College teachers will be able to pursue PhD: Himachal university VC

Prof Mahavir Verma, Vice Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), said the university would soon start five newly established research centres — Green Energy, Disaster Management, Indian Knowledge System, Data Science, and Cyber Security — at the college level, with syllabi which was under preparation.

He said this while chairing an important meeting with principals of affiliated colleges in which several significant issues were discussed, including measures to strengthen both academic and non-academic activities such as sports and cultural programmes.

The Vice Chancellor (VC) also announced that in the coming time college teachers would also be able to pursue PhD. He urged all colleges, which had yet to contribute their University Development Fund (UDF) to the university, to deposit it without delay.

Prof Verma called upon principals to give panel of teachers for practical to the university. He stressed that only experienced teachers should be part of such initiatives so that outcomes could be achieved effectively. He emphasised on strengthening evaluation centres to ensure faster declaration of examination results.

The VC assured principals that their demands and issues would be addressed on priority basis. He further suggested that the work of student registration and migration should be completed at the college level itself, so that students do not face unnecessary difficulties at the university.

He also informed principals that colleges would be supported under the PM-USHA while urging development of laboratories in postgraduate colleges to promote research work. The principals suggested that the university should launch an online enquiry helpline, to which the VC readily agreed.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof BK Shivram, Dean of Studies, expressed his views on academic and non-academic matters. Prof Mamta Mokta, Dean of Student Welfare, proposed that student council elections be conducted both in university and affiliated colleges in line with the VC’s guidelines, with all principals unanimously agreeing that the polls should be held this academic session strictly on merit basis.

Prof Hari Mohan, College Development Council Director, highlighted matters related to college-university relations and the development fund. Prof Shyam Lal Kaushal, Controller of Examinations, briefed principals about examination-related issues and discussed measures to address delays in result declaration.

Prof Joginder Singh Dhiman, Dean of Planning and Teachers’ Matters, urged college teachers to ensure active participation and contribution to the five newly established research centres of the university.