Tech varsity puts Punjab in name, drops ‘state’

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 14

Maharaja Ranjit Singh State Technical University has undergone a name change and would now be known as Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University.

The resolution was passed during the fourth meeting of the board of governors of the university which was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to Government of Punjab, Sarvesh Kaushal, at the Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh. The board approved insignia of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University and incorporating the change of the name of the university from Maharaja Ranjit Singh State Technical University to Maharaja Ranjt Singh Punjab Technical University as notified by the state government. At the time of the constitution of the university, the first name which was proposed was Giani Zail Singh State Technical University, a proposal which was shot down by the ruling alliance in the state allegedly for the involvement of a late Congress leader. Now, the board has voted in favour of dropping the word ‘state’ in favour of ‘Punjab’.

Aiming to push faculty members and students towards excellence in their research and development works, the university has decided to adopt an anti-plagiarism policy to be followed by its faculty members and students for any kind of thesis writing or research publications. In another progressive move, the board approved the university’s proposal of starting of one-year skill-based National Skill Quality Framework - compliant certificate courses where students shall have an option of graduating to diploma course or getting a job-based training based on his/her skills. These students can, in turn, opt for lateral entry into degree programmes or can opt for job after completing diploma courses.

Earlier during the meeting, Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Mohan Pal Singh Isher made a presentation on the latest different activities in the university and board appreciated the efforts made by university officials for its smooth running. It was also decided upon that every member of the Board of Governors of the university shall sign the Conflict of Interest Resolution.

Aiming to connect better with the public as well as students already studying in the university or seeking admission in the next session, the university will now operate its own Facebook and Twitter accounts to update the public about its activities on the campus and its constituent and affiliated colleges.

The board also decided to follow the choice based credit system in line with UGC guidelines to facilitate the transfer of credits and enable the students to have wider choice of courses across different disciplines. In order to give impetus to research and development activities in the university main campus and its constituents and affiliated colleges, it also approved requirements needed for a department or college to become approved university research centres. The architectural design of the university buildings, already approved by the Chief Minister, were also approved.

The board has also approved the constitution of the interpretation committee, to sort out any doubt and conflict resolution in regard to interpretation of the regulations of the university. All part-time courses of MTech programmes in regional centres during weekends, which were running, have been closed from the next academic session 2016-2017.

Various courses such as M Pharm (Pharmaceutics) and M Pharm (Pharmacology) will now be started on the university’s main campus in addition to MTech Civil Engineering in geo-informatics and surveying technology and MTech Civil Engineering in infrastructural engineering.