Dear All,
I once again extend my heartfelt thanks for the overwhelmed response to my blog. I could gather valuable suggestions from Rajasthan and around the globe as regards to the various dimensions of the new University.
As I am too engrossed in planning the initiation of the academic programmes from June 2009, it is bit difficult to give personalized response to everybody. However, be assured that you comments are well taken and I am working on the same. At appropriate stage, I will come back to you for acknowledging your thought process and brainstorming on various issues of the Central University of Rajasthan.
As per the demand of several stakeholders, I am posting my concept paper regarding the Strategic Roadmap of Central University of Rajasthan. (Please Click Here to view the pdf version of the paper)
I request all of you to critically evaluate the same and post your comments which will be incorporated before proceeding to the apex bodies.
Wish you all the best and let us once again commit ourselves in bringing a healthy and responsive higher education system by the way of formulating the strategic roadmap of the Central University of Rajasthan…
Prof. M.M. Salunkhe
Vice Chancellor
H’ble Sir,
It’s indeed an exhaustive account of your vision. I would like to congratulate you immensely n profoundly. I shall read this document and then attempt to reflect.
warm regards,
sincerely,
[Dr. BK Sharma]
Dear Prof Salunkhe,
Your vision for the Central University in Rajasthan has finally taken some shape and its indeed heartening to know that you have persevered to give relevant courses to this region. Suggestions given in the blog have also been incorporated, an indication of your willingness and openness to new ideas from the stakeholders in running this organization.
From the liberal arts to the most latest as in nanoscience and technology, from music to language courses, your focus has indeed been to enhance the abilities of the learner of this region as well as educating the the foreign learner who will take admission here.We are indeed excited about this great endeavour and want to be a part of your efforts.
Time constraint will, however, be an impediment this year and you will only be able to start a few courses this coming session. We hope in the years to come we will be able to see the university taking shape in the right direction under your guidance.
At the outset, all efforts should be made to start with the semester system and the credit based system in whatever courses are introduced. Add-on-courses of relevance should be introduced so that a learner is engaged in upgrading skills along with his studies. Thus the employability of the learner after 4/5 yrs of study is ensured.
I feel there is no need of establishing and burdening yourself with undergraduate colleges and the focus should remain on post graduate study and research as we already have many UG colleges all over the state and they will act as the feeder colleges for the central university.
Instead , sincere efforts are required to establish a community college for the learners who want to update their knowledge in various fields anytime they want. This will ensure the building of a knowledge loving society.
With regards
Dr. Soumana Datta
Suggestions: Part-I
Honorable Sir,
The concept paper is really a massive, tirelessly prepared and meticulously planned document with respect to the proposed Central University of Rajasthan. It’ll surely prove to be a strategic roadmap. I am extremely happy to see that, due consideration has been accorded to relevant suggestions received from the stakeholders at this blog.
I have been able to go through only part of this 74-page document due to paucity of time while University examinations are going on and we are supposed to work for 12 hours/day most of these days. Kindly allow me to reflect in 3- parts.
May I humbly stress on the following:
1. Proper utilization of budgetary provisions: Here I would like to mention firmly that a system of checks n balances must be imposed in the wake of rampant financial crimes at all levels.
2. We may or may not have another ‘Nalanda’ or ‘Takshshila’ in the changed times but we can certainly have a University not very different from these and which is closer to today’s Oxford, Cambridge or John Hopkins.
3. With the increasing number of Universities and colleges in India, it has now become necessary to either monitor them on a regular basis (so that they go on to become centers of excellence and/ or resource centers catering the colleges coming under their catchments area) or if we have to open newer centers, we must launch them as ‘Centers of Excellence’ right from their inception itself with people who can actually deliver something solid at the end of the day. Existing undergraduate colleges may well become the feeder colleges but ways and plans must be devised in such a manner that sizeable percentage of these graduates are prompted to opt for relevant postgraduate courses and later advanced training and/or research. This may be seen especially in the light of upcoming courses in science (both Physical & Life Sciences) subjects where the number of students going in for higher degrees and careers in research has severely declined during the past decade. In this regard, there’s a great need to develop centers where multidisciplinary approach to research & teaching could be established. This is specifically demanded in subject areas like ‘Nanotechnology’, ‘Biotechnology’, ‘Stem Cell Science’ and like.
