Nagpur: In an alarming trend it has come to fore that those pursuing graduation and post-graduation courses at the Nagpur University are on a decline since the last three years. It thus raises a question mark on where the large number of students clearing Std XII examinations from various boards are actually going. Figures of total degrees awarded in the last five years by NU has also witnessed a steady decline.
In the 100th convocation, NU conferred 18,910 PG and 50,031 UG degrees. It dropped to 12,878 PG and 43,610 UG at the 104th ceremony held last Sunday. Even the total graduates have reduced by 12,682 in both these ceremonies held in five years.
When compared to last year, it's a downfall of 4,346 PG and 2,781 UG degrees, while the total degrees dropped by 7,200. In comparison with the 102nd convocation, the total degrees last year were reduced to 9,413 and 13,115 this year.
Senior academicians attribute the alarming to a mix of many factors. They said students now did not want to pursue traditional courses which hardly help them in securing jobs. They also blame it on various controversies and scams that continue to rock NU over the years, right from Kohchade and the '250 banned colleges'.
"The students are more inclined towards vocational courses which can land them jobs. Such courses are not classified as degrees, so they don't reflect the reality. Students prefer more skill-based courses where they can either do a job or open their own enterprise. It's high time, the traditional universities like NU rethink on what kind of courses they should offer," says Dr Vedprakash Mishra, adding that indifference and lethargic attitude of NU officials also adversely affects admissions.
Baban Taywade, principal of Dhanwate National College, says the situation is disturbing not only at the university level but also at the junior college. "NU is to be blamed to some extent after it restricted intake capacity of affiliated colleges for various courses. With limitation, we turned many aspirants back, who want to seek admissions in good colleges only. PG courses like MCM, MCA, which were once most sought after, have no takers since the last couple of years."
Lack of employment opportunities in the region is also a major factor behind students opting for other universities outside Vidarbha. "Since, the region lacks major industries, the students prefer places like Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad for studies, so that they could land jobs during placements. On other hand, many graduates are getting decent jobs soon after passing out and they then drop the idea of pursuing PG courses," says Eknath Kathale, former senate member.
The academicians also blamed the decline in numbers to increasing trend among students to pursue studies from foreign universities. "Even a popular faculty like engineering is facing severe shortage of aspirants. NU's bad reputation certainly dents admission prospects, directly or indirectly. There is an urgent need for overhaul of entire courses. NU needs to launch skill-based courses which would focus on research and also improve standard of education," said Anil Dhage, also a former senate member.
In the 100th convocation, NU conferred 18,910 PG and 50,031 UG degrees. It dropped to 12,878 PG and 43,610 UG at the 104th ceremony held last Sunday. Even the total graduates have reduced by 12,682 in both these ceremonies held in five years.
When compared to last year, it's a downfall of 4,346 PG and 2,781 UG degrees, while the total degrees dropped by 7,200. In comparison with the 102nd convocation, the total degrees last year were reduced to 9,413 and 13,115 this year.
Senior academicians attribute the alarming to a mix of many factors. They said students now did not want to pursue traditional courses which hardly help them in securing jobs. They also blame it on various controversies and scams that continue to rock NU over the years, right from Kohchade and the '250 banned colleges'.
"The students are more inclined towards vocational courses which can land them jobs. Such courses are not classified as degrees, so they don't reflect the reality. Students prefer more skill-based courses where they can either do a job or open their own enterprise. It's high time, the traditional universities like NU rethink on what kind of courses they should offer," says Dr Vedprakash Mishra, adding that indifference and lethargic attitude of NU officials also adversely affects admissions.
Baban Taywade, principal of Dhanwate National College, says the situation is disturbing not only at the university level but also at the junior college. "NU is to be blamed to some extent after it restricted intake capacity of affiliated colleges for various courses. With limitation, we turned many aspirants back, who want to seek admissions in good colleges only. PG courses like MCM, MCA, which were once most sought after, have no takers since the last couple of years."
Lack of employment opportunities in the region is also a major factor behind students opting for other universities outside Vidarbha. "Since, the region lacks major industries, the students prefer places like Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad for studies, so that they could land jobs during placements. On other hand, many graduates are getting decent jobs soon after passing out and they then drop the idea of pursuing PG courses," says Eknath Kathale, former senate member.
The academicians also blamed the decline in numbers to increasing trend among students to pursue studies from foreign universities. "Even a popular faculty like engineering is facing severe shortage of aspirants. NU's bad reputation certainly dents admission prospects, directly or indirectly. There is an urgent need for overhaul of entire courses. NU needs to launch skill-based courses which would focus on research and also improve standard of education," said Anil Dhage, also a former senate member.
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