Will follow UGC norms on merger of Panjab University depts: DUI

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 29

A day after drama at the Centre for Nuclear Medicine over taking possession of its building on the recommendations of the Panjab University (PU) Space Committee, the university authorities today issued a statement to clear their stand on the issue.

“As per observations of professional national bodies, the one-year training is not adequate and in the long term will have implications in the approval of this course by the regulatory body, the AERB, when everywhere else there is two years of clinical training in master’s programme and three years of training in the bachelor’s programme. On the repeated observations and recommendations of the UGC and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) committee, the university authorities are merging such small departments with the relevant and bigger departments. We will follow the UGC norms,” said Prof Renu Vig, Dean of University Instructions (DUI), PU.

“The university will now review the feasibility and long-term viability of the MSc in nuclear medicine course, especially in the background of the PGI starting its own programme and lack of any long-term commitment between the institutes,” said Prof Vig.

“On April 3 last year, the PGI Governing Body had approved starting its own independent MSc nuclear medicine course and discontinuing the joint MSc programme with the PU. The decision was conveyed to the university. A request of the university to adjust the training of the 2021-2022 batch was agreed by the PGI authorities. The PGI proposal to start their own MSc programme and terminate the joint programme was mainly because the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the PU has only one faculty member. Thus, the teaching is not adequate and the same was a concern of the students,” said a PU spokesperson.

The spokesperson added, “The MSc Nuclear Medicine course throughout the country is run by the medical institutes only, with two years of exposure to clinical nuclear medicine procedures. Therefore, only one-year clinical training at the PGI during the second year of this joint programme was not sufficient and the same had been the concern of the professional bodies of the specialty of nuclear medicine.”

PUTA condmns varsity move

Meanwhile, the Panjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) issued a statement on the issue.

“The PGI has agreed to provide clinical training for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 batch students of MSc nuclear medicine course till the final decision on the renewal of the MoU is taken. The PU authorities took a regressive decision to dismantle the centre and keep the admissions to the said course in abeyance,” read the statement.

It added, “PUTA office-bearers along with the Chairperson of the Centre for Nuclear Medicine went to meet the Vice-Chancellor today, but to no avail. The PUTA delegation later approached the DUI, but they did not reach a consensus. It is a violation of PU Calendar. PUTA condemns these unconstitutional and dictatorial acts of the university authorities.”

SFS flays merger

Chandigarh: The Students for Society has condemned the merger of five centres/ departments. “The PU authorities have autocratically decided to merge five distinct centres/departments in the name of consolidation. The decision has been taken ahead of the proposed NAAC visit. In 2015, an NAAC team had erroneously recommended the consolidation of small cognate department for so-called effective and efficient teaching, learning and research,” read a statement issued by the society. It added, “Both NAAC and PU authorities do not want to understand that departments/centres work better with adequate funds, independent infrastructure, research facilities and with regular teachers.” TNS

Duration of clinical training a concern: PU

The MSc Nuclear Medicine course throughout the country is run by medical institutes only, with two years of exposure to clinical nuclear medicine procedures. Therefore, only one-year clinical training at the PGI during the second year of this joint programme was not sufficient and the same has been the concern of the professional bodies of the specialty of nuclear medicine. — PU spokesperson

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