VIJAYAWADA: All the undergraduate colleges in Krishna district are now going to follow semester pattern from the academic year 2015-16 and will implement choice based credit system (CBCS), in tune with the revamping of the education system at undergraduate-level across the country.
Moreover, all the universities across the state from this academic year will have a common syllabus and curriculum which will facilitate easier transfer of students from one college to another under different universities in the state.
“The task of finalising the common curriculum for all the universities and colleges offering undergraduate courses in the state has been entrusted to Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati by the Andhra Pradesh State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE). The task has been completed now and we are expecting the syllabus to be handed over to us in a couple of weeks. The same will be discussed in the board of studies and academic senate before implementation,” Krishna University vice-chancellor D Suryachandra Rao told Express.
For some time now, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been working to bring about a uniform curriculum at undergraduate level across the country and even issued guidelines for the same. “States are being allowed to make some minor changes up to some 20 per cent in the curriculum proposed. The objective was to have a standardised education system which allows the inter-college, inter-university transfers across the country, unlike before, when it was a very difficult task,” Rao said.
Further, all the 90 undergraduate colleges in the district under Krishna University will now shift from marks pattern of valuation of the examinations to CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) system. Students’ performance will now be graded, which is in tune with international practice. The grading system is also in practice up to intermediate in the state at present.
“With common syllabus, semester pattern and CBCS at undergraduate level, we expect to witness to some improvement in education standards in degree colleges. Further, CBCS will help the students to acquire additional skills in other subjects, which are not part of the core course,” the VC said.
Krishna University has MoUs with different companies to offer better job prospects to its students.
In a bid to offer better job prospects for its students, Krishna University (KRU) since 2009 had been signing memorandums of understanding (MoU) with different organisations. It had entered into an MoU with Vijayawada-based Efftronics Limited for offering MSc Electronics and Instrumentation. The course has been designed in such a manner that students pursuing it has hands on approach while pursuing their second and final semester of the course. They will be working with the company itself for those two semesters earning a stipend of `5,000 a month. Further, on course completion, based on their performance, they will be absorbed in the company. Till date, the placements have been 100 per cent for those completing the course.
KRU had also signed an MoU with Hyderabad-based Laurus Labs Private Limited to have the final semester students of its MSc organic chemistry/inorganic chemistry/analytical chemistry for having internship at several of the company’s production facilities and R&D units. Apart from stipend during internship, those students who perform well will also be able to get into the rolls of the company following an interview.
Now the university has proposed an MoU with Bangalore-based Bharat Electronics Limited for introducing MSc Optoelectronics. A total 30 seats have been proposed for the course. “Since BEL has its unit here at Machilipatnam, we have submitted the proposal and are awaiting response from the organisation, which we hope will be a positive one,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
The new campus of Krishna University is expected to be ready by January 2017.
The varsity which has jurisdiction over the entire district, has no campus of its own and is being run from the campus of Andhra Jateeya College (AJC) in Machilipatnam, one of its affiliated colleges.
The state government had already allocated 102 acres in Rudravaram, five kilometres from AJC and another 49 acres in Guduru village. It also has PG Centre in Nuzvid. According to varsity vice-chancellor D Suryachandra Rao, the master plan for the varsity campus has been finalised. It was designed by JNTU Hyderabad - Bureau of Industrial Consultancy Services (BICS) after conducting different surveys.
The construction of first phase of the plan - administrative and academic blocks on the main campus - has been entrusted to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). A total 7.5 crore has been transferred to CPWD for the works, which are expected to be completed in 18 months.
The total built up area of the administrative block will be 85,000 sq ft, while it is 1.25 lakh for the academic block. Works are being carried out in accordance with highest standards and the new campus of the varsity is expected to become another important landmark of Krishna district in near future.
