Magadh University defeated Patna University 3-1 in the centre of excellence tag race in the city.
Among the four city colleges to be developed as centres of excellence, AN College, JD Women’s College and College of Commerce are affiliated to Magadh University. College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, is the only saving grace for Patna University (PU). Even institutions like Patna College, Patna Science College and Patna Women’s College failed to get the centre of excellence tag.
Sources said most of the colleges affiliated to the PU failed to figure in the list of the institutions to be developed as centre of excellence because they failed to submit the detailed project report (DPR) in the correct format.
The state education department had sought DPR from 49 colleges in the state. After going through the proposals, the department last week announced that 19 colleges across the state would be developed as centres of excellence. Of them, four are in the state capital.
The four city colleges getting the centre of excellence tag would get teachers on a priority basis. Their infrastructure would also be developed from this fiscal. All the four colleges would have the facility of e-library.
The first meeting of the 19 selected colleges was conducted on Monday. The education department principal secretary, Amarjeet Sinha, state education infrastructure development corporation’s managing director and state education department special secretary Sanjivan Sinha and higher education director Sitaram Singh were present in the meeting conducted in the education department.
The principal secretary said: “The colleges getting the centre of excellence tag would be visited by Bihar State Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation teams to assess their infrastructure facilities. The institutions would be developed on the lines of semi-autonomous institution so that they do not have to depend on the university administration for small development works.”
The representatives of the institutions tabled their development proposals in the meeting. Haridwar Singh, the principal of AN College, said: “We have submitted a proposal for the construction of an auditorium. We also sought a boost to the sports infrastructure on the college campus. We want an indoor and outdoor stadium on the college premises.”
College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, principal Atul Aditya Pandey told The Telegraph: “The institution has submitted two proposals — construction of an auditorium with a seating capacity of around 400 persons and a library above the auditorium that can accommodate at least 100 persons.”
Dipak Kumar, a second-year student of the college, said: “The selection of College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, in the elite group of institutions assumes importance because the institution would become a hub of quality education.”
Kumar said the college was already on the revival path. Just a year back, the college was crying for attention, as there was shortage of faculty members. But this year, the college got nine permanent faculty members, he added.
The college administration has also prepared a proposal to convert the five-year degree course into a four-year curriculum. It has been sent to the chancellor’ office for approval.
Besides, the institution would increase the number of subjects in which it offers specialisation courses.
Colleges to be developed as centres for excellence: Four
Under Patna University
College of Arts and Crafts
Under Magadh
University AN College
JD Women’s College
College of Commerce
