PUNE: After the Savitribai Phule Pune University announced that colleges will reopen from January 11, many deemed universities in the city are also planning to begin in a phased manner.
Representatives of universities said they are going to prepare well for the safety of students, schedule the classes and practical sessions and then announce the reopening.
Principal director of Symbiosis Society Vidya Yeravdekar said the Symbiosis Medical College for Women will reopen from February 1, and the 150 students from this college will quarantine themselves in the college hostel from January 15 before the classes begin. The medical college has also received a nod from the National Medical Commission to begin classes.
Yeravdekar said, “The 150 students have enough hostel facilities and so they will report on January 15 there. We have made provisions for one student in one room. Besides, all safety norms, social distancing and everything else will be followed.”
She said the other campuses of the university will begin gradually and as per the needs. Students who are looking for placements and have related work on the campus will be called soon. The university has also sought permission for this from the district collector. All these students will undergo the RT-PCR tests before reporting to the campus.
Yeravdekar said the classes of all other institutions are not being thought of at the moment although there is a lot of pressure from students and parents. Once the state government gives the approval only then they will think of reopening, she added.
At Vishwakarma University, registrar Kedar Sant, said they were studying the details and were being worked out to conduct physical classes including the practicals.
Sant said, “We are in the process of making a detailed plan for conducting theory, practical and other activities in a safe manner complying with all the UGC guidelines and directives issued by the state government.”
Executive president and vice-chancellor, MIT ADT University, Mangesh Karad said the administration was planning to reopen the university on February 1 in phases.
“Initially, final-year students will be called to campus. Then after 15 days third-year students will be called to the campus if the situation is under control. Then on March 1, the second-year students shall be called to campus,” he said.
Ronika Agarwal, principal of MA Rangoonwala College of Physiotherapy (Azam Campus) said the admission procedure for the Bachelor of Physiotherapy course is going on.
“Interns and postgraduate students are coming for OPD, IPD during these days. We can start classes by January-end after receiving the guidelines from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences,” she added.
Anand Bhalerao, principal of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University's College of Engineering, said the UGC had given permission to students of all research programmes and postgraduate students in science and technology programmes to institutes.
The number of students from containment zones are comparatively less and norms of physical distancing and preventive measures can be easily enforced, he added.
“Placement of final-year students is also important. Hence, these students will also be allowed to join academic and placement purposes subject to the decision of the university which will soon be taken,” Bhalerao said.