APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) has decided to launch five study departments for the first time since its inception five years ago. The decision was taken at a meeting of the varsity Syndicate, chaired by Vice Chancellor Rajasree M.S., on Friday.
The delay in commencing study departments has been among the factors that have resulted in the denial of funds under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme to the university.
While the Syndicate has resolved to take the uncharted path, it deferred its decision on which engineering streams would be identified for the proposed departments, which will offer postgraduate courses.
An allocation of ₹18 crore has been made towards realising the proposal. The Syndicate also entrusted the affiliation subcommittee, chaired by Radhakrishna G. Pillai, to study the proposals that have been submitted for sanctioning new colleges and courses.
Request from colleges
Many colleges are learnt to have requested permission to commence innovative courses during next academic year.
The subcommittee, which comprises Syndicate members T. Sudha, Mohandas V.P. and P. Suresh Kumar, will submit its recommendations.
The university has also decided to extend the deadline provided to affiliating colleges for furnishing bank guarantees by a year.
Currently only two colleges have provided the deposit of ₹25 lakh for securing affiliation.
While the other colleges have cited various hurdles in withdrawing the deposits from the previously affiliated universities, they have been provided time till the commencement of the 2020-21 academic year to furnish the deposits, failing which their affiliations will be withdrawn.
Following the issuance of the Ordinance that fixed tenures for statutory officers, the university has given Dean (Research) Vrinda V. Nair the additional responsibility of the Controller of Examinations, with the incumbent S. Shabu having exceeded the tenure period.