ALIGARH May 26:
The Aligarh Muslim University has urged the University Grants Commission to allocate a separate grant of Rs. 168.75 Crore for various developmental projects and launching of new faculties and departments. It has further asked for Rs. 269.55 Crore financial help for the infrastructural development at its centres in Malappuram (Kerala), Murshidabad (West Bengal) and Kishanganj (Bihar).The above demands were put up before the University Grants Commission in a meeting with higher authorities of the UGC. From AMU side, the Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Brig. S. Ahmad Ali and Registrar, Dr. Asfar Ali Khan participated in the meeting.
Highlighting the recent achievements of the University in the meeting, including the “A” Grade given by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, the Vice Chancellor said that a new Faculty of International Studies with eight departments has been established and undergraduate programmes in different foreign languages have also been announced from the new academic session. He told the UGC that a separate Faculty of Environmental Sciences with three departments and an Institute of Pharmacy are already in pipeline waiting for Visitor’s consent. He said that several new courses including B. Voc. Degree courses under Community College have been introduced while the B. Ed. and M.Ed. programmes are being transformed into two years’ courses from the academic session 2015-16.
Informing that the University has already established an Internal Quality Assurance Cell and Faculty Induction Development Cell, the Vice Chancellor said that the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) is being introduced from the new session along with the implementation of UGC’s scheme for Empanelment of Adjunct Faculty enhancement of Travel Grant for participation in national and international conferences and seminars.
Referring to new developments taking place in the University, the Vice Chancellor, Gen Shah said that 40 Smart Classrooms have been created while 30 more are underway. He said that construction of new academic spaces are in progress while research labs have been augmented with an input of Rs. 25.5 Crores from Plan Grant. The University has also constructed 130 ramps for physically challenged students and a new block at the Maulana Azad library besides making 75 percent campus area WiFi enabled, including all Halls of residence.
Gen. Shah stressed that the University was in dire need of additional funds for construction of new Halls of residence to accommodate 750 boys. He mentioned that additional funds were required for upgrading WiFi project, converting old classrooms into Smart Classrooms, upgrading toilets for female students, widening and constructing roads and drains in the University campus and constructing 50 new classrooms and 50 staff rooms.