CHENNAI: For the first time in Anna University’s history, someone other than the Vice-Chancellor has signed the degree certificate.
The 37th convocation of the university that was supposed to take place last November got delayed as the post of VC remained vacant for months. The convocation finally happened on Friday.
The event took place peacefully with only about 20 student members of the Revolutionary Student Youth Front protesting in front of Gandhi Mandapam bus stop against the convocation in the absence of a vice-chancellor.
The protest was however stopped by the police within a few minutes and the students detained from participating further. The teachers however did not indulge in protests, but many stayed away from the convocation.
The certificates distributed at the convocation were signed by Sunil Paliwal IAS, principal secretary to Government, Higher Education Department. This is the first time in 37 years that the Vice-Chancellor has not signed the degree certificate.
ISRO’s director Mylswamy Annadurai, who was the chief guest, encouraged students to excel early and maintain a rich work-life balance. Speaking to Express on the sidelines of the event he said Chandrayaan II would be built by the end of the year and would be ready for launch in early 2018.
The Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao and Minister for Higher Education KP Anbalagan, along with Mylswamy Annadurai distributed the degree certificates and medals. Around 1,500 students out of 2,01,244 who graduated received their degree at the convocation. The university would sending the rest of the certificates by post.