ALIGARH May 18, 2013:
1. I have been told that Vice Chancellors always have a smooth tenure in their first three years without any trouble. I have had to face trouble in my first year only and that is not a good sign. I would like to say that "only movement and change causes friction". We have not been static and tried to make changes for improvement of AMU, so obviously there will be resistance to change. But I am confident that our effort for students, teachers and non-teaching community will bear fruit, Insha Allah.
2. My mission is to take the University to number one position among the institutions of higher studies in the country and restoring its past glory by bringing excellence in academics and research and reviving its traditional values.
3. I would like to say that I speak very little and "let my actions speak for themselves". The press is the best judge of improvements we have tried to make. I will therefore not speak about achievements. All I would like to say is that I have no political or regional affiliation and would like to liberate AMU from narrow vested interests. We are all "team AMU" AMUTA, AMUSU, other unions and administration, and it is only through joint effort we can make AMU the number one university in the country.
4. My first year was spent on stabilizing AMU, restoring discipline, ensuring unhindered academic activity, holding examinations on time, achieving maximum campus placements and improving the living conditions of my students. I have not been fully successful and I will spell out the efforts we are making.
5. I am a firm believer in democratic institutions and ethics. Conducting elections to the AMU Students' Union was a testimony of my belief. I want Students' Union to utilize this opportunity to effect positive changes in their academic activities without creating any nuisance. They should support only legitimate demands.
6. I am aware that some criminal and anti-social elements are residing in hostels and disturb the academic
environment in the campus. These elements will be dealt with, if they do not vacate AMU premises. Students have been placed in my care. I am always available to listen to their grievances. Legitimate demands will be attended to. Illegitimate demands will not be given a hearing. I had given fourteen points of 'My Vision for AMU' when I joined. Let me cover them: Implement Sir Syed's vision of imparting modern education, particularly for 'Millat'
7. We have not spared any effort to regain the 'Minority Status' of AMU. The case is subjudice before the Supreme Court. We are ready with our case and Insha Allah our legal team will win.
8. We have tried to modify syllabi to cater for the requirement of industry.
9. Aligarh Muslim University has decided to establish a new Faculty of International Studies with multiple Centres and various choices of programmes. The ambit of Faculty of International Studies (FIS) will encompass International Relations, Geo-Strategy, Security, key Foreign Languages and high quality research work. The basic courses will be BA (Hons.), MA, PG Diploma(s) and M.Phil./PhD programmes. The Faculty of International Studies will have eight major departments of studies including the Department of Foreign Languages specially focusing on the teaching of Chinese, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish.
10. MHRD has sanctioned about 213 Crores for AMU Centre including 105 Crore for Malappuram Centre in Kerala and 108 Crores for Murshidabad Centre in West Bengal for their further development. We intend starting school level education at the two centres. Initially teaching for Class IX will be commenced with an intake of 90 students at both the centres. Further, a B. Ed. Course will also be introduced at these centres with an intake of 60 students. Efforts are being made to upgrade AMU Centres to full fledged minority universities.
Honour and uphold the 'Tahzeeb', traditions and culture of AMU
11. We have tried to re-establish 'tahzeeb', traditions and culture of AMU. I find considerable improvement in offering 'salutation' to seniors. There was a demand for restoration of tradition of 'Introduction' so that seniors could teach 'Tahzeeb' to freshers. I intend having 'orientation get-togethers' to encourage camaraderie amongst students under strict control of teachers and wardens. Ragging was never a problem in AMU and it will not ever be tolerated.
12. Pan, Gutka, Cigarettes and Bidi as these are health hazards. I urge students to abstain from using such harmful habit forming products and make the campus tobacco free and a green campus.
Propel AMU to the position of the top most university of the country
13. My first priority was upgradation of facilities in the J. N. Medical College that had earned a bad name in poor sanitation and patient care area. We are trying to bring a positive change in the overall image of the J. N. Medical College and with the increase in the annual grant of the College I look forward to upgrading it to the status of AIIMS.
14. The University has decided to upgrade all the University maintained Schools to the level of Senior Secondary School and Class XI teaching will be started in these schools from the forthcoming session. The MHRD has also approved the upgradation of ABK High School to Kendriya Vidyalaya standards and the necessary grant has also been released for it.
15. We plan to establish a Central Museum in the University for advanced research and studies in Museology and conserving the artefacts scattered in different locations. All the materials of archaeological importance scattered in the University including the Archaeological section, will be provided better space and importance and will be preserved with a professional approach. Researchers working in the University and also those from outside institutions will hugely benefit with the proposed change. The Central Museum will open from 8 am to 5 pm on all working days. The Departments of Museology and History will jointly work towards professional conservation of the artefacts and developing a state-of-the-art Central Museum.
