Rs 100-cr Central grant sanctioned to AU, SVU

The Centre on Thursday granted `100 crore each to Andhra University (AU) and Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) as part of the second phase of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha.

VISAKHAPATNAM/TIRUPATI : The Centre on Thursday granted `100 crore each to Andhra University (AU) and Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) as part of the second phase of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). Both institutions were given `20 crore in the first phase.  AU’s primary focus will be to bring its new MBA programme on a par with global management schools. As per the university’s detailed project report, the fund will be used to improve the quality of education to match international standards and strengthen infrastructure. 

Of the total, `15 crore will be spent on developing new infrastructure and hiring faculty members for the new programme. “Candidates from the programme, which will admit 60 students, will be chosen on the basis of Common Admission Test (CAT) scores,” said G Nageswara Rao, AU Vice-Chancellor.
Further, `20 crore will be used for renovating existing infrastructure and another `20 crore will be used to build new girls’ hostels. 

“The remaining amount will be used for research activities, buying new equipment, revamping laboratories and e-classrooms in various departments,” the VC added.  “We are currently working on preparing a DPR on fund allocation to all departments so that we can submit it to the UGC by Monday,” said Rao. SVU Vice-Chancellor A Damodar told TNIE that the fund would be used to improve the overall quality of the institution by adopting accreditation “as a mandatory quality assurance framework’’. 

The university will spend 30 per cent of the amount on building infrastructure, 30 per cent to purchase research equipment and the remaining 40 per cent to strengthen research and student exchange programmes among other activities, said Dean (Research) Vijaya bhaskar Rao.  He added that it was important to correct regional imbalances in access to higher education by setting up institutions in rural areas, bringing about reforms in academic systems and ensure adequate availability of quality faculty members. 

“Capacity building at all levels of employment and creating an enabling atmosphere in terms of research and innovation is also mandatory,” he opined and emphasised the need to use the grant to create opportunities and improve equity in higher education for SC/ST and other underprivileged groups including women and the disabled.

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