Razi: Focus on curriculum

Ranchi, March 27: State universities will soon have more focused, competitive and job-oriented syllabi, if the ?ambitions? of Governor-cum-chancellor Syed Sibtey Razi are translated to reality.

A ?pro-active? Razi today issued a number of directives to the vice-chancellors of the universities, which indicate a major shift in the courses at graduate and postgraduate levels.

The directives ask the universities to work under a 15-year plan, instead of a five-year one, and get their syllabus revised to introduce as many job-oriented courses as possible.

Calling National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) as a trusted government agency, Razi directed the universities to feel free to approach it for suggestions for improvement.

Razi said every university should try harder to create a niche for itself, in, at least, one subject at national level.

?I do not expect them to do an excellent job in all subjects. But, a university should, at least, choose one subject and make its best efforts to be a name to reckon with in that field. For example, Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi is known for its mass communication course,? he said.

Razi further directed all the three universities to set up placement cells, and special committees that would look into complaints related to private tuition by professors.

Besides the vice-chancellors of the three universities ? Ranchi University, Vinoba Bhave University and Sidhu Kanhu University ? a number of senior university officials also attended the meet.

Razi was apparently annoyed with the functioning of Sidhu Kanhu University, which has not yet been able to obtain recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC), 12 years after its formation. This has been denying the university financial aids from the commission.

Razi asked its vice-chancellor P.C. Hembrom to fix a time frame, by which he should manage to get the UGC recognition. When Hembrom said three months, Razi extended it to four months and directed him to comply with the order at all costs. ?You will have to answer if you do not comply with the said time period,? Razi told Hembrom.

The governor further called upon the universities to be prepared to churn out enough technically trained manpower as they will be required in thousands when the MoUs, signed by the state government, become reality.

?I have already urged NAAC to do a study and advise what job-oriented courses should be introduced in the universities in view of the upcoming industrialisation. And, the vice-chancellors should take the lead in this regard,? Razi said.

He further directed the universities to hold senate and syndicate meetings regularly.