) / Maths Selection: Entrance Test: Application Form: Send Rs 500 / 500 / 250 for 1 / 2 / 3 respectively by Bank Draft favoring “Registrar, University of Delhi”, payable at New Delhi with a stamped (Rs 30/ -), self-addressed, envelope (10”x7”) to Mrs. Raj Rani Kedia; Office-Incharge, Room No. 113 at the above address / Download from website. Admission Deadline: For 1: 30 January 2008 DOEACC Society, Electronics Niketan, 6, CGO Complex, New Delhi 110003 (M/o Communication & IT, D/o IT GoI) www.doeacc.edu.in Certificate Course on Computer Concepts Exam (2008) Application Form: Send Rs. 360/- by DD favouring “DOEACC”, payable at Delhi at the above address by 31 March ’08 (May 2008 Exam). Application Deadline: For May 2008 Exam: 31 March 2008 Management National Academy of Construction, Kondapur, Hyderabad 500084 (AP) 1) PG Diploma in Construction Project Mgt. Eligibility: BE / BTech (Civil Engg) Application Form: From above address / Download from website. Application Deadline: 22 December 2007 Institute of Clinical Research (India), A 201, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase I, New Delhi www.icriindia.com 1) PG Diploma in Clinical Data Mgmt (1 year, Part Time) 2) PG Diploma in Pharmacovigilance (1 year, Part Time) (at Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi & Ahmedabad campuses) Eligibility: BSc / MSc in Life Sc (Microbiology / Genetics / Biotechnology / Zoology / Chemistry / Botany / Biochemistry) / BPharm / MPharm / MBBS / BDS / BAMS / BHMS Application Form & Details: Website
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The recent shifting of the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) to its old building has caused grave inconvenience to the staff as well as visitors. The old building does not have sufficient space to accommodate the whole staff, record and office furniture of the directorate.