NEW DELHI: The Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar that has been faltering to take off so far, is set to get a new vision with a new Chancellor at the helm of affairs and is working towards increasing its student intake in the upcoming educational year.
Officials on the Governing Board of the University shared with the New Indian Express that the strength of the Nalanda University would be its unique system of education that takes from the “system of Gurukul” and “holistic teaching” that one had in ancient times.
“The endeavour would be to take leaf out of the ancient education system of the University. The University cannot just be teaching Buddhist Studies but should also have science and other subjects,” the Governing Board member said. Presently, the Governing Board has given names for the post of Vice Chancellor to the President after interviewing six probable candidates for the post.
The new Governing Board constituted by the Government after the former Chancellor George Yeo resigned citing governmental interference “unanimously” agreed that the since its inception, the growth of the University in terms of number of students and faculty was “grossly inadequate”. In its first meeting on Feb 10th agreed to work towards increasing the intake of students in the University.
Running out of a hotel building, the University has finally awarded tenders for the construction of the permanent campus of the University and is working towards increasing the students’ intake. In order to increase the intake of students, the University has launched a new School of Studies – School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religion – during 2016-17. “The University is also planning to launch a School of linguistic Studies during the forthcoming academic year 2017-18 and a School of Public Health in 2018-19,” Gen (retd) VK Singh told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
The total number of students in Nalanda University during the academic year 2014-15 was 12, in 2015-16 was about 62 and during the current academic year 2016-17 around 130. While the construction of the buildings will be completed by 2019 or early 2020, the University Administration requested the Architect Consultants to fast track the construction project with the use of pre-fabricated structures wherever feasible.