Recently, there has been a controversy on the building being used by the Archaeology Section of department of History. It is not correct that the Archaeological Section is being closed down to make way for a guest house. The section is in a very neglected condition and opens only up to 2 pm. The present location is far away from the History Department. It has been decided to shift Archaeological Section to the Kennedy Hall Complex, very near to the Department of History and use the preset building for establishing a new Faculty of International Studies.
16. The University has prepared a plan for the preservation of all its historical buildings and has submitted a proposal to the Agha Khan Foundation seeking funds for this plan.
17. The Advance Diploma in Environmental Engineering (ADEE) Course has also been re-launched from the session 2013-14 at the University Polytechnic while the Centre of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research has been upgraded to a full-fledged Department of Cardiology. A DM (Cardiology) course will also be started in this department. We will aim to provide high quality education, nutritious meals and comfortable accommodation.
18. We have modernized all kitchens. The days of 'Dunlop' rotis are over. The Kendriya Bhandar outlet will be established by July 2013 and all day rations will be available at government controlled rates. We are also negotiating with meat factories and poultry farms to ensure 'economy of scale'. All dining halls will have a common menu.
19. Facilities like Bain Marie Roti Maker machine and steam cookers have been provided to the dining halls.
20. It has been made compulsory for all residents of halls to be members of dining halls. This is to prevent pilferage of food. Our aim will be to prepare students to qualify in competitive exams for Central Services, Armed Forces, IITs, IIMs and leading industries. We will also aim to produce top professionals in Medicine, Engineering, Law, Management, Sciences and Humanities.
21. AMU students need to improve self confidence and need to improve communication skills. I plan to provide the students with a viable communication and inter-personal skill development programme with the help of faculty members of the University. I however make it clear that any kind of development is possible only if the students are disciplined and concentrate on studies, the sole purpose of AMU.
22. We have agreed in principle that Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Jamia Hamdard are jointly going to provide students an opportunity to study at each other's campuses. Under this arrangement, 15 AMU students will be trained in the Jamia Millia Islamia's Mass Communication Research Centre. Jamia Hamdard will provide training to AMU students for Civil Services and AMU will train the students of all the three universities for National Defence Academy and other defence services. Our very competent and highly dedicated academic staff will be encouraged to upgrade their qualifications and skills so they can be the van guard for quality research.
23. Problems of Faculty members will be addressed. I am committed to conducting selection committee meetings for filling all vacant positions in due course of time. Three dozen teaching positions lying vacant in JN Medical College and Dental College have been filled through marathon selection committees held over the past four days. 28 selection committees have been held in Medical and Dental College in the last four days.
24. I am giving students time to meet me regularly. Students air their views after Friday prayers and there is time reserved for them to meet me in the office between 3-4 pm, where University dress is compulsory according to AMU culture.
25. We have received additional grants from Central Government. The Ministry of Human resource Development has specially made an allocation of Rs. 100 crore for the infrastructure development and construction of separate Halls of residence for 1500 girls and a separate grant of Rs. 50 Crore for construction of hall for 1000 boys. I hope that the new residential facilities will be ready within two years. After the construction of new hall for girls, the Indira Gandhi Hall for girls will be given to Abdullah Hall for accommodating their students.
26. Our thrust will also be towards sports, personality development and confidence building activities. AMU alumni will again, Insha Allah, qualify for national teams, as in the past, and win laurels for the country.
Sports facilities were on my top priority. These facilities are not being fully utilized. Basket Ball and Volleyball courts have been constructed in every hall of residence. An Indoor Badminton Court had been inaugurated and we hope to have an Olympic size open air swimming pool of international standard in the University for boys. The present swimming pool will be made exclusively for girls.
27. We plan to establish a Hockey Academy in the University to prepare students for national and international level games and bring back to the University its glory and pride in hockey. I have had discussed the proposition with the Olympian and former Indian Hockey Captain Mr. Zafar Iqbal. The Hockey Astro Turf of international standard had been constructed in the University and now national and international level matches could be organized in AMU.
28. The merger of detention and earned leaves of the faculty members has been brought into effect while a decision for the payment of salary to the guest faculties for summer vacation has also been passed. Further, an increase of about Rs. 1100 has been ordered in the monthly wages of all daily wagers as per their service conditions. Alumni will be encouraged to extend help. It is 'pay-back' time.
29. I urge AMU alumni to come forward to help their alma mater as it was the time to pay back. No institution can make progress in infrastructure development without the help and assistance from its alumni. Our alumni world-wide have passion and love for their alma mater and will be generous in grants for development of AMU.
I am satisfied with timely conduct of regular classes and entrance examinations in the University.
From the next academic session, the hostellers would not be allowed to keep motorcycles. A letter to the parents of all students has been sent to this effect. If students can afford a motorcycle they can also afford living outside the University leaving hostel accommodation for their less affluent brethren.
I am very proud of the traditions of this age old historic institution and will work for reviving them in the larger interests of the student community.
0 comments :
Post a Comment