Ranchi, Nov. 20: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is impressed.

After visiting different postgraduate departments and the Ranchi University (RU) headquarters, the UGC team had only positive things to say. “The ratio of Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) students and also the male-female ratio is impressive. This supports the increase in enrolments from the deprived categories,” said A. Kalanidhi, convener of the seven-member team.

Kalanidhi also happens to be the former vice-chancellor of Anna University, Chennai.

Besides interacting with teachers, students, university officials and other stakeholders, UGC members also met with various heads of the postgraduate department at the RU headquarters today.

The convener, however, stressed that government aid should be sought for further infrastructure development but as far as academic opportunity is concerned, UGC is ready to help.

RU had submitted a request of over Rs 70 crore under the 11th five-year plan. The UGC team was here to assess the university. It also called a newsmeet at a city-based hotel before going to meet the governor-cum-chancellor of universities, Syed Sibtey Razi.

The UGC does not believe in all work and no play. Several team members also went sight-seeing this morning and among other places also visited the Surya Temple and waterfalls.To welcome the guests, RU also hosted an “official dinner” at a popular restaurant.

Though the UGC team is unable to give the exact figure of the grant, members stressed the amount would depend on their feedback and inputs of the finance committee.

RU was sanctioned Rs 3.01 crore during the 10th five-year plan, out of which it only utilised about Rs 2.4 crore. Besides, it also received a special grant worth Rs 40 lakh. The 11th plan period, beginning from 2007 extends to 2012.

The UGC team included Arvindaksham, head of the Hindi department of Calicut University, V.K. Bhasin of the department of chemistry in Punjab University, Kanwal Singh and the deputy secretary in UGC (as member secretary of the team), besides Kalanidhi.