By Najam Gilani, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Academic Council has decided that AMU will establish five centres across the country – at Murshidabad (West Bengal), Katihar (Bihar), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Pune (Maharashtra) and Mallappuram (Kerala).

The Academic Council meeting to discuss the issue was held on Saturday. Vice-Chancellor Professor P K Abdul Azis informed the Academic Council that the “University had contacted the concerned State Governments for getting 250-300 acres of land free of cost so that the University would be able to appoint a Consultant to prepare Detailed Project Report and Feasibility Report for establishing these special centers.”

Important to note here is that the AMU VC P K Abdul Azis has not met with the Bihar Chief Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar in this regard as reported earlier. Only a letter has been sent by his office to the state government for the purpose mentioned above.

As per the information provided by AMU PRO Dr Rahat Abrar, "The Academic Council appreciated the support being extended to the University by the Ministry of Human Resource Development for realizing this goal during the XIth Plan. It was clarified in the Academic Council that all these centers will be managed by the Executive Council and the University Court. It was also resolved at the academic council meeting that these 5 centers should be modern, state-of-the-art, digitally managed campuses offering relevant and employment oriented courses for the people of the respective regions.

Vice Chancellor further informed the house that the Rs.2000-crore proposal for establishing these centres during the XIth Plan is pending with the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The Academic Council has authorized the Vice-Chancellor to constitute a committee of the Academic Council to study the academic aspects of establishing these 5 centres."

Besides, the Academic Council also approved the proposal for the re-employment of Professors and Principals as per UGC guidelines.

Elaborating this point, AMU PRO Dr Rahat Abrar told TwoCircles.net on phone: "Though as per the central Govt directive there is the specific retirement age for the professors and principals, but tenure of those professors whose records are impeccable, can be extended further by the University, as per the UGC guidelines."

The Council also resolved in principle to adopt grading system and semester system for all its courses within the framework of the statutory agencies regulating Medical, Engineering and other programmes in the University. The Academic Council has authorized the Vice-Chancellor to constitute a committee to study the matter in-depth. It has also directed that the views of students also be heard before finalizing the recommendations by the Committee.