NEW DELHI: Despite being notified six months ago, the collegium system in AIIMS New Delhi is yet to be implemented properly. Sources said that over 80% of the departments at the institute have not held even a single meeting prompting the institute’s administration to issue a notice to all heads of departments to follow the guidelines and share a report of the progress made in this regard.
Sources said the notice came after many faculty members complained to the AIIMS Director that department heads are not convening collegium meetings which is affecting the functioning of departments.
“We are in receipt of representations from faculty members that in their departments, meetings of collegium are not being held. Director has taken note of these representations and desired that Chief/Head of departments may be requested to follow the guidelines about working of the collegium and hold regular meetings of collegium in their departments and centers. All concerned are requested to share a brief report about the progress made in this regard so far, from the date of notification of constitution of collegium,” the notice read.
According to faculty members who wanted to remain anonymous, the heads of departments, who were miffed with the implementation of the collegium system, are not notifying for the meetings.
Notably, in the previous system, heads of departments used to be the sole decision-making authority. Under the collegium system, however, all proposals must be passed by majority members of the collegium formed by faculty members based on the strength of the department. The department heads are chairpersons of the collegium.
Besides, under the provision of rotating headship which is a part of the collegium system, a faculty member can remain the head of the department only for a duration of three years.
“Being the chairperson, only an Head of the Department can call a meeting to discuss issues pertaining to respective departments. The absence of meetings has led to pendency of various decisions related to curriculum, research, allocation of thesis and projects, rostering among others,” said a facuty member.
According to the notification of the collegium system, the departmental heads were responsible for convening at least one meeting in a month. However, sources said majority of the departments did not call even one meeting since the system was notified on August 31, last year.
The role of the collegium encompasses various crucial aspects such as the functioning of respective departments, the development of long-term strategies for growth, creation of an annual plan for teaching, research, patient care services, allocation of funds, purchase of equipment, and preparation of the annual report.