Kohima, April 7: The Nagaland University has been flooded with applications for affiliation, following its newly-acquired status of a national university and the will to expand its horizons.

The institutions seeking affiliation include the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Ranchi as well as some institutions which were denied recognition by the Jharkhand government.

However, university mandarins are putting in a word of caution. ?Some universities have reportedly approached the chief minister and others, but these should not be encouraged. Many of them come here only to exploit,? said university vice-chancellor G.D. Sharma.

He clarified that they would not grant affiliation to institutions not recognised by the Jharkhand government. They will also check the antecedents of the Institute of Buddhist Studies, Ranchi, before granting it affiliation.

The Nagaland University was given the go ahead for national status by the University Grants Commission recently, following a grant of Rs 25 crore by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003. The Centre recently gave another Rs 7 crore to the varsity for two projects.

Educational institutions in Nagaland were part of the North East Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, until a few years ago.

The Nagaland University has opened several new departments after it was granted national status this month. It recently started a post-graduate diploma in mass communication and journalism as a joint venture between the university and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi. Plans are also afoot to start an institute of management and one for engineering.

However, the university has a dearth of senior faculty in professional courses.

?At present, we have to depend on visiting faculty,? Sharma said, adding that it is difficult to get senior educationists from outside on a permanent basis.