Latest news with #P.Raveendran
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Senate members seek clarity on picking minor courses for FYUGP in Calicut varsity
A group of Senate members in the University of Calicut has sought clarity on the recent direction from the Higher Education department on picking minor (subsidiary) courses for four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUGP) in affiliated colleges. In a letter to Vice-Chancellor (V-C) P. Raveendran, Senate members V.M. Chacko, P. Sulfi, E. Sreelatha, Manoj Mathews, R. Jayakumar, and G. Sunil Kumar pointed out that according to the clause 7.2.13 of the regulations for the FYUGP, students in 34 departments including English, Malayalam, Hindi, Arabic, Commerce, Economics, Biotechnology, Hotel Management, Tourism, and Afzal-ul-Ulama were earlier allowed to study minor courses in a discipline different than their major (main) courses from the same departments. They claimed that the University Grants Commission (UGC) had not barred granting major and minor courses in more than one subject from the same department. However, a controversy was created by calling this option 'self minor course', and the university had been directed to change the provision, the Senate members said. They alleged that the issue had not been properly discussed so far in the elected bodies of the university, and subject experts had not been consulted either. They said the confusion arose from equating various departments with distinct disciplines, whereas a single department could encompass multiple disciplines. For example, the Department of English could include disciplines such as English Literature, Functional English, and Cultural Studies. Each of the 34 departments mentioned above could similarly contain different disciplines. It was up to the academic forums of the university to define the term for the purpose. The Senate members added that the university was not mandated to accept any decision that contradicted this. At Mahatma Gandhi University, they claimed, students are allowed to pursue minor courses within the same department in which they are studying their major. Expert committees are constituted for various disciplines to offer both major and minor courses. The Senate members urged the V-C to allow students to choose minor courses aligned with their major subjects. Otherwise, students would be forced to study subjects they were not interested in. They said this goes against the UGC's directives and the National Education Policy. 'The issue is likely to be taken up at the Senate meeting scheduled for June 25,' claimed sources.
The Hindu
08-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Textbook on knowledge systems: Calicut varsity to take decision on June 11
The University of Calicut is expected to take a decision soon on whether to follow Knowledge Systems of Kerala, the textbook brought out by the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) as the compulsory multi-disciplinary course of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUGP), or use its own syllabus prepared for the purpose. A senior official told The Hindu on Sunday (June 8, 2025) that a steering committee for undergraduate courses would meet on June 11 to discuss the issue. The course is mandatory for third-semester students. The KSHEC's publication in English and Malayalam covers Kerala's traditional knowledge, including cultural practices, oral narratives, performing arts, and documented literary sources. Vice-Chancellors of State universities were requested to direct their Boards of Studies to consider it a foundational resource for course design and syllabus preparation. A section of academics, however, had objected to the council imposing the textbook on universities, saying it was an infringement on the authority of the statutory academic bodies tasked with curriculum development. Meanwhile, in a letter to Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran, Senate member Abida Farooqui sought to clear the confusion over the issue. She pointed out that the university's Board of Studies had prepared the syllabus for the Kerala Knowledge Systems course in line with the National Education Policy framework in 2024. It was later vetted by the Academic Council and faculty members. Ms. Farooqui claimed that prescribing a uniform syllabus—one that would have to be taught in translation by the departments of English, Malayalam, Arabic, Urdu, Sanskrit, and other languages—went against the grain of academic autonomy. She said that textbooks had already been prepared and classes had begun based on the university's syllabus. Ms. Farooqui added that the university should proceed with its own syllabus and inform the council of its decision.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Calicut varsity plans to seek CSR funds for development projects
The University of Calicut is planning to seek funds under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) scheme of companies and from philanthropic individuals for some of its future development projects. A Syndicate meeting held on the campus at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district on April 28 approved a proposal for the purpose, moved by Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran to take up 11 such projects. According to sources, the projects are, a centre for music and performing studies, student science centre, placement and training centre, renovation of the auditorium at the Dr. John Matthai Centre in Thrissur under the university that also houses the School of Drama, interpretation centre and meeting hall at the botanical garden, convention centre and new library complex, a multi-purpose centre titled Unity Square, new ladies' hostel, open stage and architectural beautification, Freedom Park in memory of the Independence struggle, and an international hostel and guest house. The proposal says that the work shall be conducted by the university or an external agency decided by the grantor organisation. It will be based on a memorandum of understanding signed between the university and the organisation. Such buildings or facilities shall remain the property of the university. Based on individual cases, branding or commemoration of such buildings shall be permitted based on mutual agreement. It shall also be possible for the agencies/individuals to construct the facility and hand it over to the university on mutually agreeable terms and conditions. The mode of operations and auditing for such expenditure shall be as per the terms and conditions arrived at jointly by the university and the donor agency. Mr. Raveendran points out in the proposal that the major source of funding for the university continues to be the limited grants received from the government. As a people's university, it is essential to involve the community in the university's developmental journey and vision, he says.
