Ravenshaw University aborts plans to introduce three new courses

CUTTACK: Ravenshaw University has aborted its plan to start three self-financing courses which were supposed to be introduced from this year. Entrance test for the three courses were also conducted but due to poor turnout of students, the varsity authorities have decided to scrap the courses this year.

The varsity had decided to introduce post graduate courses in Yoga, Business Economics and Post graduate diploma in clinical biochemistry and medical biotechnology courses this year. With an aim to provide career oriented courses to the students, three these subjects were chalked out after much deliberations.

Entrance test for these three subjects were also conducted by the varsity in the last week of May and admissions were supposed to take place on Friday. But at the last minute authorities decided to scrap these three courses.

While M A in Yoga was supposed to have 32 seats, authorities had decided to admit 40 students in Business Economics course and 20 students in post graduate diploma in clinical biochemistry and medical biotechnology course. However, only six to seven students had turned up to take admissions in each of the three subjects.

"We were forced to close down the admission process for the three newly introduced courses as less than 16 students turned up for each course. It is not viable to run the self-financing courses with such less number of students," said Dharmabrata Mohapatra, head of economics department.

Officials said as the three courses were announced too late in April so many students were unaware about and could not apply for it. "Next year, we will conduct widespread publicity for these courses and I am sure it will receive good response," added Mohapatra.

However, the last minute cancellation of the courses has left selected students perplexed. "This is unfair. Authorities should not take such irrational decision," said a candidate who was interested to take admission in Business Economic course.

Syllabus of the courses was also prepared to meet the market need. Post graduate diploma in clinical biochemistry and medical biotechnology one year course was chalked out to provide employment opportunities to the students in the field of microbiology, clinical biochemistry, immunology and molecular diagnostics. It was one of its kind course offered by the varsity. The course fee was fixed Rs 50,000. While the course fee of Yoga was Rs 30,000 annually and Business Economics was Rs 25,000 annually.