A dozen new depts, centres on AU agenda

AS PART of its massive expansion and rejuvenation plan, the Allahabad University (AU) is planning to set up five new departments and six new centres during the next five years.

The aim is to reorganise most of its existing 31 departments as well as cover more disciplines by opening new departments and centres besides generating opportunities for independent development of disciplines which till now have remained tagged up in composite departments.

According to the 'Vision Plan: 2006-11' prepared by the specially constituted Academic Committee, the varsity keeping up with the current academic scenario of the dissolving boundaries between disciplines has decided to develop institutional frameworks in the form of institutes and centres.

The aim is to facilitate collaboration and co-operation between different departments and disciplines in conducting courses and research in areas amenable to inter-and multi-disciplinary exploration.

If all goes as per plans, AU will soon have a department of Sociology. It would offer under-graduate, post-graduate and DPhil courses in Sociology. The UGC has already sanctioned several teaching positions for this department.

A department of Agricultural Science has also been envisioned. This department will offer under-graduate and post-graduate courses in Agricultural Botany, Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Zoology, Soil Science and Entomology among others. The faculty members currently teaching these subjects in different departments of the Science Faculty can get together to constitute this department.

A separate department of Library Science has also been planned. The department will offer UG and PG courses in Library Science. Plan is to make this department functional during the XIth plan.

Similarly, a department of Environmental Science will be set up in the university.

Though the Botany Department currently does offer a Master's course in Environmental Science, it is proposed to establish a full-fledged department that will offer UG, PG and DPhil courses in Environmental Science.

The UGC has already sanctioned seven positions for teaching different courses in Environmental Science.

As per the vision, the varsity will soon have a Centre for Global and Development Studies (CGDS). It will be an inter-disciplinary centre within the proposed Faculty of Social Science. The UGC has already sanctioned seven teaching positions for it. The departments of Anthropology, Economics, Education, Political Science and Psychology will be participating units of the centre.

The Academic Committee has also envisioned a Centre for Historical Studies for the varsity. The departments of Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology as well as Medieval and Modern History will be the participating units of this proposed centre. It will focus, inter alia, on Ancient and Medieval Archaeology, Socio-economic and Cultural continuities/problematics in national development and the application of new methodologies to historical analysis.

The planners have also proposed a Centre for Nanoscience and Technology for the university as an inter-disciplinary centre for research and development in this new and emerging field.

It will have the core staff of scientists, technicians and "minimum" administrative functionaries. The centre will be responsible for setting up and maintaining world-class facilities in collaboration with the university departments and other institutions but with the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology.

Another inter-disciplinary centre within the proposed Faculty of Social Science will be the Centre for General Studies. Departments of Medieval and Modern History, Political Science and Psychology have been floated as the participating units in this centre.

Besides, a Centre for Studies in Culture and Society will also be an addition to the "transformed" varsity. Again being planned as an inter-disciplinary centre, it will promote studies in Indian Culture and Society.

The departments of Ancient History, Anthropology, Arabic and Persian, English, Hindi, Medieval and Modern History, Music and Performing Arts, Philosophy, Psychology, Sanskrit, Urdu and Visual Arts will be participating units of the Centre.