THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a parting shot that has taken the form of a 16-page report, P K Radhakrishnan, who steps down as Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University on Friday, has roundly criticised the university syndicate and suggested a series of measures for fine-tuning the academic system.
“There is an utmost need for insisting that the syndicate members have to act by a code of conduct formulated by the government. They lack collective responsibility and academic commitment. In fact, they have powers only when the syndicate is in session,’’ Radhakrishnan said in the report titled ‘Looking back at my years at the University of Kerala.’
Radhakrishnan, under whom the university won the first Chancellor’s Award instituted by the Governor, termed the University Institutes of Technology (UIT), University Institutes of Management (UIM) and the Kerala University College of Teachers’ Education (KUCTE) ‘’pastoral grounds’’ for vested interests. ‘’These institutions were started with no regard for the societal needs or sustainability, but for claiming credits of bringing a university institution in their respective local area. UITs and UIMs should be converted into SDE Centres (School of Distance Education) and should be used to strengthen the distance education system,’’ said Radhakrishnan who took over as VC in February 2014.
Underlining the need to implement the UGC Model Act in the university, he said the existing Act has been amended rather frequently ‘’to suit the non-academic demands of political leaders for strengthening their supremacy.’’
‘’The standing committee of the Academic Council should be empowered to take up all academic matters. My dependence on them in formulating regulations has brought about favourable results and impact on academic matters,’’ he said. He underlined the need to keep a close watch on affiliated colleges.
Calling the affiliation scheme the greatest contradiction in the university system, he said approval for appointment of teachers in self-financing colleges should be made mandatory. This is highly essential to ensure that fully qualified teachers are appointed, he said.
Addl charge given to Kannur VC
Kannur University Vice-Chancellor Gopinath Raveendran has been given additional charge of the Kerala University as P K Radhakrishnan’s tenure ends on Friday, Governor P Sathasivam’s office said.
Fine-tuning tips from VC
Underlines the need to keep a close watch on affiliated colleges.
Implement the UGC Model Act in university.
Approval for appointment of teachers in self-financing colleges should be made mandatory. This is highly essential to ensure that fully qualified teachers are appointed
Keep a close watch on affiliated colleges
‘Act against pastoral grounds’
Radhakrishnan, under whom the university won the first Chancellor’s Award instituted by the Governor, termed the University Institutes of Technology (UIT), University Institutes of Management (UIM) and the Kerala University College of Teachers’ Education (KUCTE) ‘’pastoral grounds’’ for vested interests.
Other suggestions
Abolishing the University Engineering Wing and substituting it with competent consultants and hiring agencies like the Central PWD for executing work. The University Engineering College, he said, should be transformed into a School of Technology offering PG and research programmes as in other university schools.