Ranchi University’s (RU) ambitious plans of launching specially designed soft skills and language laboratories to impart communication tips to students has hit a fund crunch with authorities shelving the project temporarily

The varsity, which was to set up as many as four laboratories –cum – learning centres to improve the language skills, pronunciation techniques, voice modulation, personality development, et al, of students, now wants to focus on developing and improving its infrastructure before giving shape to the learning labs.

“First, we are grappling with a severe fund crunch that has forced us to put several plans like construction of building, improvement and introduction of various facilities on hold. Secondly, we do not have enough time at our hands,” RU pro-vice chancellor of V.P. Sharan said.

Interestingly, though the varsity launched its placement cell in May last year, high-paying jobs continue to elude the students who lag behind in communication skills despite being sound theoretically. Though more than 30 companies, including MNCs, have come headhunting on campuses for placements only a handful of students have been able to crack the interviews.

When Genpact came calling with 500 vacancies in December 2010, only 11 students managed to make the final cut.

Nine months on, the situation was not much different on Wednesday with only 30 students, out of the hundreds who had appeared for the tests, being able to move beyond the preliminary round.

“There is no dearth of vacancies in that company. However, our students continue to cut a sorry figure because they are nervous with poor communication skills further compounding their problems,” co-ordinator of the RU’s placement cell Pramod Kumar said.

Though the varsity officials acknowledged the impending problems, they cite helplessness.

Pro-vice chancellor Sharan, who is also the chairman of the placement cell, said that it would have cost them anything between Rs 35-40 lakh to set up the four 30-seater laboratories that were to be housed at the university headquarters as well as its MBA and MCA departments besides Ranchi Women’s college.

Sharan, however, added that all hopes were not lost.

“We have not fully dropped the plan as such. We will soon be holding a meeting in this connection with our office bearers and try and set up one laboratory at our headquarters,” he said, refusing to give a timeline.

“The whole project is certainly going to take time,” Sharan said.