4. With the large number of ‘knowledge workers’, though India has come out stronger and shining quantitatively (in some specific areas qualitatively too), we are still struggling (Are we really?) to have a single premier and world class institution like the Oxford or Cambridge. I would like to reiterate that, it’s high time we decide whether to make school education available for all or higher education for all? The statistics/ statements pertaining to ‘Growth of Higher Education in India’ as mentioned on pg-5, ‘India’s Major Weaknesses’ on pg-7 and ‘Reasons for Poor quality’ on pgs 9 & 11 speak loudly in the above mentioned context.
5. Colleges have been opened literally like shops during the past years in the name of various Government Schemes. It has been quite horrific to witness a few of them. Any person having a piece of land measuring 3000 sq yd. or more was allowed to open a college. Who inspected these colleges? (Some still running in 1-2 rented rooms in many remote areas in Rajasthan) and how could they seek affiliation to Universities? These are major issues for monitoring but who’ll bell the cat? when the entire system is involved in strengthening these institutions with virtually no infrastructure and qualified faculty. The population and magnitude of our country comes to aid such ventures and they go on to get regularized over a period of years. Judiciary too comes to assist if at all some stern actions are initiated. The only way to stop such shops attempting poor dissemination of knowledge and degrees is NOT TO ALLOW THEM TO COME INTO EXISTENCE.
6. Challenges before India: As mentioned on pg-13, yes, doubling the present capacity of Universities & colleges via additional enrolments while maintaining the quality at the same time is a major task to be handled. In this regard, I would like to strongly suggest that we must identify ‘efficient knowledge workers’ from across the state and engage them in these programmes. We must have ‘carefully selected transparent teachers’ to lead and they MUST be allowed to work independently and without pressures (political or otherwise). They may be working in a hierarchical system with intense monitoring. Public-private partnership is definitely an effective way out to implement such a planning. We MUST bring about an abrupt stoppage to the ‘Typical Sarkaari Way of Thinking & Functioning’ going on in the higher education sector since independence. Do we still need to keep on feeling that we can meet the desired goals without a drastic overhauling? This may be initiated at the existing institutions to begin with and then the rest of the colleges may follow in a phased manner.
7. Why don’t we have and why can’t we have a single University in India where students come running from England, Europe and America to study science and conduct research? This is something important which needs to be looked into at this juncture when the cost of higher education in the above countries/parts of the world is increasing in geometric proportions and we are in a position to provide this at a relatively lower cost. Indigenous way of our working has always helped us a lot in coming up with innovative and novel projects. I am aware that, we have the JNU, DU, AMU, BHU and few other premier institutions where we have students coming from the third world countries. This is achievable through the efforts and planning of a ‘Visionary Vice Chancellor’ like you, Sir, but I am afraid you badly need a team of carefully selected and dedicated workers who can deliver with honesty and commitment.
I am sure that, your efforts will reach fruition and we’ll have a world class University in Rajasthan.
Kind regards,
Sincerely,
[Dr. BK Sharma] To be continued……
Suggestions: Part-II PROPOSED SCHOOLS
H’ble Vice Chancellor Sir,
May I most humbly convey that, the description of ‘proposed schools’ on pages 41-50 is indeed well structured and nicely elaborated too, covering almost all the disciplines which could be included.
I have the following suggestions regarding the major omissions. Sir, I am basically a biologist and so I am only attempting to comment on the Life Sciences section.
1. The Central University of Rajasthan MUST have a separate and full fledged ‘Medical School’ preferably situated close to the ‘School of Life Sciences’ and/or ‘Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences’ so that biomedical research finds its culmination into doable options and a much required interdisciplinary trend or collaboration between biomedical scientists with medics and paramedics could be established to bear fruits in the long run. You’ll appreciate that such collaboration is currently almost non-existent in our country and researchers working in these closely related realms go parallel without any cross talks. It is imperative for a medical/clinical researcher to have the knowledge of research methodology and the latest tools & techniques and it’s also a must for a basic scientist to have the knowledge related to medical aspects if he/she has to go in for research relating a disease.
