VC strives to make AU thrive

No compromise with quality, reasserts Harshe

IN THE days to come, the Allahabad University (AU) will make renewed efforts to forge a partnership with the corporate world.

Efforts will be made to woo the bigwigs of the Indian business fraternity, design and start courses suiting their needs and strive to ensure that its passing out students make their presence felt in the fast-moving and highly competitive corporate world.

As the 119-year-old Allahabad University celebrates the first anniversary of its (re)attaining the Central status, HT Allahabad Live caught up with the Central varsity's first Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajen Harshe, who, despite hurdles, remains committed to 'Mission AU rebuilding,' on the eve of the big day to get his take on challenges ahead and the path on which he wants the varsity to move ahead.

How long will it take for AU to emerge at the top of the academic world?
Change takes time. To get a varsity, where standards have fallen considerably, back to a place from where it can compete with other leading institutions of the country and then to emerge at the top of academic world is a major task that can take around two decades if we maintain a good tempo. Today we have all the resources and the support and all we need is for all teachers, staff members and students to get down to the actual work of teaching, learning and carrying out quality researches. And for this we all will have to change our attitude and rise to the occasion.

Will the shortage of teachers not affect the progress?
Having top class teachers is essential in any teaching institution that aspires to rise to the top. However, I am not in favour of filling up all the vacant posts just for the sake of it if the candidates do not match the level we desire. This is one work that will be dealt with very carefully. We will get teachers from top Indian and foreign varsities and colleges to teach our students. This is the reason I have no doubt that even if during my tenure, I fail to fill up all the vacant posts of teachers for want of the right candidates, I would prefer my successor to complete the task without compromising on the quality rather than taking below-the-mark teachers.

When will the first ordinance be ready?
I am fully conscious of the fact that getting the ordinances ready is an important task that influences everything else.

However, it is a painstaking process for which all contingencies have to be kept in mind. Experts are at work and the ordinances are in their final stage. Soon they will be sent to the Centre where too the legal experts will go through them with a fine comb.

What are the major achievements of the past one year?
I place getting the 69 new posts of teachers after a long gap to be the main achievement of the past one year. The Rs 40 crore sanctioned by the UGC and its first instalment already released is praise worthy as it is one of the biggest single grant ever received by AU. A number of other creative and constructive works too have been carried out like hosting the Kala Mela. A hostel for girls is also now ready.

Despite the Executive Council holding three meetings, the AU's Academic Council is yet to hold its first meeting?
It is right that the first meeting of the Academic Council should have been held by now. However, the problem is of completing the quorum of 25 needed to do any work and with the members being top academicians and administrators, getting them to come to Allahabad on a single day has been difficult. But, these hurdles are being overcome and the first meeting will soon be held in which we will try get all the proposed new courses and the updated syllabus of old courses approved.