Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008
Decision to start integrated M.Tech programmes hailed


Tiruchi: General universities are empowered by the Constitution to develop a composite character by offering professional programmes in Law, Medicine, and Engineering, according to the first Vice-Chancellor of Bharathidasan University P.S. Manisundaram.


Tamil translation
Launching the first issue of IEEE Spectrum Magazine's Tamil translation, Prof. Manisundaram, who was instrumental in the creation of Schools of Excellence during his tenure, appreciated the university's decision to start integrated M.Tech programmes, and emphasised the need for universities to take independent decisions.

While apprehensions are being voiced by academics on the low gross enrolment ratio in higher education, nothing was being done to rectify the deplorable condition of higher education under the affiliating system, he observed, terming the (affiliating) system anachronistic.

Universities must facilitate colleges with autonomous status over a certain duration to acquire degree awarding status, he insisted, adding that such a trend would obviate the need for institutions to seek the status of (deemed) university.

Youth exhorted
Prof. Manisundaram exhorted youngsters not to be apathetic to the dangerous situation of the widening social, economic and digital divide between the rich and the poor.

Appreciating the university for its efforts to disseminate technical and scientific information among the public through publishing Spectrum in Tamil, S. Muthukrishnan, Former Vice-Chancellor of the university, felt the Government was responsible for the failure of Tamil medium in the State.

Irrespective of the medium, developing the expertise in the subject of study is of utmost importance, he said, noting that learning a new language at a later stage was not difficult.

Releasing the Bharathidasan University Journal of Science and Technology, Prof. Muthukumaran urged the university to sustain it without any let up.

The first copies of the Tamil translation of Spectrum Magazine and the university journal were received by E. Kirubakaran, Deputy General Manager – Outsourcing, BHEL.

Presiding, Vice-Chancellor M. Ponnavaikko said 84 students have been admitted to the four integrated M.Tech. programmes. Over 5,000 papers published by faculties over the past 25 years would be brought out with Tamil translations in the university journal, he said, inviting contributions from teachers of affiliated colleges as well in English and Tamil.

Prof. Ponnavaikko said it was the responsibility of universities to translate findings of scientific and technological researches in Tamil for the benefit of those who are unable to pursue higher education.

The Spectrum would be circulated free of cost, he said.

M.A. Akbarsha, Coordinator, M.Tech. Programmes, explained the salient features of the integrated programmes. N. Ramanujam, Registrar (in-charge) offered felicitations.