2. School of Life Sciences must have a separate Center named ‘Center for Biomolecular Sciences’ (CBS) which may cover the following seven disciplines of great future potential encompassing both biomedical and medical/health research. Research in these areas is paramount and the outcome will surely attract and promote biomedical translation through various pharmaceutical companies and industry.
(A) Stem Cell Biology
(B) Tissue Engineering
(C) Regenerative Medicine
(D) Mathematical Modeling
(E) Genomics
(F) Proteomics
(G) Genetic Engineering
A – D may be clubbed together into one Department since they all are related and may be truly called interdisciplinary by nature while E – G may be clubbed in to another Department suitably named afterwards. M.Sc. or M.Tech and D. Sc. in ‘Stem Cell Science’ would surely be the most popular and ideal course in this school. This would also attract foreign collaboration and funding through both Universities abroad and industries in India and abroad. India has many major breakthroughs to its credit in the field of stem cell biology and there is a great option for us to become leaders in this area.
3. Re: ‘Proposed Specialized Centers’ 15.1 page-57- “International Center for Desert Studies”: This Center MUST have a separate department named “Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity” where study and research on the Unique faunal & floral diversity (not only of the Thar Desert of Rajasthan but other undiscovered areas too) may be undertaken. There is a great need to develop such a department in Rajasthan which would fill the absence of an institute of the stature of Wild Life Institute of India (WII) situated at Dehradun.
Warm regards,
Sincerely,
[Dr. BK Sharma]
To be continued………
Suggestions: Part-II PROPOSED SCHOOLS- Corrigendum
H’ble ViceChancellor Sir,
I had missed mentioning the precise name of the proposed course re: 3 above (my previous message posted today).
‘Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity’ may be read as “DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY, WILD LIFE BIOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT” where we may have B.Sc., M.Sc. and D.Sc.
In addition to the above, in the ‘School of Life Sciences’ there is a dire need to have a separate department named ‘HUMANE EDUCATION IN LIFE SCIENCE TEACHING’. This may be established in accordance with the 3Rs Principles currently being employed globally. This pertains to stoppage of ‘INVASIVE ANIMAL USE IN LIFE SCIENCE (especially Zoology, Veterinary and Medical) CURRICULUM AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH’. As we all are aware that, animal dissections, killing and collection are being banned in most of the Universities under the directives of the CPCSEA. The above mentioned department would be instrumental in the use of potential alternatives and developing newer alternatives. I would be most happy to povide further details on this if so required.
Warm regards,
Sincerely,
[Dr. BK Sharma]
Email: b_ksharma@hotmail.co.uk
9352228058
to be continued……
Dear sir,
Accept my appreciation regarding this move for open call of suggestions and your availability to academic masses. In nut shell a step which reflects the vision.
I have gone through concept paper.
Under the school of agriculture courses like Animal production and Animal sciences are different. In fact curriculum of both courses are same,its only some universities offer one or other. Another course is Animal Products. It must be “Animal product Technology”. Looking to the Rajasthan, Animal husbandry has to play a big role in future therefore post graduate courses in Organic Animal Production & Enterprenership programmes in Animal Husbandry may be initiated.
Infact A separate school for Animal & vererinary sciences can be conceptualized to harness complete benefit from ecology of Rajasthan where rain is scarce & Animal husbandry is only optoion for livelihood of farmers.
Wishes for future.
Dr.Vishnu Sharma
Assistant Professor(Animal Production)
Rajasthan Agricultural University-Jaipur campus
Respected Vice Chancellor Sir
Many many Congratulations from all of us i.e., Dr. V. L. Dhawan, Dr. R. R. Wagh and myself at the Patkar College, Goregaon(W), Mumbai-62.
Congratulations once again!!!!
Ramesh S. Yamgar
Mob. No. 09869619511
email: rsy_chem@rediffmail.com
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, CU-Rajasthan,
It has been pleasure to read about the efforts that you are making in establishing the central university. I congratulate you, but at the same time when I assess the university systems that of Univerisity of Rajasthan (where I did my BA, MA and PhD) and that of Jawaharlal Nehru University (where I am a faculty at SIS now), I must confess that I have limited hopes of this venture being all too successful. The history repeats itself and it has repeated faster with all later stage institutions. The failures that set deep into the system of University of Rajasthan took 50 years and now only to be seen these faced by JNU in only 30 years. So I doubt whether your institution would survive a decade and a half before going down to these challenges.
The major challenges that I have repeatedly seen is that of transparent and accountable governance. It has been my experience that autonomy has proved to be worse than corruption if the system goes haywire and every thing in the name of autonomy is being decided, look what happened to Satyam and finally the regulatory body had to intervene. There has to be some mechanism of intervention in the university system the moment there appears to be a flaw. Unfortunately, UGC proved to be big disappointment.
I believe that at Governor must be the Ombudsman for every central university in that state as he is the representative of the President, the Visitor. And, any assistant professor should be able to approach him on the discomfort the system is being run. This would make vice-chancellors more accountable and they would also see the matters beyond the select coterie who encircles them often.
I can say more on all these issues and regarding the education dimensions that can go into making this institution worthy of its place. But, I always have felt that a Cambridge model of education is more appropriate than the JNU model which is being implemented now. It is is fraught with some severe limitations. JNU is funded like anything would CU-Raj be at the same avenue too, I doubt.
regards,
Ambrish Dhaka
Assistant Professor
School of International Studies
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi- 067
Email: adhaka@mail.jnu.ac.in
श्रीमान मानिकराव सालुके,
सादर अभिवादन।
आपसा विद्वान बीकानेर को मिलना सौभाग्य की बात है। आशा है नव बौद्धिककाल में आप बीकानेर से हिंदी को प्रतिष्ठित करते हुए आने वाले समय में यहां प्राचीन विश्वविद्यालय की धारणा जो तक्षशिला-नालंदा नामों से जानी जाती हैं, को स्थापित करने का सहृदयता से प्रयास करेंगे। इस कार्य में जैसा भी सहयोग एक बीकानेरवासी के नाते तथा अपनी भाव-भाषा के नाते मैं करने के लिये संकल्पबद्ध रहूंगा। इस संदेश को लिखने से पूर्व मैंने अपना ईमेल लिख दिया है।
भवनिष्ठ
प्रदीप पाराशर
बीकानेर
Honurable Salunkhe Sir,
“Greetings”
Its really a good venture of Government to provide quality eduaction in Rajasthan in the form of Centeral University.
I would like to congratulate you for the best hights of OUR CENTRAL UNIVERSITY. I also hope that in your golden guidence students get best exposure into various industries as well as research work, in this commercial era of Education.
I would like to place my thoughts for university to start Short-Term professional cources with low fee structure to get heavy participation of mankind (students). If you would like to handover me some work . it will be the great Honour for me.
With Best regards,
Evadeep Saxena
Mansarover
Jaipur
evadeep17@yahoo.co.in
Honurable Salunkhe Sir,
“Greetings”
Its really a good venture of Government to provide quality eduaction in Rajasthan in the form of Centeral University.
I would like to congratulate you for the best hights of OUR CENTRAL UNIVERSITY. I also hope that in your golden guidence students get best exposure into various industries as well as research work, in this commercial era of Education.
I would like to place my thoughts for university to start Short-Term professional cources with low fee structure to get heavy participation of mankind (students). If you would like to handover me some work . it will be the great Honour for me.
With Best regards,
Evadeep Saxena
Mansarover
Jaipur
evadeep17@yahoo.co.in
Respected Dr Salunkhe,
First of all accept my hearty congratulations for your appointment as a vice chancellor of Central university of Rajasthan. I have gone through the objectives and mission statement posted on your blog.
Sir, It is really a challenging position where you have to develop from the beginning and lay a concrete and sustainable foundation for years to come in imparting quality education to all.
Sir, you must be enjoying the creative aspect like designing the logo for university and other publicity material. I am sure with a vast experience and a glorious legacy you have
You will succeed in achieving your goals.
Sir, are you planning to have the Dept. of mass communication and electronic media at your university? If so I am ready to share my experiences and will be happy to associate with your university.
With warm regards
Keshav sathaye
[Dr. Keshav Sathaye]
keshavsathaye@gmail.com
H’ble Vice Chancellor Sir,
It’s indeed an exhaustive account of your vision. I would like to congratulate you immensely. Sir, It is really a challenging position to develop the institute and impart quality education to all.Sir I am sure you will succeed in achieving your goals.
Dr M S Deshmukh
Somaiya Vidyavihar, Mumbai
9869276265